In a speech to Nigerians in the US, President Bola Tinubu stressed the significance of their return home and urged them to “forget the frustration of the previous years’ leadership.”
During a townhall meeting organized by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly session in New York, on Wednesday night, Tinubu encouraged Nigerians abroad to adopt a success-oriented mindset to overcome challenges in their pursuits.
The meeting, organized by NIDCOM, provided a platform for President Tinubu to share his insights and advice with the Nigerian diaspora community in the U.S.
“I want to give you a measure that will resonate with you. I was once a diaspora. What you have been through, I have been through it. A change of mindset is necessary.
“Take it this night that Nigeria is home for business opportunities.
“Also, anywhere you stay, there is always going to be an opportunity in, and in everything you do, there is always going to be an opportunity if you know how to search and put your mind into it,’’ he said.
The president, on the other hand, expressed satisfaction with the behaviour of Nigerians who have continued to flourish in their chosen sectors in their host country.
“You are lucky to be among those who are celebrated for good manners and behaviour and are operating in an acceptable manner.
“I’m very proud of you; I have also been beneficial of inspiration, determination, commitment, and perseverance and that is all you need to get to pull through.
“But, we need you back home, Nigeria has arrived; forget the frustration of the previous year’s leadership,’’ he said.
Tinubu, who praised the efforts to educate out-of-school children, the healthcare plan, and the need to reduce poverty, stated that Nigeria is a privileged country.
Tinubu said, “Sincerely, we don’t have any reason to be poor, we are just poor in some leadership areas.
“That is what I harped on during my campaign. It was a very gruesome campaign but I won the election but if I didn’t throw myself into it with strong determination and results, I wouldn’t have won.
“There were so many hurdles on my way that would have stopped me. I refused to be stopped, you can do the same as many of you here who are contesting elections.”
He also asked Nigerians to embrace one another, saying there should be no labelling or discrimination among them.
Tinubu said, “You ought to embrace one another. No labelling, no identity, you should remove ethnic identity that tends to differentiate us.
“We are one single family, living in the same house but living in different rooms.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Town Hall Meeting was attended by the Minister of Foreign of Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Ade Boyega Oyetola and the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Amb.Tijjani Muhammad-Bande
Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Amb. Uzoma Emenike; Consul General of Nigeria in New York, Amb. Lot Egopija; and Consul General in Atlanta, Amb. Amina Samaila were also in attendance.
Others were; Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom; Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara, among others.
