Mining the diaspora resources

By Precious Obioyen
Budapest, Hungary

…those in the diaspora are still interested in the affairs back home; they want to invest and be sure that they will earn their returns; they want to stabilize matters even while away – so why not create the safe space for this to happen?

OUR times have changed a lot from anything the world used to know and; for the youths of today, everything has become even more challenging.
There is no doubt that those in the diaspora can exhibit a huge potential for our national development but first, let’s talk about some of the pros of living abroad and a few amazing things that can be explored. That is: moving away from the basic amenities that are available to the opportunities to learn, grow and see any chosen career in a broader view.
Education out here in most part of Europe is free not just to its citizens but also to citizens of Third World countries; and this is paid for collectively by taxpayers; so take your chances and apply. Immigrants living abroad have a strong potential to contribute to the developmental affairs of the country.
Indeed, there is a need to harness the strength of the diaspora as a means for national development. The figures showing Nigeria as highest immigrant remittance recipient are not a secret anymore, as it is evident in 2018, where Nigeria’s remittance exceeded oil earnings. This ultimately indicates that those in the diaspora are still interested in the affairs back home. They want to invest and be sure that they will earn their returns. They want to stabilize matters even while away – so why not create the safe space for this to happen? A platform that provides critical information for those in the diaspora.

WHAT happened to our low-cost housing schemes? I ask this because some time ago I did a little survey with a small group of Nigerians here (15 people); it turns out 75 percent of them would quickly and happily invest in a property or home in Nigeria, but they prefer something with a scheme so they can keep up a good payment plan amidst their daily expenses. I believe this is an area the government needs to be developing and subsidizing. The commission for Nigerians in diaspora should be able to reach out to more well-meaning citizens outside the country. Overseas is filled with all variation of highly skilled, semi-skilled professionals working in places and offices we could only dream about in Nigeria.
Another way to channel the strength of the Diaspora will be allowing them act as angel investors for small and medium scale businesses. Out here I have encountered quite a number of amazing Nigerians; for example Lagos Bufe, a business providing Nigerian cuisines to Africans and interested locals. As more people showcase our culture to the world, more businesses are birth. We have Nigerians as doctors, teachers, IT engineers, Nurses, owners of beauty salons and more.
By the way having a skill or handwork that is usually available in every corner of Nigeria can become a fortune house out here: cobblers, seamstresses, beauty therapists, stylists, etc., are in high demand.
There are still cons with being in the diaspora and these leans mostly on the dependency rate from family and friends back home. No matter how much pay one receives as a career starter in a multinational company abroad, it cannot be enough to cover everyone’s need after tax, rents etc. And the mentality of folks about those who live abroad greatly influences how they approach you and the frequency too. It will take anyone who is at the bottom of the ladder at least three years to fully find a balance and settle in any new country. 

Ms. Obioyen works in life sciences for a multinational company in Budapest. She can be reached at  [email protected]