Diaspora Union Urges Africa To Leverage Knowledge, Resources Of Afro-descendants

By Sarafina Christopher

The African Diaspora Union, Nigeria (AFRIDU-NIGERIA), has underscored the need to leverage the knowledge, resources, and expertise of the African diaspora population for the sustainable development and prosperity of the continent.

The union also pledged to work together toward a brighter and more interconnected future.

These were some of the recommendations made by AFRIDU-NIGERIA in Abuja on Thursday in a communique issued after it was formally inaugurated by its President-General, Archbishop Chidiebere Ogbu during an international conference of people of African descent in diaspora.

The communique was signed by seven top officials of the union such as Ogbu,  King Alfred Diete Spiff, the
Chairman Board Of Trustees, AFRIDU- NIGERIA, and Dr Onwubuya Abraham Breakforth, the Diplomatic Administrator, AFRIDU-NIGERIA.

The union resolved that it would encourage African governments, including Nigeria to engage with the people of African descent and facilitate their seamless return to their roots to contribute to national development.

AFRIDU-NIGERIA also recommended the  reintegration of people of African descent back to their ancestral homeland, saying “it is necessary for the restoration of Africa as the Head of the Nations.

“The African Diaspora Union constitutes diaspora experts, investors, professionals, scientists, entertainers, academics, and people with diverse skills required for the actualisation of the integration of Africans in Diaspora and the realisation of the African dream.

“The African diaspora population plays significant roles in the development and advancement of their countries of origin and the African continent as a whole.

“We believe that the union will promote development of a comprehensive database of African diaspora professionals, entrepreneurs, and experts in order to monitor integration, investment opportunities, and knowledge transfer.”

The union pledged to advocate policies that would address the challenges faced by Africans in the diaspora, including those related to discrimination, immigration, and access to resources.

It also said it would facilitate partnerships between diasporas, local entrepreneurs, and institutions to harness the potential of the diaspora for socio-economic development of the continent.

AFRIDU-NIGERIA agreed to “support and facilitate initiatives that promote education and skills transfer from the diaspora to African nations, including scholarships, training and mentorship programmes.”

It further recommended the intensification of ongoing dialogue and collaboration between the African diaspora population, governments, and African institutions.

The group agreed that its next international conference will bring no fewer than 1,000 black Africans together from Sept. 23 to 27, 2024 to rub minds with a view to advancing the African cause.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that African diaspora populations include but are not limited to African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, Afro-Latin Americans, Black Canadians – descendants of enslaved West Africans brought to the United States, the Caribbean, Central America and South America during the Atlantic slave trade.

Around 200 million people identifying themselves as being of African descent live in the Americas.

Many millions more live in other parts of the world, outside of the African continent.

NAN also reports that the four other top officials who signed the communique are Rev. Reeves Jr. (AFRIDU Diplomatic Administrator, Republic of Liberia), Mbonyiyeze Pascal (AFRIDU Ambassador to East Africa), Dr Barryl Biekman (AFRIDU Ambassador to the European Union, and Dr Andre Mcclerkin, (AFRIDU Ambassador to the USA and Canada). (NAN)

(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)