Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured the Nigerian community in the United States that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to a “robust engagement” with them.
He emphasised that their valuable contributions are central to the nation’s development.
Shettima, who represented Tinubu at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) in New York, urged citizens abroad to maintain their faith in their home country.
He insisted that Nigeria is on the right track thanks to the reforms being implemented under the “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
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“Continue to believe in Nigeria. Nigeria is on the right track. In the fullness of time, we will occupy our rightful place in the comity of nations”, he stated during a meeting with members of the Nigerian community.
He acknowledged their immense value, saying, “Each one of you has value addition capabilities in your own way, and your experience is not something you can buy in the market. You have earned it.”
He also promised to return to the U.S. for a more comprehensive engagement.
Shettima cited several positive economic indicators as proof of the government’s progress.
He mentioned that the nation’s foreign reserve is “crossing the $40 billion mark”, and noted that subnational governments are receiving “trillions of naira”, leading to “unprecedented infrastructural investment across the entire country.”
He also highlighted youth-focused initiatives, such as the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), as evidence of the administration’s commitment to its citizens.
Earlier, the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, introduced successful Nigerians abroad to Shettima
She noted that diaspora issues have been prioritised under the Tinubu administration.
“Under this administration, it is easier for you to get your passport”, Dabiri-Erewa said.
“Also, the non-resident Bank Verification Number (BVN) is now working under this administration. You don’t need to come home to get your BVN, and a lot of investment opportunities are now open and available. Most importantly, the economy is being transformed, and Nigeria is now a good place to invest.”
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Nigerians present at the meeting, including an Amazon AI Engineer, Adebimpe Daniels, and a Healthcare Specialist, Saratu Garba, expressed their readiness to invest in various key sectors back home, such as mining, health, AI, fintech, and agriculture, while commending the government’s efforts to improve the ease of doing business.
The New Daily Prime reported that Shettima departed New York and arrived in Frankfurt, Germany, where he is scheduled to continue high-level engagements.
