By Gbedebo Adeagbo
The former Senior Special Assistant (Diaspora Affairs) to former Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Hon. Femi Odere has called on the governors of the southwest region to establish what he called Southwest Diaspora Commission.
Speaking in Akure on Sunday, November 13, 2022 where he received the “Southwest Distinguished Diaspora Ambassador” award by the “Southwest Heralds” magazine, Hon. Odere said the creation of this Commission will compliment the developmental efforts of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission.
The former Ekiti State Diaspora Focal Point Person said the southwest region has all it takes to become a formidable economic marvel and experience modernity as the world knows it within a quarter of a century if “our leaders can unleash their power of imagination.”
He said, “the Southwest Diaspora Commission can be established for the region without prejudice to the states’ economic enhancing ministries and agencies just as the DAWN Commission was created, in order to address the socio-economic challenges that are common to them.”
He added that “this upwardly mobile, professionally and financially endowed critical mass of Nigerians in Diaspora of Southwest extraction are pretty much sitting there waiting to be asked by their governments for development assistance because there seems to be something in their culture and DNA that predisposes them to looking back with nostalgia, thereby wanting to help their home fronts.” Odere said that our Diaspora, who are still underutilized, can serve as what he called “Rapid Response Squad” of our economic development in some critical areas.
Hon. Odere thanked the magazine for the award. “I was just minding my business when the publisher called me that I had been nominated for this award. I interpreted this to mean that my work was being monitored. And it must have been satisfactory enough to warrant this important award. What it also means to me is that you’re indirectly asking me to do more by giving me this award.” “And I will always endeavor to do more whenever the privilege and opportunity presents itself,” he said.