The Cross River State Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening diaspora engagement and fostering partnerships that connect Nigerians abroad with opportunities for State development.
The State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu made the assertion, Tuesday as the State hosted the 2025 State Diaspora Focal Point Officers Summit in Calabar, the first-ever edition to be held outside Abuja.
Held at Channel View Hotel, the Summit, themed: “Nigerians in Diaspora as Agents for Positive Image of Nigeria and State Involvement as a Platform for Diaspora Engagement in National Development,” drew Diaspora Focal Point Officers from all 36 states and the FCT, alongside members of the National Assembly and representatives of the House and Senate Committees on Diaspora.
Declaring the summit open the State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, represented by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, described the event as a convergence of minds committed to recognising and harnessing one of Nigeria’s most valuable assets, its citizens in the diaspora.
Otu emphasised that true development begins when Nigerians at home and abroad see themselves as partners in building a shared future.
“There is no place like home. Wherever we go, whatever we achieve, we must always remember that our roots are here, in Nigeria, in Cross River State,” he said.
He urged the diaspora community to look beyond remittances and focus on sustainable investments in agriculture, tourism, education, technology, renewable energy, and real estate, sectors that create jobs and drive innovation across the State.
Also speaking, the chairman of the Cross River State Diaspora Commission (CRIDCOM), Prince Otu Okor, said the hosting signified a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen subnational participation in diaspora affairs.
“We recognise the invaluable contributions of Nigerians in the diaspora to our country’s development,” Prince Okor said.
“Through this summit, we aim to foster a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and investment opportunities between our States and diaspora communities,” he added.
The Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who led the Commission’s delegation, commended Cross River for setting what she described as a “new benchmark for State-level engagement.”
Dabiri-Erewa urged Nigerians abroad to actively participate in State development and called on subnational governments to create friendly policies that attract diaspora investments.
“No one can develop Nigeria except Nigerians,” she said, stressing that, “when our people abroad connect their skills and resources with their home States, we build not just communities, but a stronger nation.”
The summit also featured presentations by State Diaspora Focal Point Officers from Akwa Ibom, Benue, Ekiti, Edo, Kogi, amongst others, who shared progress reports and strategies for improving diaspora collaboration within their States.
Participants also lauded Cross River’s hospitality and coordination, describing the hosting as a landmark moment that showcased the State’s readiness to lead conversations on diaspora inclusion and national development.
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