News Investigators/ The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NDC) has tasked traditional and social media organisations to stop de-marketing Nigeria.
The Secretary of the commission, Yakubu Bassi stated this during a courtesy visit to Gov. Bala Mohammad, on Tuesday in Bauchi.
He said the visit was part of activities designed to sensitise and advocate for the diaspora to invest in the development of the North-East region as well as other regions in the country.
According to Mr Bassi, the media needs to be positive about the country, though there are some bad eggs whose moves are to soil the image of the country, there are millions who are trying hard to project the country in a good way.
He said the commission had developed a National Diaspora Policy for Nigeria, as part of awareness creation activities to encourage the federal and state governments to first engage with the Diaspora.
“I must address the media because sometimes, we are the ones that de-market our own country.
“We have to be positive about Nigeria. If you have one bad Nigerian doing one bad thing, I can give you 1,000 Nigerians that are doing good things.
“So, to the media, good news should be good news and bad news should be discouraged. We shouldn’t de-market Nigeria.
“And that’s part of the compact of this sensitisation and advocacy programme of the commission,” he said.
Mr Bassi said that currently, Nigeria has a very high rate of returns on investments more than anywhere in the world.
He said that, “anything you invest in Nigeria, you have 40 per cent return on investment while it is two or three per cent in other developed countries.
“We must let the diasporans know that despite the few challenges we have, the Polish, Chinese and other foreigners are investing in Nigeria. So, why not Nigerians who are in the diaspora?
“The diaspora phenomenon is an evolving one and not something we can toy around with because it is catalyzing development in the country as well as contributing over six per cent of our national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“All we are saying is that while they are out there, they should come and invest at home and also help to catalyse development because home is home,” he said.
Responding, Mohammed lauded the commission for the project, adding that it was working to remove all impediments.
He said the move would bring prosperity, stressing that it would relink them with their kins even from the historical perspective.
NAN
