Dabiri-Erewa Hails Aiyedatiwa For Creating Diaspora Focal Desks Across 18 LGAs
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has commended the Ondo State Government for approving the establishment of Diaspora Focal Point Desks across all the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.
In a statement signed by its spokesman, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Commission described the move as strategic, inclusive, and a major boost to grassroots diaspora engagement in Nigeria.
With the latest creation, Ondo State state has joined the league of Enugu, Kano, Cross River, Edo and the FCT, who have earlier created diaspora desk offices at the local government level, an encouraging trend that supports strengthened subnational diaspora structures across Nigeria.
According to NiDCOM, the initiative reflects a growing commitment among state governments to decentralise diaspora affairs, ensuring that local communities directly benefit from global partnerships, development programmes, and diaspora-driven interventions.
The newly created Diaspora Focal Desks in Ondo State will serve as community-level liaison points, strengthening communication, enhancing data gathering, improving outreach, and enabling more effective mobilisation of diaspora-led initiatives for sustainable development.
NiDCOM noted that the structure will provide Ondo State indigenes across the world with a more responsive, accessible, and community-oriented engagement system.
It will be recalled that during a stakeholders’ meeting with the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, and all the 18 Local Government Chairmen in Akure, the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Diaspora Relations, Otunba Wale Akinlosotu, reaffirmed that the initiative is designed to bring diaspora engagement closer to the people and unlock the socio-economic benefits of global linkages at the grassroots level.
The Commissioner noted that the development aligns with the administration’s OUR EASE vision of building a more connected, prosperous, and participatory Ondo State.
NiDCOM described the establishment of the Diaspora Focal Desks as “a commendable milestone and a strong demonstration of Ondo State’s commitment to harnessing diaspora potential for investment, development, cultural exchange, and policy support.”
The Commission thus encourage other stakeholders to emulate the gesture and create diaspora desks offices at the local government levels to enhance grassroot participation in national development.
