The notice of her reappointment was contained in a letter written by the President to the Senate requesting the Upper Chamber to confirm her reappointment.
In November 2018, the President first named Dabiri-Erewa as NIDCOM chair. She was the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora before the appointment.
Dabiri-Erewa was also a member of the House of Representatives representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in Lagos from 2003-2015. While she was at the House of Representatives, Dabiri-Erewa chaired of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs.
Many call you Mama Diaspora, some describe you as a Political Amazon, while some others call you a Wonder Woman, but you are much more than these. I fondly call you “Mummy”, because that is who you truly are.
You have held with grace and awe your role as the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), and for the years that I have worked under you, all I see in you every day is your passion for humanity, makes things happen, to wipe tears off people’s faces, to build others up even when they think there is nothing left for them.
How do I describe your love for people, both known and unknown? How do I describe you going all out to resolve issues that sometimes seem to defy all solutions? Your manner of dissecting complicated matters never ceases to amaze me. I sometimes ask myself what type of person you are. You wouldn’t sleep if there was an issue that needed to be attended to, you work round the clock as if you were some superhuman. Maybe you are!
When people say angels live among us, you are an example of that statement. You embody selflessness, clothed in humility, adorned with courage. Mummy, you are not an ordinary leader.
As a young boy, I keenly watched you dish out the daily news on TV, with your graceful and soothing voice. From that distance, I did admire your personality, never knew I would work under you someday, never knew that the heavens would make our paths cross.
Mama Diaspora with passion and energy, your ability to remember things and pay attention to details should be studied as a course. You are the busiest, yet you are the first to celebrate every member of your staff on their birthday or other important life occasions. You carry staff members along, entrusting them with important tasks while guiding them through at the same time. I don’t know how many bosses do that.
Even when you are on vacation, your passion and commitment to the job at hand make you still attend to some duties, all because you want us to succeed. No wonder you have in your closet over 1,000 local and international awards. I can’t list all of them here, for one would need pages upon pages to achieve the job.
But permit me to list some of them here:
• Educate Africa Institute (EAI) Merit Award, 2021 • Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation Award as Integrity Icon of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Gold Medalist in Public Administration, 2021 • FOI Award of Excellence, 2021 • Ansar-ud-deen Youth Association (ADYAN) Northern States Council Congress Merit Award, 2021 • Global Excellence Award by Afroglobal television, Toronto, Canada • The 2021 NEWS DIRECT Award of Excellence for Exemplary leadership by News Direct Newspaper • The Most Outstanding Female-led Head of a Government Federal Agency, a Guardian Award as part of the Guardian’s Women’s Day Summit, 2021 • Royal Award by the Ayangburen of Ikorodu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi • Award of Excellence by His Excellency, Dr. Benson Alfred Bana, the Tanzania Ambassador to Nigeria, 2021 • Induction into the Center For Black and African Arts and Civilisation’s (CBAAC) Black and African Hall of Fame, 2021 • The Guardian’s Award for the ‘Most Outstanding Female-led Federal Commission, 2021 • The Frontline Defender Award for Human Rights and Sustainable Development by Drum Major of Social Justice and Awards, 2021 • ThisDay Style Magazine’s list of ’50 Women We Admire: Titans of Our Time’ (Mother’s Day Edition 2021) • Donald M Payne (US House of Reps) Award and Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition • Most Productive Female Representative of the Year 2010 by Igbogbo Community in Ikorodu • African Parliamentary Award, Committee Chairman of the Decade, 2010 • Catholic Youths Organisation of Nigeria (CYON), Garki Deanery Award, 2010, and • First National Waves Gold Award for Achievers as the Best House of Rep Member of the Year, 2008.
Working as the NIDCOM Chairman/CEO, I have seen you execute tasks with your resources with Zero budget, yet you wouldn’t complain. You even used your private car in your first year in office, yet you got on with the job. You have worked at giving Nigeria a credible image through absolute openness and transparency. Your relentless advocacy for justice and fairness for Nigerians abroad have been noted here and across the globe.
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Amidst several national and international engagements, you are always quick to respond to humanitarian issues, which I believe is why under you, NIDCOM has, with assistance from other agencies, successfully carried out the evacuations of stranded Nigerians, especially our girls, from countries like Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, South Africa,Turkey, etc.
Through the way you have impactful engagement and administration, some Nigerians on death row have been rescued and those in trouble have been given succour. NIDCOM has suddenly become an office Nigerians are proud of today.
When issues happen, they quickly tag you and the commission on social media, and despite your busy schedule, you always find time to respond to them. This is a prime example of people having confidence in you and the commission.
Since the beginning of the administration of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari, you have on numerous occasions intervened in the rescue and justice-seeking for Nigerians affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
In 2019, I remember how tirelessly you worked to rescue two students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Abia Alexandro Uchenna and Eboh Kenneth Chinedu, from a refugee camp in Bosnia when the duo traveled for an international table tennis competition in Croatia. Before this incident, your intervention in the attacks on Nigerian traders in Ghana was also publicly noticed.
In 2020, I also remember the role you played to rescue two Nigerians, Adams John, and Victor Obialu, who were stranded in Kenya as a result of irregular migration and visa overstay. In the same year, your interventions led to the rescue of singers Omah Lay and Tems when they were arrested in Uganda.
Most recently, your leadership at NIDCOM, coupled with partnerships with other local and international agencies, led to the evacuation of hundreds of Nigerians living and studying in Ukraine, when the country was invaded by Russia, we stayed out in the midnight waiting for their arrival, you are an Amazon that never gets tired of waiting to rescue Nigerians in distress.
Mummy, Hon (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa (OON), today is a great day. First, your conferment of the Order of the Niger (OON) by the President and second, your diamond birthday. As you celebrate these two milestones today, 11 October 2022, may God keep you happy and healthy always – for your family and friends, all of us at NIDCOM, our great party the All Progressives Congress (APC), and our great country, Nigeria!
Mr Emmanuel Babalola, father of late Itunnu Babalola, a.k.a Bekky Paul, who was wrongfully jailed and died in Cote d’Ivoire prison, has formally rejected the autopsy report carried out on the body of his 24-year-old daughter.
The apparently worried father made his opinion known when he paid a thank- you visit on the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa in her Lagos office.
He said the autopsy report which was written in French did not reflect the true situation of the cause of death of Itunnu.
Babalola, who wept uncontrollably, said he got somebody who interpreted some aspects of it to him, and expressed dissatisfaction with the result of the post mortem test.
“My daughter was framed up and was wrongfully jailed. It is painful that they lied against her after breaking into her apartment and stole her property. But it is even disheartening that she died mysteriously in prison after the intervention of your Commission when she was about to be freed.
“I don’t believe that she died of natural cause. I spoke with her on Wednesday in good health condition, how come she died two days later vomiting blood and claiming it was ” sepsis complicated by acute respiratory distress”. This is unacceptable.
“That is why am here to thank you for all you have done for me on her and through you appealing for justice for my late daughter.
Babalola reiterated his call on the Federal Government to ensure that his daughter’s name was cleared of the allegation and make sure that those who framed her up as well as those responsible for her death were brought to justice.
He stressed that while in prison, his daughter complained of poor treatment while in the custody of the Ivorian Government. She was poorly looked after and suffered from health complications. Her health deteriorated so bad that she had to be admitted to military hospital. She unfortunately died under mysterious circumstances, days after she was admitted to the hospital.
She told me how they took her to hinterland prison from the Cote d’Ivoire Capital Abidjan, a journey of about five hours, and imprisoned her there in order to discourage those championing the case as well as frustrating the cause of justice.
Responding, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa condoled with the Babalola family again and assured the father that the matter would not be allowed to go away like that.
At the solemn occasion , the NIDCOM boss who confirmed that the autopsy said Itunu died of “ sepsis complicated by acute respiratory distress” said the autopsy indeed left a lot of doubts because there are gaps in the medical report which calls for more investigation.
The NIDCOM Chairman also insisted that the Ivorian Police man, the DPO, implicated in the Itunnu’s frame up has questions to answer.
Dabiri-Erewa said that some group of lawyers have indicated their willingness to take the matter up with the ECOWAS court to seek justice for Itunnu.
On behalf of the Commission, she provided some financial support for the family to cushion the effects of losing a breadwinner.
Itunnu died on Nov. 14 at Ivorian military hospital and was buried on Dec. 4 at Sango cemetery in Ibadan at the age of 24.
She had been wrongly and unjustly convicted of human trafficking , sentenced to 20 years imprisonment , which was later reduced to 10 years.
She had served two out of the 10 years sentence before the father raised an alarm on behalf of his daughter .
The Nigerian High Commission in Côte d’Ivoire immediately employed the services of a lawyer to appeal the judgment, got the case transferred to Abidjan and the lawyer was on the last lap of finalising the appeal before her sudden death in prison.
Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) today August 24th, 2021, inaugurated a Joint Committee for the commencement of the Abuja Diaspora City project. The event which took place at the Conference hall of NIDCOM at the Federal secretariat was attend by both the Managing Director/Chief of FHA, Senator Gbenga Ashafa and the Executive Chairman/CEO of NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa.
In his opening remarks, Senator Ashafa thanked Predident Muhammadu Buhari for the encouragement and support of his administration towards the welfare of all Nigerians, which is seeing to the realisation of the project. He also thanked Hon. Abike Dabiri for her strong sense of commitment, and energy, put in towards the fruition of the Diaspora City.
Speaking further, the FHA MD reminded all that the Diaspora City project is a tripartite arrangement, comprising of the Federal Housing Authority, Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Nigerians In Diaspora Commission, with the backing of the ICPC and the Presidency. According to Senator Ashafa, ‘…the inauguration of this Committee has further brought the realisation of this project closer’. He said that the committee is expected to submit their report in 4 weeks.
In her response, the Executive Chairman, Nigerians In Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa, thanked FHA for the idea of the Diaspora City. She noted that with this initiative, Nigerians in Diaspora can now comfortably own befitting houses in the country and avoid a lot of the incidences of being short changed or outrightly duped in trying to put up houses back home. She expressed optimism that the project would be completed within the life span of this administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The Executive Chairman also said she expects the committee to come up with their report in 4 weeks.
The members of the committee are: for FHA- Hajara Kadiri, Surv. Jide Odegbaro, Arc. Adamu Tanimu, Ibrahim Dang, Engr.Aloysius Nduka and Barr Jafaru, who will serve as the secretary. The NIDCOM team is made up of: Hon. Abdulrahman Terab, Mr. Gabriel Odu, Mr Mustapha M. Al- Amin, Barr Habibat Eluameh, Mr Inyang Inyang, Mr. Oladipo Odebowale and Mr Abdulrahman Balogun.
The Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa says if the content of the Nigeria – South Africa Bi-National Commission is implemented to the letter, Early Warning Systems, Security and Intelligence Gathering as well as People to People Contacts will be achieved.
The NIDCOM Boss stated this at a high level meeting with the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria Amb. Thami Mseleku in Abuja. The NIDCOM Chairman/CEO believes that between Government to Government, there are no perceptions and mindsets but the challenges are People to People Relations, which NIDCOM is ready to work with the South African High Commission to address.
Meanwhile, the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria Amb. Thami Mseleku explained that only a few bad eggs in both sides of the divide that are sending out negative narratives which the government is working hard to curtail. According to him, “crime is crime, it does not know color, ethnicity or religion and should be treated as such.
The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Government of the Republic of South Africa in October 1999 established the Bi-National Commission (BNC) called Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission.
NiDCOM / SMEDAN PARTNERSHIP YIELDING RESULTS AS RETURNEES GET FREE TRAINING AND EQUIPMENTS TO START THIER OWN BUSINESSES.
The SMEDAN/NIDCOM Partnership, borne out of Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa’s initiative for Returnees of the South African Xenophobic attack Victims in 2019 and Other Returnees from Lebanon and Libya, has commenced a 4 day programme to empower some of the returnees and others with hardware equipments to kick-off artisanship.
The empowerment programme is ongoing concurrently in eleven states of the Federation, namely: Lagos , Ekiti, Adamawa, Katsina, Ebonyi, Delta, Rivers, kwara, Niger, Zamfara and Bauchi state.
NIDCOM, under the leadership of Chairman/CEO, Abike Dabiri Erewa, decided to partner with an organisation like SMEDAN to help build the capacity of the Returnees by empowering them on some certain Vocational and Entrepreneurship skills, considering the fact that most of them came back home empty-handed after losing their businesses and properties to the attack.
The NIDCOM Chairman, in her Keynote speech delivered by Mr Akanbi Abiodun, advised the participants not to despise the period of little beginnings, stating that the modern-day equipment SMEDAN will hand-out to them at the end of the training must be treated as a poverty defying tool.
Speaking, Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, DG of SMEDAN and Chairman of SMEDAN board/former Deputy Governor of Lagos, Otunba Femi Pedro thanked Hon. Abike Dabiri for her enormous contributions towards the actualization of the training/ skills acquisition programme.
Both public officials agreed that NIDCOM under the leadership of Hon. Abike Erewa is doing a great deal in de-populating Nigeria’s unemployment market and simultaneously bringing into Nigeria, Diaspora market in areas of critical sector investments, skills/knowledge transfer, Diaspora settlement assistance and most recently, the Diaspora fund initiative.
Abisola Ogunlenu, a trainee/participant, who was appointed training Rep. for one of the subset classes, poured praises on the NIDCOM Chairman’s effort in taking all of them away from the streets into a self-employed who is about to conquer the streets of business.
Other beneficiaries poured encomiums on Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for finding them worthy and for always looking out for them since they returned to Nigeria.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa’s contribution was also highlighted in glowing terms and that NIDCOM’s logo will continue to be an emblem for positive Human development collaborations in Nigeria and globally.
There was excitement all around, as the participants were been given an opportunity of a life time towards financial independence.
AjasaInfo 