President Bola Tinubu has said that Nigeria is ranked among the top 10 globally in the rating of countries with the most travelled citizens.
Tinubu, who quoted the United Nations for the figure, acknowledged the complexity and the scale of migration among Nigerians.
He stated this on Thursday in Abuja at the opening of the 2024 National Diaspora Day Celebrations, with the theme “Japa Phenomena and its Implications for National Development.
The president, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume emphasised the significant contributions of Nigerian citizens living abroad to the country’s development.
Citing data, he noted that 169 million international migrant workers left their countries of origin primarily to seek work, “with Nigeria having a significant diaspora population.”
He added: “Currently, the United Nations ranked Nigeria amongst the top 10 countries with the most international migrants.”
Akume also shared his personal experience, having lived in the United States before returning to Nigeria.
He therefore encouraged Nigerians in the Diaspora to bring back their experiences to contribute to national development.
He highlighted the historical context of migration, from the transatlantic slave trade to the current global mobility competing for talent and skills.
The president also highlighted initiatives such as the Nigerian Diaspora Commission and presidential town hall meetings with diaspora communities, as some of the programmes aimed at engaging the diaspora in national development.
He celebrated the positive effects of global immigration, including huge remittances of funds to middle-income countries, with Nigeria receiving $21.9 billion in 2023.
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