In all sincerity let us engage ourselves in a heart-to-heart discussion over the unfavourable news coming out from Nigeria today. We want some positive changes. Most of us in this room are married with children. Where lies our children future in Nigeria? No one needs to tell us what to do, as we all know the potential in the Diaspora to revive Nigeria for the future generation; by doing things according to rules and regulations. Nigerians in Diaspora are no chorus singers.
Unfortunately, we compromise unacceptable behaviours with Nigeria’s Leaders as we have passed the stage for rhetoric stage for a development in Nigeria. What we do to ourselves could not be done in our respective communities we reside in. Professionals follow regulations to the last letter.
Talking about the potential of the diaspora for sustainable development in Nigeria is for every one of us residing outside Nigeria. NIDOA South Savannah is a Point of contact for this exercise.
Prof. Joseph Igetseme left a legacy in the continuation of our services to the community by establishing Global Digital Radio. That goes alongside with the saying that no one can save the world; however, make your little contribution, as a DOT, to form a whole for the development of Nigeria.
During my active community services, as part of our passion for Nigeria, I got involved in writing educative articles on Nigeria political issues under Femi Ajayi’s Outlook on Nigeria world; I pioneered the formation Of Nigerians in diaspora America, (NIDOA); The Nigerian Youth Alliance, (NYA) in Georgia; the Nigerian Women Association Of Georgia, (NWAG); the Association Of Nigerians of Georgia, (ANOG); Kwara State Association Of Georgia and USA (KSANG, USA).
After my retirement from the Secretary of State, Georgia Professional Licensing Board, Macon, as an Executive Director, Examination Development and Testing Unit; I was recruited to Nigeria, by Otunba Gbenga Daniel, as Chairman, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Shagamu simultaneously with a Professor of Political Science at Babcock University, first as HoD, Political Science Department, later as Dean, Veronica Adeleke School of Social Sciences. Our TEAM started Graduate programmes in Master’s and PhD. The productions sustain the Graduate programmes.
After ten years at Babcock University, the former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki recruited my services as Director, Department of Democratic Studies, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, National Assembly, Abuja, Nigeria.
I returned to Atlanta during the COVID-19.
Making a dot whenever you find yourself is required of everyone in Diaspora in our various fields, the nucleus in Diaspora, for a difference in Nigeria.
Making a difference is the song we always sing to the ears of an average Nigerian leader each time we come across them in Diaspora. We encourage them to make a dot in their services to Nigeria. As they go across the world, they should establish sustainable programs in Nigeria to sustain our future generation.
We should not be too depressed at the rottenness in Nigeria. However, the pressure is on every one of us residing abroad. We should continue to drum positive messages to Nigerian leaders for good governance in Nigeria. Things have been tragically dislodged in the country, as endorsed by most of each succeeding administration in the Nigeria governments.
Nigeria needs total overhauling. We must be very conscious of who we place to represent our interests or at the helm of affairs in the country. Whereas Nigeria needs Legislative re-adjustments. Unfortunately, the Nigerian citizens, the followership, should break their silence by challenging those using their positions selfishly, especially Nigerian Senators that collect over twenty-nine million Naira as monthly salaries at the expense of workers minimum wage of N70,000.00 per month. This is very disheartening.
Sadly, the time Nigeria supposed to kick against the negligence of the preceding administrations, we focused on ourselves with little attention paid for the future. The hardship is hitting ridiculously hard now (2024) as we feel that abroad with our pocket sizes.
Encouragingly, an average Nigerian will find his way to sustain himself for life when the government plays its roles. An average Nigerian expect the government provision of basic life sustaining amenities. We expressed our views and opinions in the news media; we prayed in our respective religious centers. Consequently, the moment an average Nigerian has a positive mindset for change in Nigeria, things will get better for us and our future generations.
An average Nigerian needs: Adequate security to move freely for their businesses, good motorable roads to ease movement of people and goods, adequate water supply for all needs,
regular power supply for services to humanity as well as, satisfactory medical services to treat human body adjustments and beneficial Employment for life sustenance.
Part of my recommendations will be for: A responsive government to manage its natural resources fairly and deliver basic structural needs for Nigeria, Nigerian Education must be directed towards the need of the country in this jet age of developments across, the country’s economy be diverted from the consumption-market into a very sustainable production-market for a stronger currency, sustaining our health sector with minimal interlocking deceitful programmes from the Diaspora, especially, the Nigerian youth to speak out for their future and all hands must be on deck for each of our contributions, a ‘Dot,’ to make Nigeria a country of excellence as we cannot fold our arms, allowing the rottenness to continue.
Aside the various banditry activities that put Nigeria in bad light across the world, the real issues that drive banditry and make peace and stability impossible in Nigeria are: Abject poverty, hunger, disease, and ignorance.
They are more devastating in their destruction, more dangerous, more thorough, more resistant in their operations, than armed rebellion. They are the enemies which must now be crushed and crushed ruthlessly. Take those posers for solutions for the potential in Diaspora for Nigeria Development. Nigerians in Diaspora has a task that must be done.
This abridged speech by Prof. Ajayi was delivered at the AGM NIDOA South Savannah recently in USA.
