NIDO Honours Dabiri, Shagari

Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Americas and Newark Municipal Council jointly honoured Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa (AC-Lagos) and Hon Aminu Shagari (PDP-Sokoto) on Friday for their legislative interventions in Diaspora and Human rights affairs.

At a grand reception jointly organised by NIDO New Jersey, Newark Municipal Council and Newark African Commission in the City Hall of Newark on Friday, encomiums and praises were showered on the legislators.

Dabiri-Erewa, who is the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs and Shagari, a member of the Committee, were also given certificates of honour.

Earlier at another event, Dabiri-Erewa bagged another award by a group of Black American women leaders in New Jersey for her various political contributions to the development of women and children in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.

In his remarks, Mr Dosso Kassimou, President Newark African Commission said the lawmakers had done Nigeria and Africa proud through their legislative activities which have impacted positively on Nigerians living home and abroad.

Kassimou expressed happiness that Africans were making waves in their various human endeavours and urged other Africans to emulate the sterling qualities of the lawmakers.

Speaking in the same vein, Hon. Mildred Crump, President, Newark Municipal Council, urged other Nigerians to emulate the good work of the lawmakers and back their words with actions.

Crump said she was particularly happy that women were making steady progress in the new political dispensation not only in Nigeria but also on the African continent.

Mr Dayo Sanusi, NIDO New Jersey Coordinator, said the honour was bestowed on the lawmakers to show the organisation’s appreciation for their various contributions to the emancipation of Nigerians in Diaspora and human rights in general.

Sanusi said it is hoped that the lawmakers would continue to work for the realisation of the participation of NIDO in the democratic process in Nigeria through Diaspora voting.

In his acceptance speech, Shagari thanked all the groups for honouring them, saying they had been challenged to do more for emancipation of not only Nigerians in Diaspora but other African nations.

Shagari said they worked hard on the proposed Diaspora Commission in order for the NIDO to have a sense of belonging in the affairs of the country

To the elated Dabiri-Erewa, she said the award came at a time she least expected as it would spur her more to contribute her quota to the emancipation of children, women and other Nigerians living abroad.

She urged NIDO members not to forget their African origin and further advised them to be agents of positive change, saying the proposed Diaspora Commission would serve as a synergy between the Diasporas and the Nigeria.

NAN reports that the various receptions were part of the 2010 NIDO Americas two-day world conference geared towards financing infrastructure for sustainable development in Nigeria.