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Edo State indigenes in the diaspora have called on the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki to make good his promise to establish the Edo State Diaspora Agency, ESDA.
The members of various groups, associations, and communities of Edo State origin in the diaspora across various continents of the world – Europe, Australia, Africa, America, and Asia made this plea as a follow up to the recent call made in the media by the Sweden-based, Ambassador Collins Idahosa, Governor, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Europe chapter.
In a message, and on behalf of the Edo community in Thessaloniki, Greece, the President, Mr Austin Omogiate reiterated the urgent need for the EDSA to take off. Also, Bishop Osakue Akioya, Apostolic Overseer Oasis Ministries Diaspora in Mali and Burkina Faso as well as Edo State communities in Ireland spoke in support of quick establishment of EDSA.
This was contained in a message signed by Ambassador Uyi Irabor, President, Edo State community in Ireland.
Towing the same line, Edo state cultural association, Italy drummed their support for the creation of EDSA According to their President, Mr Samuel Izekor, the EDSA will create a synergy for Edo State people worldwide to connect and contribute their quota to the social and economic growth of our dear state.
Also speaking for the Edo state community in Brazil, the President, Mr Iredia Billy Aruevbose enjoined Gov. Obaseki to stamp his legacy by starting the Agency. Coming from the Middle East, the Edo community association in the United Arab Emirates, also threw their weight behind the calls. In a message, signed by their President, Prince Davis Omoruyi and Dr Osayemwenre Okungbowa (an elder and adviser) they said, when on stream the ESDA will harness the economic potential of its diaspora. This same belief was echoed by Mr Yusuf Abubakar, Vice President of the Edo state community in Australia.
From Texas in the United States of America, Ms. Eki Gladys Ogbeide of Edo State Women’s Association, reinforced how the call made by Mr Collins Idahosa was long overdue. She stated that a Diaspora Agency for Edo State would go a long way to empower our people, especially our women, both at home and abroad. Dr Eseosa Aghedo in Canada has also weighed in to say it is clear that to maximise our State’s economic prosperity, our diaspora population must be mobilised strategically and intentionally to play their role. Something which a Diaspora Agency will enable us to achieve.
Pastor Osaro Marvis Obude and his wife, Pastor Mrs Rachel Omobude who are President of Edo State community in Moscow, Russia and Vice-President of Nigerians in Russia respectively, have both expressed how a functional Edo State Diaspora Agency will ease the burden of the state government by improving their reach and presence in the lives of Edo State citizens in countries like theirs that are far and out of the regular popular nations migrants go to.
Scotland, Wales, and England from the United Kingdom are not left out. Evangelist Gladys Osamuyime Ogbeide, in Glasgow, Scotland who is the founder of the Umagba n’Edo ne Prayer Ministries Intl has said that the people of Edo State worldwide, demanding that the public promise of the current Edo State Governor to his people to establish a functional Edo State Diaspora Agency must be fulfilled because the voice of the people is the voice of God. Mr. Mark Giwa-Amu from Cardiff in Wales has noted that with the massive remittances Edo State people in Diaspora provide to our state, the call made by Mr Collins Idahosa earlier on in the month was valid. Alhaji Yusuf Idehen, President of Edo State people in Birmingham, England has stated that for Edo State to have her narrative and rich cultural heritage optimally propagated to the world, we must have a Diaspora Agency that will serve as the driving platform – therefore, he believes that having a functional Diaspora Agency is imperative for the government of the day. In the same light, Dr Tony Agbonasevbaefe (UK) of the Edo State Diaspora Working Group, EDWG opined that the time for the Agency to take off is now.
It would be recalled that during the 2020 governorship election, the Edo state diaspora played a pivotal role in the re-election of the incumbent Gov. Godwin Obaseki. The latter also promised at different fora to set up a diaspora agency. Mr Obaseki had set up a Steering committee headed by the Head of service, Mr Anthony Okungbowa in August 2021. The committee had members drawn from the Edo state diaspora communities from different parts of the world. They have since submitted their report, and the Edo State House of Assembly has also passed a bill creating the legal backup for the Agency in July 2022. The bill seeks for the welfare and well-being of Edo indigenes in diaspora and to coordinate a database and foster development in the state. It is therefore not surprising the clamour for the Agency to start off.
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