How can Nigerians in Diaspora make Nigeria better #Oct1

Space Summary

The Twitter Space How can Nigerians in Diaspora make Nigeria better #Oct1 hosted by NIUKCommunity. The discussion focused on how Nigerians in the UK can actively participate in initiatives to positively impact Nigeria. Through collaboration, skill-sharing, advocacy, and cultural engagement, the diaspora can contribute to economic growth, educational development, and societal change in their homeland. Celebrating heritage, supporting local businesses, and fostering unity were key themes. The space emphasized the importance of unity and collective progress for making a meaningful difference in Nigeria's future.

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Questions

Q: How can diaspora engagement benefit the development of Nigeria?
A: Enhanced collaboration and resource-sharing can drive positive impact across various sectors in Nigeria.

Q: What role does cultural exchange play in bridging the gap between Nigerians in the UK and Nigeria?
A: Cultural exchange fosters understanding, unity, and a stronger connection to Nigerian roots.

Q: Why is supporting local businesses in Nigeria crucial for diaspora engagement?
A: Backing local businesses fuels economic growth, creates employment opportunities, and bolsters the local economy.

Q: How can Nigerians in the UK contribute to educational initiatives in Nigeria?
A: Engaging in education and skill transfer programs empowers Nigerians in the UK to share knowledge and support development.

Q: In what ways can the Nigerian diaspora advocate for positive change in Nigeria?
A: Through advocacy and activism, the diaspora can address societal issues, drive policy change, and promote progress in Nigeria.

Q: What benefits do mentorship and networking within the diaspora community provide?
A: Mentorship and networking offer support, guidance, and opportunities for personal and professional growth within the diaspora.

Q: How does celebrating Nigerian heritage strengthen the bond between Nigerians abroad and Nigeria?
A: By celebrating heritage, Nigerians in the UK maintain a strong cultural connection, fostering pride and identity.

Q: Why is unity and collective progress important among Nigerians in the UK?
A: Unity promotes collaboration, solidarity, and a shared commitment to contributing positively to Nigeria's development.

Q: What are some ways diaspora initiatives can drive economic growth in Nigeria?
A: Supporting startups and investing in local businesses from abroad can stimulate economic development and job creation in Nigeria.

Q: How can collaboration among Nigerians in the UK lead to knowledge-sharing for mutual benefit?
A: Collaboration enhances access to diverse skills, experiences, and resources, promoting growth and development for all involved.

Highlights

Time: 00:15:29
Enhancing Diaspora Connections Exploring strategies to strengthen ties between Nigerians in the UK and their homeland for mutual growth.

Time: 00:25:17
Community-Led Development Initiatives Discussing the impact of community-led projects on fostering unity and progress within the diaspora.

Time: 00:35:40
Economic Empowerment through Support Highlighting the role of diaspora support in empowering local businesses and startups in Nigeria.

Time: 00:45:52
Advocacy for Change Examining how advocacy efforts by Nigerians in the UK can influence positive societal change in Nigeria.

Time: 00:55:10
Cultural Exchange for Unity Exploring the importance of cultural exchange in bridging divides and fostering a sense of belonging among Nigerians.

Time: 01:05:30
Education and Skill Transfer Programs Empowering Nigerians in the UK to contribute meaningfully through educational initiatives and knowledge-sharing.

Time: 01:15:20
Mentorship and Networking Opportunities Creating avenues for mentorship and networking within the diaspora community for personal and professional development.

Time: 01:25:45
Celebrating Heritage and Identity Embracing Nigerian heritage to maintain cultural ties and strengthen the bond between the diaspora and Nigeria.

Time: 01:35:55
Collaborative Growth Initiatives Exploring how collaboration among Nigerians in the UK can drive knowledge-sharing and mutual development.

Time: 01:45:10
Unity and Progress for Impact Highlighting the significance of unity and collective progress for impactful contributions to Nigeria's growth.

Key Takeaways

• Strengthening the diaspora's connection to Nigeria enhances opportunities for positive impact.
• Collaboration among Nigerians in the UK can facilitate knowledge and resource-sharing for development.
• Engagement in community-led initiatives fosters a sense of unity and collective progress.
• Utilizing the diaspora's skills and expertise can support various sectors in Nigeria's growth.
• Networking within the diaspora community creates avenues for mentorship and support.
• Promoting cultural exchange and awareness bridges the gap between Nigerians in the UK and Nigeria.
• Education and skill transfer programs can empower Nigerians abroad to contribute effectively.
• Supporting local businesses and startups in Nigeria from the diaspora can drive economic growth.
• Advocacy and activism initiatives by the Nigerian diaspora can influence positive change in Nigeria.
• Celebrating Nigerian heritage and traditions strengthens identity and connection to the homeland.

Behind the Mic

Introduction to the Discussion

Won't mind, I don't care, I don't. I just. I put up on the mind. That's I Alan got me money. Don't care. I don't like a. Jammy. Sadeena. All right, buddy. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Thank you for joining us on the space this evening. We're going to be talking about how can Nigerians in diaspora make Nigeria better itself. I want to say a big thank you to all our guest speakers who have joined us on this space this evening. We're going to be talking a lot. It's Nigeria 64. Hey, what can we do, you know, how can we make it better? And of course how can the country is self improved? And I'm sure a lot of us believe for Nigeria to get better, it has to start from a lot of Nigerians in diaspora itself at all times.

Welcoming Guests and Setting the Agenda

So I'm just going to say welcome aboard, appreciate the space on your timeline. Let's give all our people on board, let's talk about celebrating the pandemic. Let's talk about our wonderful nation and of course what can we do as Nigerians in diaspora. And of course how can we also move Nigeria forward at all times itself. Indeed, we also have join us on space, my wonderful co host Ebonywa from the US, also part of the Nigerians US community as well. Thank you for your due for Nigerians in diaspora. We also have some of our guest speakers on the space this evening. Chineye Iwanaka, I was a founder Africa policy conversation. We also have Doctor Toye Shubande Ode speech this evening. So Desik leadership experts is also a columnist at business the NG.

Guest Speakers and Their Roles

So make sure you follow his articles at all times. The business engine itself. Also we have the amazing man himself, Mister Toyeb Adewale Adela who's a a mentor in the Nike community towards the life coach and the mentor himself. Amazing, amazing job is doing. Also we have Madame Wendy Olaiwola, was the president of nigerian nurses in the UK. Joining us on the space this evening. Also we have Madam Ayodili Olujide was a division head of retail and SME banking for Women bank in Nigeria. Also Juliana Olainka who's also a broadcaster journalist broodicci for Chinese tv in London as well. And lastly we have Shion Onig bide, director budget it Nigeria. And also going to be joining us on the space itself will be Aaron Phillips, our brother from the admin for Nigerians in Australia community all the way in Sydney.

The Importance of Diaspora Communities

I know it's about 05:00 a.m. in Sydney. But you know, it's glad to have you at our time. And of course we have the amazing Doctor Molola, the founder of NMA community itself in Saudi, Qatar and Baron itself. Listen, there's amazing nigerian communities all around the world. And to the best of my knowledge I think we have over 17 Nigerians, over 70 million Nigerians in diaspora are present itself. So that tells you there's a lot Nigerians in diaspora would have and make an impact into the nigerian economy itself. And also we have a lot of nigerian communities in diaspora. So if you're in nigerian diaspora so please make sure you're part of a nigerian community. We have the Ni U. S. Community, we have the Nigerians in Canada community. We have the Nigerians in the UK community.

Fostering Community Connections and Support

We have the Nigerians in Finland community, Nigerians in Germany community, Nigerians in Australia community in Ireland, I uae itself, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, you name it, all around the place, Ireland, Portugal, all these amazing nigerian communities in diaspora. So doing great things at all times. And of course it's important we talk about how Nigerians in diaspora can make life better for themselves as well. And of course not just making life better for themselves but having an impact at all times. And of course how can Ajazi diaspora make Nigeria better? A lot of us travel abroad, a lot of us are enjoying good governance, will see how things work at all times. So it's important to make sure we all play our role as Nigerians in diaspora. So first and foremost, welcome to the twitter space and so we get ahead to reflect on Nigeria at 64 is a moment for all of us to pause and evaluate.

Reflecting on Nigeria's Journey

We look at the jody of our nation that's been through different traums, trials and of course different transformations over the last six decades itself at all times. Also Nigeria gained independence on the 1 October 1960. So that makes it Nigeria is 64 years old today. So when we get independence in 1960 that was a turning point to our nation's history. Of course from the colonizers of course a turning point our history which makes represent a lot of freedom for us as a nation, hope and of course an aspiration for millions and millions of Nigerians. So as we might decide for this today, I think it's very crucial for us to look beyond just the celebrations itself and of course think about where we are today, nation and of course where do we need to go and also what is the way forward for us as a nation of over 200 million citizens both home and abroad as well.

Importance of Discussion Topics

So newspapers this evening, we're going to have a few discussions. We're going to be talking about. We're going to be discussing the nation's progress across various sectors itself, from education to healthcare, to the economy, technology, of course, politics. Most importantly, the role of Nigerians in diaspora in shaping the next chapter of our story. Because it's important, I'm sure, that we want to be here in the next ten years and people should be talking about, oh, Lagos is the Dubai of Africa, for example. All this is not possible, is not rocket science. And this stuff from all of us coming together as one nation and, you know, shaping the next chapter of our story is about making sure, you know, history lies beyond our self at all times.

Addressing Nigeria's Challenges

We'll also be arranging different voices, sharing their thoughts on Nigeria's past, present, future, focusing on what makes us proud and what challenges lie ahead. It's not going to be easy, but I believe building nation starts a step at a time. And I believe a lot of us who are based in diaspora, we've been there, donate, enjoy good governance. We have what it takes. We have the knowledge, the wisdom. Okay, you know, let's do ABCD. And at the end of the day, we can, you know, make sure we come together as, you know, as one big nigerian family to make the right decisions to put our country forward. We can also reflect on how Nigerians in diaspora can contribute to building a stronger nation. So let's make this an exciting conversation.

Cultural Recognition and Engagement

I'm glad to have everyone of us on board this evening. And so, because it's a nigerian, we're celebrating our independence day. So let's just go quickly and play national anthem and then we get a space up and run. Just give us 10 seconds, enjoy national anthem and we get our space up and running. Thank you, guys. Okay, guys, thank you very much. Well, someone just puts my attention that we're playing the old national antenna. Hey, this is sometime, but I guess a lot of us are not used to the new national attempt yet itself. So it's going to give the mic quickly to Ebony Marcos just to say a few things and we get a space up around. Good.

Independence Day Reflections and Acknowledgments

Good evening. Ebon, the mic is yours. Hi. Hi. Good evening, everybody. My name is Ebon. I wanted to say happy Independence Day to everybody. Well, we hope that we see better days ahead or we have better days ahead of. I mean, I'll be co hosting with the Niuk community as well as Olomov. Debbie, thank you so much for the opportunity. I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday. Okay, so I'm just going to give a debrief of what I, you know, what I'm. It's basically just encouraging everybody to, you know, keep supporting their people back home. If we ask, like the things that we do, obviously, from diaspora to Nigeria, we put in a lot of things and some people would say it's black tax, but yeah, we already, you know, putting in our quota.

Technology and Diaspora Voting

So all these things can also happen in our country as well because technology has made life a lot easier for everyone of us. In fact, as I'm talking to you now, countries like Morocco, even our neighbor Ghana with 32 million population, they're also in the process of starting their diaspora votes. So my question to you, Chinny, will be with the ongoing conversations around diaspora voting, I mean, what do you think are the key steps needed to make this a reality? And of course, how can Nigeria's in diaspora and should have voices ahead in the national election? Is it possible 2027 is around the corner? Is it possible for Nigerians in diaspora to vote in the next election?

Reflections on Nigeria's Diaspora

Coming the Marquis of Chune. Good evening, my brother. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Everyone who has spoken before me, you all have been amazing. Oh my gosh. I'm like, look at the brains we have in this country and we're still where we are. But yeah, it's good to be here. Thank you for the Nigerians in the UK, those in Australia, wherever you might be. Thank you for still caring about the nation and everything that's going on in the nation. So the question about diaspora voting is a very important question. And for those who don't know, I'm the convener and co-founder of Africa Policy Conversations. And this is one of the things that has been top of mind for us since the beginning of the organization.

Grassroots Engagement and Legislative Change

Excuse me. We have a very strong community and, you know, we have people in the UK, in the US, Canada, and as much as the events we do here on the grassroots, we do a lot of convenings in the diaspora. And, you know, really quickly we formulated a program called framing a new legislature because we wanted to tackle one of these issues which is diaspora voting. So the whole idea of this framing a new legislature program was, how can we get a critical mass of people in the legislative arm of government to care about some of these things that we care about? So I'll give you, like, just, you know, an overview. Like nsas happened, a lot of people got very involved in terms of younger people, right. Because before we used to leave voting to what I'll call, let me say, illiterates or people in the grassroots or in the rural communities.

Voting Dynamics and Education

So vote buying was the order of the day, or is the order of the day, because a lot of those people on that level are very hungry. And, you know, someone who is hungry sometimes might not make the right decisions. Now, voters in the diaspora, yes, they might not know everything, but at least they are more enlightened, they are more educated. They care about the issues. They will most likely vote around policies, around manifestos rather than, you know, just selling their vote or just because I do know that, yes, sometimes tribe religions still affect some people in the diaspora. But generally speaking, some people in diaspora, they left the country because they were not happy about the way things are going. And so they do care about what, you know, getting the right people in the right seats.

Encouragement for Political Involvement

This voting in the diaspora, from the diaspora. Right. Is something that they've tried to do in the past. It's been shot down. I think the first time was in 2012, I mean, in recent history and then more recently in 2022. To do that, we need to review our constitution. And we all know that constitutional amendment is a very tough process. Right. You would need about two thirds majority of each of the legislative houses. You would need a change to the constitution. I think it's section. Section 77 or 177. Those two sections basically provide. Section 77 and 117 says that only persons in Nigeria, you know, have the right to vote.

Restrictive Provisions and the Impact of Diaspora Contributions

So you have to be resident in Nigeria, basically. And then it also says that, you know, a person must be ordinary. An ordinary resident walk in and originate from local government area or ward covered by the registration center. So you can see that these provisions are quite restrictive. And, you know, in recent times, especially because of the contributions from the diaspora by way of remittances, by way of, you knowledge transfer and all that, it's become, you know, it's become very, you know, important to include diaspora voices.

Creating a Program for Engagement

So back to Africa policy conversations, like I was saying. So we created this program called framing a new legislature program. And we tried to engage some of the legislators, the ones who came out as a result of the NSAS movement, the obedience movement, some of these movements that have happened recently because we know they've been offsets. There were some people who didn't even campaign that won seats. So we even started with those people. We said, okay, you guys didn't spend so much money because we know that the ones who spent a lot of money in elections, when they get in there, they don't really care. They just want to make back the money.

Challenges in Diaspora Voting Efforts

So when you start bringing things like, oh, diaspora voting, can we sponsor a bill? All that to them, they're thinking, how is that putting money in my pocket? What does, you know, but if it's for instance, something that has to do with NNPC, something that has to do with, you know, some other things that they know that, oh, they'll be sitting allowance, they'll fly them somewhere. You know, sometimes you find that they like all those, they think they are so juicy, the committees, those kind of things, hearings, they love those kind of things.

Constitutional Amendments for Change

So what can be done? Like I mentioned, we need a constitutional amendment and you need two thirds, which is a lot of people, the last time it came up, majority voted against it. The two houses, now politicians, some of them have fears that maybe, you know, if the ones that want to rig elections, for instance, they might feel like, okay, those in the diaspora are very enlightened, so we might not be able to obviously sway them. Some people complain that, oh, it's because of technical or, you know, they feel like the technology were not as advanced. But we know that's a lie.

Trust and Challenges in Diaspora Bonds

Most of the unicorns that come from Africa and Nigeria, we have a lot of tech. If it's about technology and cyber security and all those things, we have brains to ensure that, you know, at least the large extent, obviously nothing is 100% in this world. But I think we can do something. If we can do our passports, if we can get our passports from any part of the world, we should be able to vote. I mean, a lot of countries did this thing in the sixties, in the, you know, and we, you know, have to, you know, find solutions. But to be very honest with you all from this program, I told you guys that we have, we've been engaging with these people and it's not top of mind for majority of the people who are there.

Pushing for Changes from the Diaspora

So what can be done? What's the solution? Since this thing is not top of mind for them? I believe the diaspora needs to really increase the pressure, right? Because we already talked about the fact that the remittances that come from the diaspora is much more than the money we even get from aid. I think the last report I saw is like seven times more, eight times more. So, meaning that it's more than all the money we get from the UN, the world banks, the this, the that. So we are actually funding ourselves more than any other nation or any other organization.

Importance of Homegrown Solutions

And there's the second question I'm going into. The second question that you asked me, I've answered. I think I've kind of answered the first question and the second question around how more practical things that we can do. Some of the previous speakers touched on this is a concept called isomorphic mimicry. Isomorphic mimicry basically means copy and paste. A lot of African countries have been stifled, have not been able to develop and grow because we like copying what the west does.

Promoting Nigeria's Unique Solutions

Or if America does this, then we must do it. And so our policies, a lot of our policies do not work. A lot of our policies cannot be implemented because it's not fit for purpose. Right? So we need more homegrown solutions. We need more homegrown solutions. And we need our diaspora. We need the people on the ground, the cities on the ground, not to keep outsourcing thinking to the IMF, the World banks. All these people. Yes, they mean well. Some of them mean well, but because of their structures that they have in place, you know, they call it plan and control.

Empowering Active Citizenship

You know, someone alluded to it as well. One of the speakers, you know, you say, okay, this thing is how they do it in Washington, DC. They call it Washington consensus. They have a bucket list. They'll tell you, float your currency, remove subsidy, do this, do that. That's what they tell all the countries to do. Same thing in Kenya, for instance. That's why they had the protest, because they told them with the finance bill and all that, they told them, well, this is what you have to do, right? So sometimes we're not saying, yes, you don't need to have reforms.

Socioeconomic Development in Unison

Yes, with our nations have reform, but all the nations cannot have the same bucket list of reforms that they need to make. So we need to come together. We need to be more active citizens. To be honest, the pressure has to be more. Nigerians are a little bit too docile. We. We absorb a lot of things, right? So if you're. If you're able to bring in remittances, you're bringing all these things, you should have a voice, you should have a say.

Understanding Power Dynamics

So we need to put pressure on our representatives, the people in the National assembly. Our citizens don't know that you can recall your legislators. You need to be able to know, what have they been voting on? Are they voting on things that affect us or are they not voting on things that affect us? And that's how you use your power, right? Money is power someone talked about is economic power, you know, is very important. And politics trumps policies.

Reinforcing Political Participation

So that leads me to the next recommendation. A lot of people have to get involved in politics. We can't run away from it. We keep saying, no, it's a dirty game. Because if you see the caliber of people now that are going into politics, it's really bad. Elections happened recently. In elections happen, you know, and that leads me to another point around the Supreme Court decision that just happened with the local government autonomy. More people need to run for office so that we can even have bottom up changes.

The Need for Legislative Changes

So how are we ensuring that the policies from that level, from the state level? Because remember, even when you pass a bill, at least at the national level, these states too have to have those bills also domesticated in their own states as well for these things to take shape. So politics trumps policies. The diaspora need to put their money where their mouth is. I know we're already doing, but we need to do more.

Economic Empowerment through Policies

We need to make sure that the right people are getting into those seats and we are giving them mandates. These are the things, number one, diaspora voting. If you've stayed in office for up to one year and we've not seen the bill come up for hearing and you don't vote for it, we're going to recall you, a lot of diaspora people, you're sending people to money to people in your villages. You can tell them, yes, I'm sending money for you, for food and for school and everything.

Influencing Political Participation

But when it comes to this issue, this person I want you to vote for somebody that is going to, you know, so we make our politics issues based on policies, not based on this tribe, this religion and all that. This is what if not this thing would have been achieved a long time ago. So we have to be able to influence the policies that work for us, not just copying. Most times when you go to the floor of the house, they just copy, they just leave something or there's a bill in America they will lift it to, but they're not really doing anything innovative, sorry to say.

Creating Effective Representation

A lot of our politicians, a lot of our representatives, the legislative arm of government, they are not doing that work. The thinking, the research, gathering data from the citizens, from the end users to ensure that our policies and our laws are fit for purpose. So I want to stop here because I know that. I'm sure other people need to speak, but there's a lot that needs to be done. Like I mentioned, active citizenship, active city.

Collaboration for Change

Everybody needs to be involved. They need to know what's going on. Number two, we also need to ensure that we're avoiding isomorphic mimicry, like I mentioned. And then we also need to make sure that we put our money. We already have remittances going back home. We're sending money to do things. Let that money also influence the politics and the politics will also influence the policies. So I'm going to yield the mic now.

Inclusivity of Diaspora Contributions

Thank you, thank you, thank you very much. Inaye Monaka, our founder, african police conversation. Listen to me. I can listen to you all day long. And every time I go to different events, you know how you speak? I'm like, wow, wow. I mean, amazing, amazing. Thank you very much. I forgot to say something. You know, in our last event, we had some governors and they were also supposed to have the minister of trade, because I love what doctor Toye talked about investment laws for diaspora.

Exploring Investment Opportunities

Do you know, that's something we can do very easily. That can be a very quick win because when we had plans, it's just that the minister of trade, you know, she lost her mom, so that's why she canceled. But something like that is what we could have easily told her at that event. That. Look, because I was also talking about the diaspora economic zone. To have a zone that is for diasporans to be able to come access land, access, you know, shared infrastructure, so that we have tangible.

Challenges in Implementation

The problem is our leaders are not thinking, they're not thinking outside the box. People are just being safe. And we need, with the economy and everything that's happening right now. I'm sorry to cut you that zone you just mentioned. I was at a meeting early in January where someone made mention of that and they said the response we got was that the danger in that is that we want to create a social class system that brings in segregation of diaspora financial power, such that we will now have a cluster colony of rich Nigerians from diaspora, away from the reality of poor Nigerians in the local neighborhoods.

Economic Viability and Growth

We did make a proposition on that and a powerful government official said, we are creating a social strata that is going to create classism. And there are so many huge arguments around it, but they don't understand the economic value. I just had to mention that. If. You look at China, if you look at other parts of the world, you have special zones, every zone cannot develop the same.

Recognizing Competitive Advantages

You have to look at the segments of the economy. If do we want to, what's our comparative advantage? You want to focus on agriculture, do you want to focus on the ports, maritime, whatever, then people can then invest in those areas, those places will now develop, create jobs, create wealth. So you cannot have. It's not, I mean, we spoke to one person, but eventually, like I said, it's about also applying pressure.

The Path Forward

I think it's more pressure. People will yield to it. A lot of those people in government, they're looking for solutions. A lot of them are out of ideas. So we must continue the conversations. Absolutely, absolutely. Thank you Chinnaya. And just like you said as well, it was unfortunately the minister of Trek couldn't come to our last event. Maybe she can come next time.

Engaging Stakeholders

The governor of Kaduno State was at the event. He spoke very well. But for me, some of the things Ubasani said they've done really put it into practice. Also our place of state, governor, the representative were there, talked about a lot of the lands in joss and all these things, you know, even though at the event we're trying to, you know, convince a lot of Nigerians in Dallas power to come and invest in participating cardinal state.

Navigating Policy Challenges

But some of these things, the policies on the ground, just like you said, is not working, you know, and this is some of the problems we have, but we have to work around it to find a way forward itself. But I'm glad we have this conversation but I'm going to come back to you on. There's a particular question.

Seeking Solutions to Policy Issues

I want to come back to you kenny, but maybe after that. Speaker one Doctor Mullajust please. We have a lot of speaking. Just 1 second. Regarding our policies, you say do not work. I'd love to hear from you. I mean some of the reasons and of course solutions of how those policies can work. Doctor Mullak, 30 seconds quickly please.

Insights on Policy Implementation

Okay. I just wanted to add to what she just finished saying. One of the things she said was about reforms and having different realities per country. For example, we have the sustainable development goals. There are some countries that already have certain things done and has, might even take more than 2030. And our realities are different.

Commentary on Voting Processes

So we can't be using the same, like the same brochures and the same portfolios in ensuring that we have different policies from different countries. And the second thing I wanted to say is, even if we don't have online voting now, can we at least start from having like a ballot boxes in nigerian embassies? In different countries. And let's start with that first. And then we can, you know, evolve and become whatever we want to be in terms of, you know, the world standard or global standard of voting.

Banking Solutions for the Diaspora

That's what I wanted to say. Okay, thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much and good evening. Good morning. We know wherever part of the world that we are, I think it's been very interesting to listen to different perspectives on different issues plaguing the country.

Wema Bank Initiatives

But what I find that is very profound is that everybody wants to be of the solution. And that's quite exciting. So the perspective that I bring in this evening on to this speech at this time is just to be able to speak about a few initiatives that Wema bank as an organization, you know, have been pushing out there into the market to be able to impact the society, but most importantly, to be able to impact, you know, small businesses.

Supporting Small Businesses through Diaspora Connections

Now, when it comes to working with the diaspora, there are quite a number of activities that we have lined up to partner with the diaspora in supporting, you know, our small businesses. I think it was just last month we had an event at an event in London where we hosted one of the biggest African trade fair, you know, bringing Nigeria, creating export market for small businesses.

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs

And this part, for this particular event, it was more for women, exposing them to international market and helping them to be able to sell, creating opportunities beyond the shores of Nigeria and the diaspora community made that to be a huge success. So this evening, I've had a lot of conversations about funding coming into Nigeria, how this funding can be effectively, you know, utilize, you know, I mean, generally, I would say that about 80% of small businesses get their funding to start up business, get capital to start up business from friends, from families.

Solidarity and Support Systems

And that speaks to the spirit of Nigerians, you know, how supportive we are, how generous it is that we are. But typically you'll find that, and I think there was a particular speaker who spoke about, I mean, no diaspora people. I mean, yeah, if you're in the diaspora community, how you can work with local businesses, you can partner with them to, whether to mentor, to learn, to just be able to the narrative of your own business.

Transporting Knowledge and Resources

But what it is that I want to talk about tonight is how you can create a structure around supporting business in Nigeria. How the platform, the digital platform that we have put out there to be able to create transparency, so to speak, to support small businesses and giving the diasporan community the opportunity to be part of socioeconomic development in the country.

Promoting Transparency in Contributions

The diaspora remittances already represent a huge contribution to the socioeconomic development. But this platform is a structure where you can even directly track your contributions to supporting small business owners. Program is one that Wema bank is running in partnership with federal government. So one of the agendas of this administration is to be able to create jobs, to be able to push job opportunities, especially amongst young people.

Government and Private Sector Collaboration

And that has been done through the creation of a platform, the Nigerian office of Philanthropy and Impact Investment, which is NPO, abbreviated as NPO. Now, what WMA bank has done is to be able to create a digital platform to be able to facilitate this donation. The digital platform is, we call it the Ifil eye philanthropy.

Small Contributions Making Big Impacts

The I being the elements that mainstreams donation in Nigeria amongst individuals. And so individuals can put as low as $2 in the Nigerian currency, as low as 2000 naira. And it can be done, you know, recurrently building up momentum to be able to support small businesses in this. In four specific focus areas. Furniture, fashion, agricultural and renewable.

Supporting Women through Initiatives

And about 30% of all of the funds would go to be able to support women businesses, to be able to create transparency about the use of the funds. The bank has also appointed Deloitte audit firm to be able to make sure that they track and provide reports from time to time on the use of the fund. The platform, you can access that platform on iFil.

Promoting Confidence in Contributions

I don't know if you. It's something you want to be able to put up so everybody can see it. You can go onto that platform and read up, you know, as much information as need to be able to give you the confidence to support the country. Like I mentioned earlier on, there's a. There's passion, there's.

Engaging Diaspora for Economic Development

I see, you know, people just wanting to really be part of the solution, wanting to support economic development, wanting for remittances to be effectively utilized in the country to be able to push the overall aspiration that we all want, making Nigeria to be one of those great nations. So this is one initiative. I mean, there are several platforms in the country, but this is one that is being done between the public sector and the private sector.

An Open Opportunity for Impact

And it's available to all Nigerians, whether locally or in diaspora. Well, the opportunity that we have this night is to be able to introduce this platform, just talk about it and let everyone know that there's a platform that is available to receive or for you to donate to, able to support job creation.

Job Creation and Sustainable Development

I know the overall focus of this initiative is job creation. Job creation. Job creation. In a couple of weeks, the various stakeholders of this program would also be coming to this platform to give more details, to just talk about how this program benefits all Nigerians, whether you are in the country or whether you live abroad.

Partnerships for Sustainable Growth

The program would also talk more about partnership. Partnership has been a critical success factor in all that we seek to do to be able to facilitate socio economic development in the country. Government is important, private sector important. The diaspora community, very critical in terms of their input in the overall context of what it is that we seek to achieve to support creation.

Wema Bank's Contribution

Wema bank is a bank that is 80 years old and the first, the bank that I've created, the first digital bank in Africa. So sitting from the comfort of your home, you have the opportunity to be able to open accounts, whether it's in local currency or whether it's in the foreign currency.

Innovative Financial Tools

A lot of investment tools that we have. I think I've also talked about several, I mean, well, the fact that we have several social impact program, you know, directly partnering with the federal government as our own contribution to support the growth of the economy.

A Developing Partnership with Stakeholders

A lot of the time the feedback is always that banks take, they do not give. But we're just trying to show here that beyond that, we are at the forefront of giving, at the forefront of facilitating, at the forefront of collaborating with every organization, every platform.

Building Collaborations for Impact

Being here tonight is also because there's a collaboration working with Oluomo to be able to help put out the word there. There's a platform through which you can donate your token to be part of some of the good initiatives under this administration that is currently happening country. So I'll be happy to take comment, I'll be happy to take feedback, I'll be happy to respond to questions that we may have.

Feedback and Engagement

Thank you very much. Fantastic. Fantastic. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam. Grateful for your submission. So, and just so guys and the other members of the audience, regarding the iframe to what you're saying, if you go on the jumbotron on the space, I've just put a link on the, on the face.

Information Dissemination

So please go on the jumbotron itself and you know, read more about it and follow it and please do the needful itself at all time. But yeah. And if you have any questions for Madame Ayodeli, please send me a DM. And I'm more than happy to put the questions to her as well. Madam Ayodel is also nice to see you in London a couple of weeks ago at the Nigerian Trade Fair in London.

Building Support Networks

Amazing event. And also a big thank you to Wema bank for, you know, supporting small scale businesses in Nigeria. I think something Wema bank and by the madam I did, someone just asked me now that is Wema bank coming to the Nike end of the year party. So you guys come up on account for. So there's people coming back. If you say yes, let the man sir, speak for yourself.

Acknowledging Contributions and Initiatives

I've taken note of that. You have to give me the details of the party for me to plan to attend. Thank you. Okay, fantastic. Well, member of the audience, you just said that. So I think what she was saying was more like, you know, the one that we bank open more in accounts for committee members.

Future Engagement and Trainings

So I just said to them, that's no problem. We definitely, we're going to have more of these spaces as well. The Eiffel entry that she's also talked about, we're going to be talking more about in the next coming weeks. Educating people, lighting people and bringing more people on board. And of course women banks, diaspora banking.

Highlighting Wema Bank's Role

So many things they do and I'm looking forward to that. Thank you very much Madam Ayodeli. So like I said, if you have any questions for her, please send me a DM and I'll put the questions to her on the space at all times. Thank you. You're welcome.

Encouraging Diverse Voices

Thank you ma'am. Okay, let's keep it moving. We're going to give the mic now to our mentor, life coach, Mister Toyip, Adewale. talent as well, himself an amazing job he's doing for the Nigerian communities, not just in the UK, but in diaspora itself. Always glad to have you on board.

Discussing Educational Sectors

I simply will talk to you. When it comes to regarding educational sector, maybe we like it or not. Education, education. Education is a background, you know, of any society. Without education, I'm afraid we're not going away so my question to you would be, of course, you lived in diaspora for many years.

Innovative Learning Models

You go back home a lot, you travel to so many countries. So what's one of the innovative educational models or maybe practice that we use in diaspora that can be implemented in Nigeria to announce learning outcomes and empower students to become sort of the changes in their community back home? Because at the end of the day, maybe you like it or not, we have to make sure for one of the biggest things that has to happen in Nigeria for changes even from Nigerian dust power supporting that education mindset.

A Focus on Education's Context

We have to get it right for us to move forward. The mic is yours sir. Mister toy, thank you. Thank you so much. Luomo, I hope you can hear me. We can hear you, sir. We can hear you, sir. Okay, thank you. Thank you so much. My time on the space will be slightly short, but I will touch on as much as possible what the question was all about.

Gratitude and Acknowledgment

Thank you for setting up the space. Thank you to the Niuk community and our co-host as well. Thank you so much. To all the previous developers, you could see the passion, I mean, to all the previous speakers, you could see the passion and the enthusiasm at which they talk about Nigeria.

Emphasizing Unity for Progress

We all love this country. We all wanted to live to its full potential. We all believe that the assets are there. It just needs a lot of work. It must not be underestimated the amount of work it would take for Nigeria to become even 50% of what we all expect it to be. And a key part of that, as you rightly said, is education.

Recognizing Historical Economic Issues

And one of the big challenges that has happened for our country in particular is because we have been a country that has literally just sold, you know, like we sell natural resources and then we share the money. So we have never been like a country that actually look after the country from taxes. You know, if the western countries that we live, majority of the income of the government comes from taxes.

Connecting Financial Responsibility with Governance

So naturally, when you see that money come out of your account, you feel the pain and you want to understand what exactly are they using this money for if you get it? I mean, Saki Astama is just in government for about two to three months now, and he's already in the hot seat. People are talking about the clothes he's wearing a where is he getting the money from? Somebody bought clothes for his wife.

Addressing the Perception of Government Actions

You know, those kind of things are already boiling. He's not sitting well, he's not drinking well because the people are already throwing fire. Who got access to the, to number ten, you know, the people are asking the questions and one of the reasons why they are asking the question is because of the way the government funds its budget. It comes directly from tax.

Concerns over National Identification Systems

But if you look at the way Nigeria is set up until today, we have 200 million people we don't even know they are aware about, you know, how many people are on the register, how many people have nin, how many people. We don't have a consolidated system of identification. So if we say we want to give money to some people today, who are we giving the money to?

Establishing Clear Systems for Accountability

How is he entering the account? We don't know. So that is always the first thing I always talk about. For us to be able to look after Nigerians who must first of all account for Nigerians, you know, we don't know the number of people that are in Nigeria till today. The borders are very porous.

Identifying Challenges with Data Collection

So if I catch someone, if you catch someone in the UK today, your name and date of birth, they'll just put it into their system. They will know when you enter the country, they will know if you are illegal or legal. In Nigeria, we don't have that kind of system.

Reforming Identification Processes

So. And I think someone was talking about our startups. All the unicorns that are coming out of Nigeria is a thing that can be done. You know, it is a thing that can be done if we really put our hearts to it. India has registered over 1 billion people in their unified Aadhaar system.

Lessons from Other Nations

So why is Nigeria taking so long to register 200 million people and everybody keeps doing it, government after government. So on the education part, I think we have to come up with basic education and I don't think Nigeria, even though with the challenge that we have in education, I think we are still, you can still say to some extent that we are not lacking in education, we are lacking in agency.

Bridging the Gap in Education

The average Nigerian has lost hope in the system. So they are not even acting based on the education that they have. So when you don't act, when you have the knowledge and you are not. Nigeria does not have a. We have a chronic area where we need to divert resources in terms of basic primary education. We know that.

Fostering Engagement and Resource Allocation

But even a lot of us that are educated to some extent, we have kind of been. I don't know if it has been stripped of us or we just lost hope in the system in such a way that we don't act. For example, I think China was talking about the recent elections in Edo state and if you look at the voter turnout in that election, you understand that why should 500,000 people be making decisions for millions of people?

Mobilizing the Electorate

And that was what was expressed on the ballot paper. Like, people have lost so much hope in the system and they are not coming out to vote. And in a democracy, you could pray all you like. We can pray, we can fast, we can do anything. In a democracy, there is no other way.

Guarding Against Electoral Malpractice

We can talk about the system, we can talk about the malpractices, we can talk about everything. The only thing that can challenge malpractice is voter turnout. That is the only thing. If 90% of the people in the voter register turnout, I don't even care about the election, but it will represent the interest of the people, then you will know that at least the person you have there is the person you wish for.

Responsibilities of Citizens

So that is an education bit as well. We all have a responsibility, we have a collective responsibility to tell our people to try their best, no matter how hard. In America today, the November elections, everybody is screaming, go and vote. Obamas are screaming, everybody is urging everyone to go and vote, because when you vote, at least you have a chance, and we all have that responsibility to tell our people to please.

Addressing Voter Registration Processes

Somebody said, my voters register was done there. I have to go there. And I said, that difficulty is a feature, it is not a bug. They made it difficult for you because they know you'll be disinterested and you will not go and pick the voters card.

Mitigating Voter Apathy

So that is why they've done it like that, because they know when you. When you are out of the system, that's minus one. The one that plays football on voters on election day, that's minus two. By the time they remove all of you just be left with a few people that they can buy their vote.

Empowering Political Engagement

So we have that collective responsibility to educate our people to go and vote. Now, let's talk about education. Education proper. Number one, which I'm a big fan of, is apprenticeship. You know, we have to bring world class skills into our economy in such a way that if I tell you this guy is a competent carpenter and that person is actually a competent carpenter, we have something in the UK called MVQ.

Establishing a Standards-Based Approach

We have a syllabus that they use. We can replicate that syllabus. We can replicate that syllabus in different ways. In electrical installations, in plumbing. You know, you want people that can actually go out and use their skills to earn money. A lot of people complain about the quality of the artisans that we have back home.

The Importance of Skilled Labor

And I see it as well. When I go home and I open a door, you know, you can see all the frames. You can see all the gaps in the frame. A door that is meant to be a fire door is supposed to protect you in such a way that if that door closes, you have 30 minutes. Fire door, you have 1 hour.

Quality Control in Construction Standards

Fire door in such a way that if fire breaks out before the fire escape from that door, it will take 1 hour. But when you go home, you see gaps at the top, you see gaps at the bottom. And you just wonder, if I start in this room now, the smoke will just be going out freely. There's nothing stopping it.

Practical Training and Standards

So we need to, you know, or people do tiling and you see like 10 to 20 millimeter gap between tiles and you look at the grouting of the tiles and you just think, where did this person actually learn this trade? So if we can roll out a scheme, if you go to China, if you go to UK for example, as well, not a lot of people go to university, you know, not a high percentage.

Investing in Education and Training

We can even say people go to university more in Nigeria like averagely than in countries like China. Basic education, we have to really invest in it. If you, if you. I'm telling you this and a lot of us know this, if you see a proper secondary school graduate, the one that finished syllabus, so I'm not sorting about the one that they did not have maths teacher, the one that finished syllabus, our WASSCE syllabus, they can hold their own anywhere in the world.

Graduates Ready for the Global Stage

I am telling you that for free. If you hold a proper secondary school graduate that did full syllabus, they can hold their own. So those kind of students that are very good, they can go to work immediately. A lot of the skills that you need can be learnt on the j2321. We have about 700 local governments in Nigeria.

Cultivating Talents Through Apprenticeship

How can we negotiate to bring equipment like Starlink? How much does it cost to put Starlink in a library? How can we have well-functioned libraries? We saw what China has done in the last 30 years. Taking hundreds of millions of people out of poverty through tense training and skills.

Rethinking Educational Focus

Not everyone is going to university. Apple said that in America you could barely feel a room of tooling engineers. But if you go to China, you can feel like ten football fields. And we are not talking of ordinary tooling engineers. We are talking of meticulous, serious tooling that makes apple phones.

Harnessing Nigeria's Potential

Nigeria can do this. We can outsource, we can be the knowledge basket of the world in terms of exporting trade to other parts of the world. Another thing that I think we can do is that we have, instead of trying to stop people that are trying to leave, can we get like an MoU with these companies, which countries that people are going to, and say, okay, you are taking 30% tax from our nurses, you are taking 30% tax from our accountants that travel to your country.

Exploring Tax Opportunities

Can we get 5% of that we can reinvest back into the economy? There are several ways that can be done in terms of reaching an agreement with all of these countries that are taking our people that we've trained to some extent before going out there. So that is another thing that can be done.

Leveraging Technology for Growth

Artificial intelligence as well. How can we harness the power of tech? We can see, I mean, Doctor Folaino is here, he into military research and all of that. We can see what the role artificial intelligence is playing in, like in war, in economy, in different kind of things.

Innovation in Energy Production

This week the coal plant in Port Albert in Wales stopped operating. And they are not going to use the normal way of making steel, you know, like using heat and all of that to make steel. And my big concern with that is that countries like Nigeria, we did not even take advantage of that process of changing raw materials.

Industrialization and Resource Management

You know, we did not take part in the first industrial revolution where the trains were running, you know, where the trains were running on steam. We've not turned electricity on till today. You know, like, how many megawatts of electricity are we producing? India is doing about 400,000.

Exploring infrastructural Needs

We are struggling to do 20,000. And you look at how much resources that has gotten. So there is a lot of things that we do, we hope that a lot of things can turn around diaspora, bond. I don't think there is any issue with diaspora bond as people have talked about before.

Community Trust and Accountability

But I think it is very difficult for the people to trust the government at the moment. So we need diaspora to come up with a group of credible people that can say, okay, we can have a government official on board, but we can say, these are the people that are coming from diaspora that will manage the project.

Building a Trustworthy Framework

Because trust is a big thing at the moment and the government has failed to justify the humongous resources that is coming from oil revenue, you know. So it is very difficult to say, okay, the diaspora that is cleaning or standing in the winter security during 20 hours, you know, to now take his hard earns money and put in a diaspora bond and there will not be accountability.

A Call for Credible Partnerships

My dad said some people came to their house one time, they said they will be paying, you know, after digging their own borehole. They said the government want to take money from them. And then they called me, the area committee, now sad and say, we are the ones doing our road, we are the ones doing our water, we are the ones doing this.

Empowering Local Communities

How come you want to still be collecting tax from us? So there will be no justification to say the diaspora want to gather some money and then they will give it to the government. That would not happen. People want to do business with people they trust.

Establishing Credibility for Investments

And I think diaspora can come up with credible people that have shown track record of excellence. It will be easy when you put those people as front to say, okay, go and collect this amount of money from diaspora. Let us repair this federal road, Bini or a road, Lagos, Abeokuta expressway.

Focus on Infrastructure Needs

All of those roads need money. Diaspora has that money. The government has not been able to do it for several decades. So can the diaspora harness the funds? I think that's something that we can move forward with in diaspora discussions.

Creating Local Resources for Knowledge

All these libraries for local governments as well. I think the diaspora can do that easily. But we need to gather ourselves together and kind of pinpoint the things we want to do. Because when you have your goals in different directions it's hard.

Strengthening Efforts toward Key Focus Areas

So if it is education that we want to do, let's focus on that. If it is roads that we want to do, let's focus on that. I think there's a lot of things the diaspora can do. We don't want to talk about problems anymore. We want to talk about actions.

Solutions-Driven Discussions

We want to talk about solutions. And the only way I can see that happening is pulling funds together to actually go and do something we can keep. We've talked about these problems. Our parents have talked about it and nothing has changed.

Mobilizing Youth and Change Agents

But now we now have very energetic young people that will refuse to take no for answer. We've seen that time and time again and we just need to continue to support them. We can see Asha Kena boy, all of them closing our stadiums.

Celebrating Cultural Contributions

The culture is growing. People love us. People that do not necessarily have attachment with us now have attachment with us. You can see second generation Jacqua, as you call it, second generation migrants.

Harnessing Global Interest

They can't wait to talk about how beautiful their heritage is and if we can harness that power. Ghana did something similar with the year of return. If we can harness that power, if you can, unless those resources and people can see.

Examples from Abroad

There was a friend of mine that is from the West Indies. He actually sent me a video of Tunde on Okoya. And I told him that I know Tunde to some extent. He was like, wow, today is doing amazing things and he wanted to put money into what they are doing with chess.

Fostering Investment through Successful Initiatives

So if it is good initiative, we can spin the story around it. We can talk about the story. Tourism is another one that we can do. You know, all of our areas, if you travel abroad, you pay tourism tax.

Promoting Investment Through Storytelling

All of those beautiful areas, we can tell those stories and attract investment. But we can't do it without security. We can't do it without a lot of things. But let's start with the ones that we can do.

Taking Pragmatic Steps toward Change

If it is education, if it is one library per local government, if it is two libraries per local government, we have the resources to do that. And we can pull together respectable people with a track record that can do that amazing work on the ground.

Striving for Continuous Improvement

I'll stop there for now. Thank you so much for doing this space and we hope things get better. We are optimistic, but we are not naive about the challenges. And may God bless Nigeria. May God bless Nigeria.

Addressing Teacher's Salary Concerns

Teacher salary is another one as well. Teachers getting 25,000, 30,000. That has no way in 2024 like it is not meant to be. If you are going to give a teacher a low salary, health insurance must be there, you know, you must help that teacher to look after their own children as well, in a good way.

Identifying Systemic Issues

There are so many issues that we have. Minimum wage is not uniform, you know, like, it is not uniform everywhere. And there is a lot of challenge. We must not lie.

Demanding Accountable Leadership

And our leaders are relaxing too much. They are relaxing because the people have allowed them to relax and there's a lot of work to do. I am optimistic, but I'm also fearful we are expected to reach about 400 million in about 30 years.

Feeding a Growing Population

If we are struggling to feed at 200 million, how would we feed ourselves at 400 million? That is the challenge. And our leaders just walk around like everything is okay. It's painful, but today is a day to celebrate.

Navigating Challenges Together

But we know the challenges that we have and hopefully we can tackle it together. That. Thank you.

Importance of a Positive Culture in Healthcare

I just couldn't sleep because I didn't want to miss any point. Let me start with what Doctor Toye said. I think was the first speaker and he did talk a lot about culture and that's quite important, I think you going forward, we need to look at how we start changing our mindset and start developing a positive culture. You did quote, actually I can't remember what you quote, but what came to my mind because this is one of the things that I do say in terms of culture that no matter how beautiful, strong your strategy is that culture, we eat it for breakfast. And I think you said that in the line of that the culture of our healthcare in Nigeria is something that I really needed to look into. May I just tweak your question because I know the question is what specific contributions can healthcare professionals abroad make to improve our healthcare system back home? I think it should be what are the things that we are already doing? It's not even what we want to do because that space is quite busy at the moment and various sectors have really spoken and expertise.

Healthcare Statistics and Challenges

I've spoken today minus the healthcare and you know, the usual saying that your health is your wealth. If I just give a little bit of context, being mindful of time. So I'm really glad you called me, you know, last so I don't have to spend a, spend so much time. And I guess this is a topic that is central and well connected to every sector. Because if you don't have a good healthcare system, then no sector will be healthy. So this is a quote from International Trade Administration that was back in 2023. They said that the healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria is still underdeveloped and lacks modern medical facilities. The country's health care indicators are some of the worst in Africa. And when you looked further, there's so much, you know, conversation around the healthcare system in Nigeria. The public health services in Nigeria are of poor quality and are not adequately available or accessible. And they are not even affordable to many people who need these services. Again, in last year, I think it was 2023 when they actually did ranking of health care system across the globe.

Nigerian Nurses in the Diaspora

Nigeria ranked country with 157th best healthcare system in the world. 157. So you can then now imagine why people are talking, not just the healthcare. And for everyone that I've spoken today from different sectors, different angles, the financial, you know, world, the legal world, the. The basic rights of human beings that is not really in existence is because the basic is not in the right place, and that is the healthcare system is not right in our country. So bringing it back to the question that you asked about what are we doing? And you did mention the word jaguar. And I must be honest with you, the first. The first time I heard the word was actually from a white colleague. You know, I was on, you know, a panelist at a conference and he mentioned Jakba. And I'm thinking, what is he talking about? So it's. It's quite. You did say you looked around and I. Everywhere you saw or you looked at is a nigerian nurse.

Training and Knowledge Transfer

Absolutely. So, in terms of the statistics, March 2024, over 13,000 nigerian nurses. And that's the yearly statistics that NMC published. Over 13,000 nigerian nurses migrated from Nigeria to the UK. And if you look backwards just before the pandemic, or just from the pandemic up to now, I think we've had over 20,000 migrated into the UK. And you're there now. You can then now ask the question, what is happening back home? Who are the people back home? And I'm sure many of you on this call may obviously be cognizant of challenges that are back home. You're talking about training, education, you knowledge transfer, all that. In terms of the diaspora exchanges, we already doing that. So that's the good news. And I must really give a shout out to the Ministry of Health, because what they have done in the past six, seven years, you know, not this current government, actually, because I think this current government inherited that relationship because nigerian nurses have to UK.

Collaborative Efforts and Training Initiatives

What we have done we had Mou with the Ministry of Health and they had Mou with every diaspora organization, not just nigerian nurses in the UK we have Nana, in the US, nigerian nurses in North America we have Mansac. So Ministry of Health already have an MoU signed. Therefore we are all working together to see how we can do all that transforming of knowledge, education, training. In as much as we do it individually as an organization, we also do it collectively. So the example of that was in 2022 when both the doctors, the nurses, the pharmacists and the radiologists, we all came together across the globe and gave back to Nigeria in terms of education and training. So over the length of three months, every two weeks, both nurses, the nigerian nurses UK and nigerian nurses in America, were doing workshop with our counterpart in Nigeria, transferring knowledge, doing training on different topics from AI to how do you provide emergency care to leadership nursing, leadership, nursing management.

Understanding Local Challenges

But what we need to understand, and I think one of your speakers actually mentioned it was in terms of when we don't have an identity and we just want to do a copyright type of thing. We do know that Nigeria system is a UK system when it comes to healthcare, not american system. So in terms of how we practice, there's a variation in that and we could tell even when we do, those were the learning that were actually picked up. Because again, we really need to understand who are we. The challenges we have is very multifactorial. We can provide all these training, all this education, we can go home and do medical mission, nursing mission. But the sustainability of it is in query. It's actually questioned at the moment in terms of the resources, the policies, the environment that those individuals are not sit back home practice, they don't necessarily have the resources that we have.

Local Solutions for Local Challenges

So when we are doing all those training, we are not providing those training within the context of when you are in the village and you don't have thermometer, when you are in the village and you don't have that, you know, blood pressure machine, how do you operate? Because that's not how we operate here in the UK and that's not how they operate there. So a local challenge requires a local solution. So for us to be able to do that, we really need to go down in terms of less understand the local analysis, the local challenges, where the gaps are. And for those that trained in Nigeria and they've been here practicing, that is an asset. In terms of actually when you see where you meet any nurses or doctors that trained back home, you cannot, they actually stand tall.

The Contributions of Nigerian Diaspora

I didn't train at home. I trained here in the UK as a north and in the midwest and I know the training that my colleagues back home, when they arrived here, they training a superb. But what do let them down are the attitude, you know, the way they behave, not having that customer services traits in them. So those are the gaps that we need that we've identified. And also in addition to all that, it's how can we then now those are measurable, the trainings that we provide, those are the measurable impacts that we can actually say we are having that conversation. Because another challenge is one of the challenges that we have with our colleagues at home is we are going there as if we know it all. So we always get that pushback as to know we know it better than us. And they really truly do know better than us in many cases. So that is a way of that we have really made it known that it's a two way thing, not just one way.

Healthcare and Cultural Integration

So it's not that we are only training them, they're also training us in terms of what good looks like for them. So knowledge transfer is both ways. There are other situations that in terms of mentorship, which obviously we saw what good looks like, especially during the pandemic, which obviously we have built upon that mentorship program, is very, absolutely key. Personally, I think now I have more mentees in Nigeria than the ones that I have here now because you can see they're really yearning for career development. But that system is not set up for that career development. Hence, when they arrived here, it's not just the career development that they need to look after, look for, but the cultural integration, which is the cultural shock for so many of them. So we cannot.

The Reality of Challenges Back Home

The challenges we have. As you know, Oluomo, I think we've had this conversation before that Nigeria is the third largest nurses in the UK when it comes to the ethnic minority. Nurses follow the Indians first, followed by the Filipinos, then Nigeria. And Nigerian, obviously is the largest black nurses the United Kingdom. So we have that numbers. But however, there is still so much to be done in terms of supporting our colleagues to integrate into this system. So what is then the gap that has left at home? However, we see it as a gap. But when you hear our colleagues speaking that many of them trained for about six years or seven years to become a registered nurse in Nigeria, that's equivalent of going for, you know, doing a medicine. So by the time they finish that training, they don't have a job.

Advocating for Change and Better Solutions

And this is my argument and the advocate of if the system is not actually getting them into employment so why should we stop them moving to get a better life for themselves and their families. So I think the issue still lies with what is the government doing in that space. I already mentioned about we can transfer our brain, our skills, our knowledge into them but if the environment over there is not accommodating and sustaining it we will be going back to square one every time. So another good news is the ministry of Health has as we speak actually last month the minister launched a technical committee of the Diaspora Healthcare Professionals which I was one of them that represented nigerian nurses at that meeting. That was a good move. And the second good move is next week on the 10th they are also launching and having a program confirming the mous and what does that work and diaspora healthcare professional do for Nigeria.

Launching Initiatives for Better Health Policies

They are also launching the Diaspora Healthcare Forum and what they have done nicely is to sponsor each nigerian healthcare diaspora organization to come home and I should be in Abuja next week to have those conversations and meet my colleagues over there and sit down and share the knowledge of how can we progress with this in terms of what good looks like. You did mention about telemedicine. There's a lot of things around that advocacy and policy support. Again we cannot continue to be working with UK and the US model. It's just not going to work. It's like you're confusing both the system and the public and that is where and why the public do not even know where to run to. Because the professional group themselves, they're confused.

Understanding and Adapting Healthcare Models

Are they working towards UK model or they're working towards, you know, US model that those are the uncomfortable conversation that we really need to center things on. What, what models works for us in Nigeria. If we do not get that and it's continue to copy what has worked in the US or what has worked in Germany, the Germany or the US or the UK did a research, they looked at their population. What are the challenges? That's what we need to start looking. We need to start looking inward in Nigeria to see what are the challenges. The local challenges require local solutions and diaspora healthcare professionals can then come and add value to all that. So I'm really just going to stop there.

Collaborative Efforts and Community Support

I'm happy for people to throw questions at me but it's not really about what can we do is what are we doing and what can we upscale more because the space is very busy. We are very absolutely keen to support and to help. We are doing that collaboratively across the globe and we are doing that individually as organizations. Wow, wow. Fantastic. Thank you very much, Madam Wendy. Olive, I'm grateful to have you on board and I love your passion when it comes to health issues and everything at all times.

Funding and Support for Healthcare Initiatives

And of course that fight for a better Nigeria even from diaspora within nigerian policies. And I love the fact that went to the point about local challenges requires local solutions. I think that's one of the key facts we need to look into. It's not about just thinking ahead. Okay, what's exactly this but local challenges that requires local solutions at all times as well. Also I think something that also recently regarding the back home, the healthcare budget, I think the government is not taking that sector very serious. In fact, I think the healthcare budget in 2020 was under 15% which according to the African Union's agreement, you know, every country in Africa should have more than 50% in their budget when it comes to health care.

Importance of Healthcare in National Progress

But I'm afraid we've known meditation for quite a while now. I mean President Mbari did it and president also continued that. So I think we just need to pull our leaders just like Chineye and Doctor Mister Tube was saying about active citizens. We need to read all these things. You know, health is very, very important in a country. Let's forget about want to build this and do that without the right healthcare sector. You know, we know how we're going to have good health. After all, health is wealth at all times with. Thank you very much sister Wendy Olive.

Nigerian Nurses Community Initiatives

And also if you're nigerian nurse in the UK. The nigerian nurses in UK, we'll be having a conversion next month in London. Radisson. I think I just put on the jumbotron. So if you're not join us, you can just go on the jumbotron and follow you as well. Also please make sure you join the Niger nurses in the UK group. Very, very important. A lot of. Some of our members in our community who are nurses have lost their pain. You know, these kind of groups and company will support you fight for illegally and do the need for at all times. Very, very important that you as a nigerian nurse.

Promoting Community Engagement and Collaboration

So I'm looking forward to the you know, the events next, the next month. I'm going to be there myself, life and direct at the Radisson hotel in London itself. with amazing, sister Udona Allah and of course the amazing. I'm a big fan of nigerian nurses. In fact, Niagara says get me for this our community. So if it's not nurse. In fact even don't come close to me, on my desk. These are nurses, you know, because I know that. Listen, I'm in good hands at all times. Mister Toy Bozo will be at the conventionist of London next month within a journalist in the UK.

Reflections on Independence and Community

So looking forward to. Thank you Madam Wendy, for your submission as well. Okay, let's move forward. Doctor Simi, good evening. Happy dependence day, my wonderful study. Happy Independence day. So now, what about doctors? Now since nurses are your best people. What about, what about many other dogs facing that challenge? Exactly. It's good, it's good to see you, Wendy. It's really, really nice. We always cross paths but we haven't really sat down to have a conversation. I know, yeah. Hopefully invite me to the nurses convention as well.

Gratitude and Future Collaboration

Thank you so much. Thank you everyone. Happy Independence Day. Happy independence is Nigeria. Happy 64th year independence. We're very happy that we've got to this point, but maybe we're not so happy because there's much more that can be done and that we can come together and hopefully have a country that we can be a little bit happy about. And many of us here are very dissatisfied about the state of our country but there are always things that can be done. So I'm really grateful for inviting me to all the execs on Nigerians in the UK. Thank you.

Understanding Health Education and Literacy

This is my family, my home. You know, I can never be far from this community. I'm still part of this community. Very much so. So thank you for inviting me to speak about health, really. And I think the brief you gave me was really, really interesting. And if I just go back and have a little look again at what you said, which was really around how we promote health education and awareness in Nigeria. Things like preventive care, maternal health and chronic disease management.

Health Literacy and Self-Advocacy

But I'm going to talk about it in both for people that live in UK and how you can also support people that live in Nigeria. But what, the first thing I'll say is that what I found, and I'm sure maybe my colleagues Wendy and the other nurses and doctors here may agree or disagree with me, what I found is that health literacy is not easy to acquire and many of us actually don't really know much about our, even our own health. And if your own health in you that you live in the UK, if your own health is not top condition, if you don't understand your own healthcare system here, it would be difficult for you to help anybody back home in terms of how do they look after themselves and all of that.

The Importance of Self-Care

So my charge is, first thing is, do you really understand your own personal body health and what you need? How are you looking after that? Do you have your health checks? Are you living your best life? Are you full of energy? Do you know where you stand? You know, do you see your doctor regularly? Do you know how to advocate for yourself when you go and see your nurse or your doctor? Because again, there's a lot of advocacy needed when it comes to seeking health. You might think that, oh, I'll just go to the doctor and they'll do what they're supposed to do.

Misinformation and Knowledge Updates

But actually, you need to advocate for yourself, because the person that really understands their own health, their own body most is you. There's no doctor that can tell you what you're feeling inside your body, but you can. So my first thing is work on understanding your own health. Be careful with misinformation. There's a lot of misinformation, again, also in our community, and sometimes there's only so many things that healthcare professionals can respond to. Sometimes I see misinformation, I just walk past because I really can't, I don't have the energy to deal with it at that point.

The Role of Continuous Learning in Healthcare

And I think the misinformation, and I think the worst kind of misinformation is the ones that have a tinge of truth in it. So there might be something about, oh, blood pressure, and somebody will say something and. But actually, when you look at the whole thing, it really doesn't make medical sense, but people buy it and believe it. I think there was somebody, a healthcare professional who was saying something online and it was totally false, you know, but there was nothing, there's nothing we could do or any of us could do. So be careful with misinformation medicine and is so fast moving that even me, I've been a doctor for many years, over 20 years.

Ensuring Knowledge is Up-to-Date

If you don't keep on top of your knowledge, honestly, you'll be giving poor information misinformation within three months, because things move on so fast. I, so it's important that you really understand what's going on and for doctors and nurses amongst us, that we update our knowledge constantly. I mean, I constantly have things like my DNF open on my phone. I have a hot topics app on my phone, I'm constantly checking, okay, what has changed with hypertension management? What has changed with diabetes management?

Collaboration for Better Health Practices

In fact, something like diabetes are no longer best placed to manage diabetes because we have specialist diabetes nurses, which is what they do all day long. So understand your own health and really ask questions. Keep on top of what's happening with research and then seek to understand how your system in the UK differs from the system back in Nigeria. Because what I also find is that we come from this place of the UK healthcare system is better. So we can tell you how to do your healthcare system in Nigeria.

Bridging Knowledge and Cultural Gaps

It doesn't necessarily work that way. There are different aspects of both systems that are good and are not so good. So before you, we also go back home and say, hey, why didn't they do that? Understand what is on ground? I mean, I'm privileged to also work back home and I see the differences, I see the good parts and I see the frustrations. And as I always say, I remember when I posted last year and I said, look, elective care is way better in the private healthcare system in Nigeria, way better than elective care in the UK.

Understanding Strengths in Nigerian Healthcare

And people were like, what does she mean? This, this. But I work in both systems, so I know, okay, but again, I'm privileged to know the right people. The right. So it's really understanding what works and how people seek healthcare and the weaknesses in Nigeria's healthcare. But most importantly, if you're going to help people back home.

The Importance of Collaboration from Diaspora

Sorry about that. Yeah, it's really about. Can you all hear me still? I think a call was trying to come in. It's really, it's really about asking questions first. So if somebody says to you, I want to see a doctor today, and they did this to me and they. Did. Judging or before you start complaining about the system, ask questions. Because many times doctors and nurses in Nigeria feel disrespected by diasporans. I don't know if you guys understand, know this, still very disrespected.

Engaging with Nigerian Healthcare Professionals

And believe me, there's a lot of knowledge in Nigeria, a lot of things that they know. That system that we don't know. If you're going to manage malaria, for instance, you manage it better in Nigeria. If you're going to manage sickle cell, there are some things that is better understood. Things like fibroids. There's so many things that nigerian healthcare system is strong at. And then the current government is really working hard. And I think wendy alluded to the fact earlier that there's a lot of work going on with diasporans now and in the healthcare system.

Community Contributions to Health Improvements

We have a diaspora lead in healthcare. Doctor Adidewe who was in the UK for many years and now in Nigeria is acting as the bridge between the diaspora and medics and the ones in Nigeria. So just really ask questions. Anybody can give wellness advice and I think wellness is something that you understand by really just studying and really understanding it. I mean, as you all know, I have my own, well, a vitamin brand and vitamin D. We're going into winter now.

The Importance of Vitamin D for Health

Vitamin D is so crucial. One of the easiest things you can do for yourself is have a vitamin D supply and take any once a week, okay? Because it definitely does make a difference in how you feel on your energy level. So that's, so that's that. So please remember to order your vitamin D early and let's get that going. The way I take mine, the way I take mine is I just take, I take 20,000 units once a month because my vitamin D level is normal.

Active Engagement in Healthcare Policies

I just maintain it and I shove it down my children's throats as well. So that's very, very important to do. Okay, so, and then in terms of talking about policies and how you can maybe get involved with initiatives and how you can, you know, if you have, like, okay, I want to do something in health. Many people are not medics, but they want to do something maybe for, you know, children who are malnourished, they want to do something for mothers or, you know, they want to do.

Collaborative Initiatives for Health Improvement

They want to do things back home and they're looking for how to engage. It's always better to work with those on the ground to do that. Don't just throw your money and just put it there because you have to understand what the needs are. And what I found from the other side, living in Nigeria partly is I see that people want to tell you what they want you to do based on what they think the community wants.

Overcoming Misconceptions and Building Trust

And we do that in the UK as well. We all do that. We come in and think, yes, we know what we are doing and this is what you should do. We don't ask questions of the community. We don't say, what does this community need? And again, I have a foundation in Nigeria, but that is looking at medical schools and we're just revamping my medical school at the moment. But there are many other organizations that do many other things.

Encouraging Grassroots Solutions

So if you really want to do something or if you feel like there's a way you want to input into policies, you want to input into what's going on, then just. You can get in touch with me. You can send me a DM or an email. For instance, the electronic medical center, the EMR in Lagos. Not just the EMR. The whole electronic system is being done by somebody who left from the UK. You know, it's been led by that.

Support from the Diaspora for Local Initiatives

So many people from the UK are doing so many things in Nigeria. They have moved their businesses to Nigeria, but they don't say anything. Nobody knows that they are doing all of these things. So there's something called the ship that Lagos state is doing, and it is one of the leads is someone who lives in the UK but has now taken that initiative to Nigeria to try and improve connectivity and information in the healthcare system. So if you are that way inclined, you want to work on policy, you have maybe, you know, you have maybe.

Investments for Youth Empowerment

Funds are always important. Money is not easily accessible like that. So if there's any way you can support, then by all means, please get in touch with any of us. I think Wendy says she's going to. Many of us here are doing things back home as well and can either connect you with the right people and tell you where to go and put your initiatives in Nigeria. But most important is to work with those on the ground.

Enhancing Primary Healthcare Systems

There's a lot of work to do. I can easily give you two or three things that you can do, either. Going into our hospitals, you know, so many things like primary health care. Primary health care is one. You can adopt a PHC, for instance. You know, you can help to improve the primary healthcare system in your area. Again, you know, Lagos. I mean, I'm in Lagos. I mean, Lagos is doing so much with medical education, you know, so you can decide.

Promoting Educational Opportunities in Nigeria

You want to sponsor nurses, you want to sponsor doctors to go through their training. And, you know, there's so much that can be done. But what I will say to you is that if and if you don't want to do anything, that's okay. You know, you don't have to do anything. You can decide that, you know what? I'm done with that side of my life. I'm going to focus on the UK and bettering the system that I'm in and making Nigeria proud by being a good citizen of the UK or getting involved in policy and politics here.

Contributions and Community Engagement

And that's really okay. But one thing I would advise that you don't do is to repeat constantly the problems of Nigeria. We know we have problems. Everybody knows that. Nobody needs to tell us. We can see it, we hear it, we leave it every day. If you go. And if you go to Lagos for one week, you feel it in every sense. So don't join other people sitting down cursing your country.

Solutions Over Criticism

Believe me, you might be 30 now, but one day you'll be 60, right? That's the only country you've got. So rather than doing that, either you say nothing at all and just be looking or you find solutions. Because the easiest thing to do is to put it, you should find fault. Everybody's an uncheck critic. Everybody can say, you say useless country is a terrible country, right?

Focusing on Positivity and Growth

But how many people can actually say, this is what I suggest and I'm doing in my own little area to improve the country, or I'm not saying anything at all because I really, that's not the phase of my life that I'm in right now. Right now I'm building in the UK and I want to focus in the UK and that's fine.

Health and Well-Being Priorities

So I hope that's all clear. You guys order your vitamin B, your vitamin C, your vitamin D from Doctor Simi's brand, make sure that you are flooding. You are selling out. I need you guys to do that. Get in touch with me if you want to do any work in Lagos and you have some, or in Nigeria, not just Lagos, and you have some, you know, you have some questions or you have some ideas.

Willingness to Assist and Collaborate

If I don't know, I can connect you with people that know. And as far as you're trying to help and improve your country, I will have time for you. What I don't have time for is people that are going to tell me it's a useless place and we all know how bad it is, but let's do the best we can. So I hope I've answered as much of the questions.

Invitation for Questions and Further Engagement

I'm going to hang around and answer a few questions, if you guys have any. But my charge is please keep your. Your health is wealth. If you don't, if you are not healthy, you cannot do any of these things. You can't. So if I want to ask you, first thing is prioritize yourself, your health.

Self-Care and Community Health Initiatives

If you have not checked your blood pressure, your diabetes or any of that, quickly, do econsults, your GP now and book an appointment to sort out your own body first, your own mind first. Sort out of those things out first before you go and pour out. You cannot pour out from an empty cup. Sort yourself out. Keep your family healthy. Keep yourself healthy.

Inspiring Community Contributions

And then you can do for Nigeria. Happy Independence Day, everybody. I hope that's been helpful. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Doctor, semi happy Independence Day to you as well. And thank you for everything you do. I know you're doing a lot back on regarding the healthcare effect.

Collaborating for Sustainable Healthcare Practices

So people like you is exactly what we need. You know, people who have been there, done in Dallas, probably gone back home to put things into place and this whole UK Niger healthcare system. I think we're going to have to come back to this argument again, definitely, because I know people like maybe Sister Wendy, we're going to have a space talk about the UK out against what works, what doesn't work.

Looking Ahead: Future Conversations on Healthcare

And I think a lot of people can actually be more educated and enlightened, you know, because a lot of people say really, there's some healthcare systems actually work in Nigeria. But then people like you as a doctor when you were nurses can actually tell us exactly what some of the differences, you know, just like sister Wendy said as well, you know, local solutions for local problems in stance. All these things also happen as well.

Encouraging Dialogue and Understanding

And guys go on the jumbo, you see the biovitamin D. It's right, the winter is coming now. Winter is there. Don't be shouting I'm sick. But I would in the UK. So go online and do the need for the cell vitamin D from Doctor Simi London. Amazing stage she's doing. Tested and trusted. One of the partners for the Nike community and of course one of our, you know, founding members of the Nike community and the policies.

Community Engagement and Contributing to Change

I remember we, when we started this two years ago, I mean, over two years ago, you know, I had this conversation with Doctor Simi and she's like, you know, let's do it and the rest is history. But I mean, I'm glad we're here today, you know, making that progress itself at all times. Indeed. Okay, I was going to give the mic to doctor for line.

Final Remarks and Invitations

I'm not too sure he's gone. We come back to. Okay, let's give the mic quickly to the admin for Nigerians in Germany. And good evening our german people. The mic is yours. Good evening, Olu Omo and good evening everyone. This is really a fantastic space. And honestly, the last speakers, the previous speakers have really been amazing.

Reflection and Future Considerations

And I think I will say we'll start by saying that October 1 should be a time for deep reflection, you know, deep reflection on the state of our nation and, you know, and trying to be part of the solution going forward, at least in our only two ways. So where I think we can really start from is looking at the population of Nigeria, first of all, about 200 something million and majority of those population that 100 something million are youth, are young people.

Engaging Youth through Skills Development

So how do you keep them, you know, productive, engaged, you know, previous speaker talked about vocational training. I want to talk about vocational training, which definitely, I think we support that because that's, you want to actually, you know, engage them, train them. We're talking about learning hand skills, not just going to university and graduating. Learning skills that can, you know, help them during the course and also providing means for them to, you know, any living.

The Importance of Vocational Training

So whether it's baking, whether it's, you know, come up with initiatives that can actually help them. Learning actual hand skills, crafts, blomber, you know, all these are skills that can when, if they eventually, that they can use to eventually, you know, be self sufficient rather than depending on the government. So I think that can be a path to follow. You know, the vocational skills program, that should be one comprehensive, not giving people, you know, because once they have the actual skills and they can fend for themselves, they can now become a economically self sufficient to an extent at least, you know, they'll be less prone to once someone's economically self sufficient.

Engagement Through Entrepreneurship and Creativity

You can't come out, give the person or take 2000 and go and vote for this person. You know, it starts from their skills. How do you engage the young people already members of the diaspora, according to the data, remitting about 20 to 25 billion already every year back to Nigeria in remittances. So that is a lot already. And members of Nigerians and diaspora are already doing that all over the world.

Vocational Training for Improved Self-Sufficiency

So things like vocational training is very important. Finding ways to encourage and engage the youth. We need to learn from other countries that have done it. Let's look at tourism. For example. Ghana did something similar, you know, trying to encourage other diasporans or people who have Ghanaians or diasporan Ghanaians to come back.

Successful Initiatives in Tourism

And it was very successful. So for example, in the center of tourism, so many festivals were being held there and, you know, so many other, you know, even other people from other countries, especially Americans, they came back to Ghana. They held the first. They held hold festivals every December that bring, you know, brings a lot of, you know, foreigners.

Opportunities for Economic Growth through Diaspora Engagement

They come there and they invest. They don't just stay there. They also invest their foreign currency too in Ghana. So, you know, it was really sad. I think Doctor Toyba mentioned that. That is a brilliant point. Fantastic. So, you know, points like this is about thinking, how can you encourage the young people in Nigeria, support them, engage them to be productive and self sufficient? They need to have the skills.

Building Capacity Through Training and Opportunities

They need to have the opportunity, you know, opportunity for employment, opportunity for referrals, opportunity for programs that can, you know, develop them. This is what we're in support of. And that way, I think because once they are other negative and also, you know, the publicity, pr as well, like we want to be focused more on the productive rather than the, you know, than the negative, you know, we shouldn't be hearing maybe a foreigner abroad or nigerian youth.

Transforming Perceptions of Nigeria's Youth

The first thing they think is scam and, you know, fraud. No, we should be hearing productivity. So it starts from how we push, you know, how we encourage each other especially and the young people back home. And we need to do it unbiased. Like, look, what programs as diasporans can we actually, you know, engage these youth with? So this is, this should be, I think, our thinking and, you know, should be thinking young Nigerians.

Empowering the Youth for Future Success

Young Nigerians because they form a majority of our population, whether you like it or not, is what is there, you know, so, once we can engage them productively. Health, I mean, glad doctor Simi was there. Health is also very important as well. Giving them necessary skills. Vocational. I keep on emphasizing vocational training because it is an actual, you know, way for them to just.

The Role of Vocational Training in Employment

And a quick way for them to be self sufficient, they don't need to go to, I mean, I'm not saying they don't need to go to university, but they don't always, university may always have to be the answer. Please don't get me wrong. So vocational training programs that can encourage them, enable them to start any income quickly and building skills. Look, there are some professionals that, most people in Nigeria may not understand, like don't.

Recognizing Different Career Paths

There is no small job. What are you, a cleaner? Whether you a plumber. You know how much plumbers earn abroad to shock you, even hair braider, to braid your hair as a, you know, if you're very good, you know, for the ladies out there, if you're very good, like, you know, you can make hair so that don't look down on. I must be a, you know, engineer. I must be that.

Promoting Diverse Skill Sets

The other professionals that can take you far. I'm sure in Canada, if you look at their, there are some occupations in demand. You see, you see things like a butcher, people that cut meat. It will shock you, but that is what they need. So there is no small, I'll use the word small in quotes or menial job or menial skill. Do not look down on anyone. If it's a skill you have a passion for, learn it and be the best as you can.

Concluding Thoughts for Empowerment

So. And that's it. So, thank you very much. I mean, just to stop, because in Germany, we have that vocational training program which the government actually put. And we've seen the success young people go there. They don't even go to university. They go through a vocational training program, USB Dongan. They become nurses. They become.

The Road Ahead for Nigerian Youth

You can be a vocational training program for anything, Baker, anything you want. And is driving the economy and the success story, of course, in Germany, so went by that. Thank you so much. All the amazing speakers and to ni.

Ambition and Personal Impact

I love how ambitious we are. I love how a lot of people call it arrogance. Okay, well, that's fine. They're entitled to their opinion. But I love our people. What I will touch on briefly is just as we continue to make efforts to impact our beloved country on so many different levels. Political infrastructure, economy, education, health. These are all amazing initiatives. I want to also shed light. And some of us, of course, have touched on this, which is even just the individual. Right? A flood builds from multiple drops of water. Right? And it's when these drops come together, that's when you get a flood. And so I just want to highlight that you might feel, oh, I don't have connections. I'm not so well placed in society or what have you. But even if, quote, unquote, you can't change the nation, you can change a life in that nation. And that's. That's really where I come from. On a personal level, who can you impact? So, you know, me personally, I. You know, I. I'm in my second career in tech as an engineer. And, you know, the minister in me just couldn't just, you know, make that transition.

Community Engagement and Giving Back

Okay, I'm here now. You know, giving back is, like, in my blood, you know, so I wasn't even in this career one year where before I created a community. And, you know, I think. I think. I'm not sure. I think because of, you know, how I'm so proud to be a Nigerian. So many of the participants in my community are actually Nigerians. And so that has really given me an opportunity that I'm grateful for to not just give back, but actually empower people to have better lives. Right. So, you know, my community, we've done a number of things. We've done laptop giveaway. We've done education course giveaway. We do data giveaway as well. We arrange upskilling programs, trainings. I recently pivoted because I realized that a lot of Nigerian techies, it's not that they don't have access to education in terms of training, but where they lack skills is like skills interviewing, negotiation, things like that. Yeah. So I recently pivoted my community to focus more on that niche area, which is like career prep and career advancements, not just training in tech, which is handled excellently by so many other organizations.

Success Stories and Transformation

Yes. And ever since we made that pivot, we've seen just amazing testimonies. We've seen people break through stagnant points, you know, actually understand how to interview confidently, how to come across confidence and how to. It's one thing to have skills, it's another thing to present them eloquently and confidently. So that's a lot of what we do in our community. And I'm so happy to say people have gotten jobs, people have gotten promoted. We've had a few community members land jobs overseas, so earning in a stronger currency, which has changed their lives. We have mothers in our community that have been able to go back to work. We've had mothers that were homemakers before, but now they are software engineers. One of our success stories, she's a backend engineer now working full time, you know, making more money than she ever thought possible. And she's a mother of three, so she was able to actually move like cities. Like, it's just amazing, just the transformation. So I really. I'm just sharing that as an example. Just to highlight that, please don't say, oh, I'm not well placed. Oh, I don't have. Listen, it's. It's wonderful to be able to change a nation, right? But the nation is its people.

Personal Responsibility and Impact

A nation will always be its people. And so if there's one life that you can touch, if there's one life that you can empower and make better, trust me, you're helping the nation. Right. And so we'll continue to support and commend those that are pushing systemic change, because that is how improvements persist, is when systems improve and systems evolve to support you know, the improvements. Yes. So I'm not downplaying that in any way, shape or form, but I'm saying this to say all of us truly can make a difference. Every single Nigerian in diaspora can make a difference and can make a lasting difference just by touching, improving, empowering, supporting just one other life. So that's what I've learned. And I'll end by saying this. Nigerians are so blessed. I can't tell you, like, I'm even in the process now of trying to set up some kind of. Because I have people here and I said, oh, I need a website or I need this. I need that or I need this tool. I need that tool. And I don't always have time to build these things for people, but I'm like, but I have so many engineers in my community that are ready to work and these people are brilliant.

Collaboration and Empowerment

They're just so brilliant. Like, I mean, I learned so much from them, even as their mentor, you know, it's like, who really should be the mentor, you know, because they're so brilliant, you know, and it's, you know, just the opportunity. So I'm still, you know, by the grace of God, coming up with ways, like, how can I leverage my privilege, right to create opportunities for these brilliant people that deserve every opportunity in the world? Because they are just so smart. So smart. Like, so, yes, I just wanted to highlight that. So thank you so much, everybody. Like I said, look, listen, there's no greater nation. There's no greater people on earth than Nigerians. And I truly believe that the people we are, so quality, quality across the board. I mean, toe toe with any nation. Quality. Is it intelligence? Is it humor? Is it talent? We are by far the greatest. I don't care what nobody says. That's just the truth. And so, Niger, like diamond, you know, so happy Independence Day. Happy birthday, Nigeria. Thank you all so much. Thank you. Oluomo, back to you.

Community and Growth Initiatives

Okay, thank you very much, Queen Iris. Thank you. Thank you. We're gonna be rounding off soon because a lot of our guest speakers will have to go as well. I'm sure that Madame Deli has to be at work. Normally she gets to work by 830 in the morning and stuff, so I apologize. You know, sometimes this hospice can take over time. But, hey, it's Independence Day, you know, let's just have something celebrate quickly. So I'm just going to give the mic quickly to SK to announce I the giveaway stuff. I mean, what people can do, maybe pick. I'm not sure how he wants to do it, I will validate. So eski, quickly, the mic is yours please. Yeah. Good evening. Good evening, everyone. Before the giveaway, I just want to remind people about our end of the year party happening in Glasgow on the 7 December. To buy the tickets, please go on to ww dot niutecommunity.com. the tickets are on there and they are really selling fast. It's on a Saturday. However, we have a Friday night game on Friday. The main event, it's an omb style.

Event Awareness and Engagement

We encourage people to wear their tribe. Wear any Nigerian tribe that you can wear. But just please have a touch of gold in mind when you're putting up your clothes for the day and after the event, there's still an after party for later that night. So please prepare for a very long weekend starting from probably Thursday evening because a lot of people will be traveling first in lasting on Thursday evening or lasting on Friday evening. So Friday, Saturday, Sunday will be in Glasgow. This is a good time to book your accommodation, book your flights, take annually from work and do everything that needs to be done. Get your tailors to search your clothes from Nigeria if you want to do it, this is the best time to do it. Use lengfi to do your exchange rates to Nigeria and get them clothes ready so that you can have them delivered to you before December. Now, I haven't said that. Also, we have some giveaways that's been announced randomly. We'll be picking people from the community. General rule of thumb, you have to be a pay member of the community. Also, if you want to benefit from the Lemfi one, you need a verified leanfi account which is actually going to be checked.

Final Remarks and Community Building

Your Lenfi account needs to be verified. So people have been on this page for a while now. Just randomly. We'll be selecting some people and also in the community so that they can benefit from it. Thank you. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you, sk. Thank you. I'm going to give the mic to violate to talk as well. Quickly, valet, the mic is yours. All right. Happy Independence Day, Nigeria. Wow. It's been a wealth of knowledge all. Night and beautiful stuff that the community. Has come up with. Major kudos to Oluomo. This is such a brilliant space. I mean, I have been, permit me to say, I've been blessed. It's been knowledge left, right and center. And you permit me to say my favorite, easily one of my favorite sessions was the one that Madame Chineye took. I think that was, you know, grossly. What's the word now? Educating you know, it was a very lovely space. I mean, elections are easily my favorite topic in the Nigerian considering that's the only route to which we, you know, pick our leaders.

Community Reflection and Future Goals

And as we know, it's one of the most difficult, or would I say the most challenging aspect of our government currently is the kind of leaders that we have. So major kudos to her and what she's doing with the African policy conversations. And all the work she's doing as well. Major thanks to Doctor Toye. I always like to hear him. Doctor Toye, my guy. Always good to hear from you know and of course Doctor Simi, one of my big aunties in the UK as well. She's already dropped off, you know, it's been a very entertaining space and more importantly, knowledge packed. Thank you so much. Happy Independence Day to Nigeria. Thank you very much. I don't know, Uloma, do you need. Me to do anything else? Yeah, no, that's okay. I think that's enough and then. Okay, thank you, thank you. We're going to round enough now so just give the mic quickly to our guest speakers to talk a few things around off and then, you know, we can lose space. So while we're doing the SK, I'll just say sk if you want to stop picking the winners.

Community Initiatives and Voting Power

So because I said we'll pick the winners on the specific. Okay, sorry guys, I have to continue model from. Somehow my other phone dropped off so no, don't know what happened but yeah. So regarding that we will continue on the space with that. So we just round off quickly and I'll give the mic now to Chin a year when I can. So guys, if you're in this space, please follow China. Listen, amazing things she's doing for Nigerians in Dustbra. Maybe probably people never heard of her before but like I said earlier on, listen, I can hear her speak all day long. You know, I don't think I've been to three any most. I mean I go to a lot of events we can work out in the UK. I don't think I've been to an event that, you know, you have three governors turn up as a guest speaker.

Roles and Responsibilities in Community Development

I mean there's the power of China. I mean it's amazing, you know, even you see the almighty governors like, you know, Uber, Sony, feel like a small boy in London is. I'm like, wow, you know. So guys follow Chin. Aye, you learn a lot from her. You know, it's good to have obviously women who also interested in politics people have the right passion. And for me, I think the great thing for me personally is a lot of young women in our society will look up to someone like, you know what if China can do it, a lawyer, you know, advocate for good governance, fan of African police conversation, can do it and have the power. I can also do it as well. My last question to you on this space definitely will be how can I get it right when it comes to diaspora voting and of course Nigerians in diaspora. What influence do we need in political positions back home? Because some of the mistakes.

Diaspora Influence and Engagement

I was having a chat somewhere recently and the person was saying that Olomo, someone like you should be more involved in policies back home and stuff. And then we had the difference about we've seen some of our leaders who studied and abroad. I mean, you look at some of their cv's and you'll be like, you'll be blown away. And these same people go back home and they just total is like two different people's entirely. Understand? So how can we get it right? Because a lot of, even people on this space this evening were based in diaspora, have political ambitions. I mean people are based in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and stuff. And these same people go back home and do something different. How can we get it right? Mike? Is this Chennai? Wow, thank you. A lot more. You guys are too kind, honest, say, I feel very privileged. It's an honor. I love Nigeria so much.

Nation Building and Personal Commitment

So everything I do is a labor of love. I'm not a politician, I've never run for office. But, you know, I am very interested in good governance, nation building and impact. So I'm a lawyer by profession. I have a law and consulting firm which is my nine to five. But Africa policy conversations is a nonprofit which, you know, I came, I and a few other people came together to say, okay, let's do something. You know, and it's been very difficult. You know, like we say, nation building is a marathon, it's not a sprint. But because of love for country, right? And because of wanting to live a life of purpose, that's why I felt like, you know, my voice has to be heard no matter how small the voice is, you know, but in terms of just answering your question and I really love everything that everyone has said, you know, it has something to.

Community Engagement in Governance

Sometimes we feel powerless, we feel like. We. As much as it seems so difficult, you know, the system, those weak institutions, the civil servants, everything, anytime I have an opportunity, any platform I have, I speak and I speak just this past week I facilitate some grassroots town hall. We do a lot of high level events in the UK, the US, we do un General assembly and all that stuff. But this year we said that people have actually lost their lives and all the suffering. We want to focus, we want to, like, reduce the number. Although we've had a couple of events abroad, we said, you know, we want to do more grassroots town halls. Right. Why are we doing that? Because we realized that the knowledge.

Grassroots Awareness and Policy Making

What? You know, so recently, that's just a few days ago, we had a town hall meeting in Lagos and. Funny. Okay, Tina. Yeah? I think you. Your reception? Yeah. Okay, hold on. I think we're losing a little bit. The reception is terrible. Sorry. The next walk. Okay, let me just run. Okay, let me try and add it back. Okay, sorry guys, I'm just trying to add it back and then we can continue. Okay, I think we're gonna have to. Hold on. Volley. Can you see on the space at all? Can you see wallet? Wallet. Sk. Can you see Chennai? Okay, hold on. I've seen. Okay, okay, just hold on. Okay, I think. Okay, let's. Let's get a space up and running.

Leadership and Community Initiatives

Up and moving. And then maybe once she's ready, she will keep getting mic back. Okay. Yes, please, I can hear you. Okay, I'm just trying to give the mic to China. sometimes this, as much as technology is good, sometimes can be very. I think, you know, for instance, he's been having a back and forth all day on the space. Okay, let me give the mic to you. I'll give you the closing remarks. Please. Okay. My closing remark is all of us on this call should just be a Nigerian who leads by good example. Let's take responsibility to be the exceptional Nigerian that is different from the false narrative out there. Let's model good practices. Obey the laws of the communities that we are in.

Commitment to Excellence and Community Responsibility

Be responsible not just to our immediate family, but like Queen Arith said, be committed to giving back to the people in our community. It is very important that despite the narrative, stand out. Do good quality, excellent work, irrespective of your career, irrespective of where you are, whether you are in a minority, whether you are a person, whatever it is, you are Nigerian. And there's something in your DNA that makes you very exceptional. Don't allow anybody make you a victim of the circumstances of your life. You will have personal challenges. You will have all of those. But keep to your dream, keep to your vision, keep aspiring. You might not be on this platform as a speaker today, but who knows? Maybe next month, who knows what it is. But stay focused. Be a good example of a Nigerian that everybody would love to emulate and be friends with and make us proud that you are Nigerian. That's my parting word to everyone tonight.

Community Appreciation and Encouragement

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Just like Mister Toyip said, make us proud. I mean, I've always said this so many times that every one of us is the Nigerian ambassador in Daspa. No matter where you are, you don't have to be known. However, everyone is a Nigerian ambassador to the of Nigeria. We represent our country, any part of the world. I've seen people gone to job recently, a gentleman went to do a job in a small city in coastal contrary here. And the way this girl was so hardworking, the management was shocked. They felt like, I mean, how much are we paying you? And you're so hardworking like this. And the guy just said, oh, this is how we do.

Work Ethic and Community Impact

We had before they know it. They said, before knew. They said, listen, bring your friends. Now about four of them are working the same place. And in fact, they've even now turned, you know, the management, because management felt like okay with the workers that were there before. Obviously, typical breeds. They were more like just soft, easy cup of tea every 10 seconds. But then this guy came away and blew them all around. I mean, how could you to a new job in one month? Your first month, you winning employee of the month in the first, almost, first three months. So already even the locals were even angry. What's going on? You've come here, you're not doing over Sabi, but clearly shows our work ethics as Nigerians at all times. So I don't say a big thank you to you as well for everything you do for us.

Global Representation and Community Empowerment

Grateful to all those video articles and the business ng newspaper Nigeria and everything you do. We. We appreciate you. Thank you very much. And just like you said as well, let all of us be an ambassador of Nigeria, no matter where we are around the world. Thank you, sir. Thank you. You're welcome. Kineye, the mic is just. We. I mean, the network started around the Lagos State Issue park, but yeah, go ahead, please. Oh, yeah, yeah. So I was saying that we had a grassroots town hall and we had persons with disabilities. We had people from the universities, and were able to bring policymakers.