International
United Nations commends Benue On SDGs Implementation Model
United Nations commends Benue On SDGs Implementation Model
The United Nations (UN), on Friday, commended the Benue Government’s implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) model.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, gave the commendation at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting at the Benue Government House in Makurdi on Friday.
She said Benue had a critical role to play, not only in feeding the country but also in generating livelihoods, enterprises, and broader prosperity.
She said that progress was being made in the state, though in a very difficult context.
“Insecurity has disrupted lives, weakened livelihoods, eroded trust, and undermined the foundations for peace and development.
“The efforts being made to pursue durable solutions for displaced families, including through access to agricultural land and opportunities for self-reliance, reflect the kind of joined-up leadership this moment demands.
“This is how the SDGs are advanced in practice: through integrated action that connects humanitarian response to long-term development, restores agency, reduces dependency and leaves no one behind.
“With sustained leadership, stronger partnerships and continued investment in livelihoods and value chains, Benue is well placed to translate its assets into more inclusive and resilient growth.
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“The UN stands ready to support these efforts in ways that are practical, coordinated and aligned behind State priorities,” she said.
Mrs Mohammed expressed her condolences to the families of those killed in the recent attacks in the state, including in Mbalom in Gwer East LGA and in Yelwata.
She said the state required not only a response to security issues but also a broader commitment to peacebuilding.
According to her, this starts at the grassroots, strengthens early warning and response, rebuilds trust across communities, and creates the conditions for reconciliation.
She added that for peace to thrive, there must be justice and accountability, noting that without them, peace remains fragile and reconciliation incomplete.
Mrs Mohammed promised to support the state in sustained investment in human capital, especially in children and young people.
“A resilient education system is therefore not only a social priority; it is a foundation for long-term peace, inclusion and recovery.
“We stand ready to work with Benue State to strengthen education data, planning and service delivery, including in hard-to-reach and displacement-affected areas,” she said.
In his remarks, Governor Hyacinth Alia said Benue, as the food basket of the nation, had stability that was directly linked to the stability of Nigeria’s food systems and West Africa’s broader supply chains.
Mr Alia noted that armed herders’ attacks had forced more than 500,000 persons out of their homes, thereby causing a serious humanitarian crisis in the state.
He said his administration had provided sustained support to internally displaced persons and developed shelters and critical infrastructure in affected communities.
“We launched durable solutions and allocated farmlands and facilitated the return of displaced households to productive life,” the governor said.
Hyacinth Alia
On the Yelewata attack, he said that with support from the federal government and other sources, they had built houses, provided water and education, and supported livelihoods and healthcare services.
“Your Excellency, Benue is ready. Ready to lead. Ready to partner and deliver results that matter, not just for our people, but as a model for Nigeria and the global community.
“What we seek is not charity, but collaboration. Not isolated projects, but integrated systems. Not temporary relief, but lasting transformation.
“Together, we can turn vulnerability into resilience, displacement into opportunity, and potential into prosperity. We invite the United Nations to walk this journey with us,” Mr Alia said.
Akwa Ibom Airport Commences International Operations With Maiden Flight To Ghana
Today, the people of Akwa Ibom State rolled out the drums, once again, in celebration of a milestone achievement with the completion of the international terminal and the commencement of international operations at the Victor Attah International Airport.
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The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, was on ground, and officially declared the airport ready for international operations.
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The State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, expressed satisfaction with the development, saying, “I am indeed proud to be an Akwa Ibomite.”
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Economy
NISER, NiDCOM Validate Diaspora Study To Strengthen Policy Framework For National Development
NISER, NiDCOM Validate Diaspora Study To Strengthen Policy Framework For National Development
The Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), in collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has commenced the validation workshop for a major diaspora study titled, “A Six-Continent Survey of Nigerian Professionals in Diaspora: Policy Measures for Harnessing Contributions to National Development.”
The workshop, held at BON Hotel, Octagon, Jahi, Abuja, brought together key stakeholders, policymakers, members of the National Assembly Committees, diaspora experts, professional bodies, development partners, members of the media, and representatives from relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to deliberate on strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s engagement with its diaspora community and maximizing their contributions to national development.
Delivering her welcome address, the Director-General of NISER, Antonia Taiye Simbine, described the study as a critical step toward evidence-based policymaking and sustainable diaspora engagement.
She stated that the validation workshop reflects the collective commitment of stakeholders to advancing Nigeria’s development through informed engagement with the diaspora community, noting that the large turnout of experts and partners underscores the importance of the exercise and the value attached to evidence-driven policymaking.
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Simbine explained that NISER, as Nigeria’s foremost policy research institution, is mandated to provide rigorous, evidence-based policy recommendations that address critical socio-economic challenges confronting the country. She said the Institute works closely with relevant MDAs as well as national and international partners in fulfilling this mandate.
According to her, the diaspora study aligns directly with NISER’s core responsibility of providing policy solutions to national development challenges and was undertaken in partnership with NiDCOM as part of a shared commitment to leveraging research for national progress.
She noted that Nigeria’s diaspora community remains one of the country’s most strategic assets, contributing significantly through annual remittances exceeding 20 billion US dollars, making Nigeria one of Africa’s top remittance-receiving countries.
Beyond remittances, she emphasized that Nigerians abroad contribute immensely through knowledge transfer, skills development, innovation, technology transfer, specialist expertise, mentorship, and international networks that continue to support Nigeria’s economic growth and global competitiveness.
However, she pointed out that despite this enormous potential, several challenges continue to hinder effective diaspora engagement, including policy inconsistencies, limited institutional coordination, trust deficits, regulatory bottlenecks, and inadequate frameworks for channeling diaspora expertise into national priorities.
Simbine explained that the study was conceived to provide empirical insights into the dynamics of diaspora engagement and to propose practical and implementable policy measures for better integration of diaspora contributions into Nigeria’s national development agenda.
She further stated that the validation workshop is expected to refine and strengthen the study’s findings through expert input, enhance stakeholder consensus on critical diaspora-related issues, generate actionable strategies, and support the development of an improved framework for integrating diaspora professionals into national planning and implementation.
She urged participants to actively engage in robust discussions, noting that the quality of deliberations and stakeholder contributions would significantly influence the final output of the study and shape future diaspora policies in meaningful ways.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the Nigerian diaspora as one of the most vibrant, intelligent, resourceful, and globally exposed communities across Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania.
She stated that Nigerians in the diaspora continue to break barriers across medicine, science and technology, public service, entrepreneurship, as well as the orange and blue economies, making them critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s development journey.
Dabiri-Erewa explained that the workshop provides a strategic opportunity to assess diaspora contributions, identify challenges, and explore stronger opportunities for engagement and investment.
NiDCOM
She stressed that for NiDCOM, the focus remains on moving from remittances beyond consumption to remittances for investment, where diaspora contributions are strategically directed toward sustainable development, wealth creation, and national transformation.
According to her, the thematic focus of the validation workshop is clear: to professionally interrogate the findings of the six-continent survey for authenticity, accuracy, and relevance, while jointly refining the policy recommendations to serve as a practical roadmap and framework for engaging Nigeria’s global diaspora.
She highlighted key areas requiring urgent attention, including structured diaspora engagement, streamlined policy coordination and coherence, creation of investment-friendly ecosystems, technology transfer and innovation, and the development of comprehensive data-driven policies.
The NiDCOM Chairman further urged stakeholders to use the platform to reduce brain drain, actualize brain gain, and foster brain circulation for the benefit of national development.
Also speaking, the Head of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Abuja Office, Mr. Adamu Yusuf, commended the initiative and described the validation workshop as a significant step toward harnessing the immense potential, expertise, and contributions of the diaspora community.
He noted that the validation process reflects a collective commitment to ensuring that the study outcomes are credible, inclusive, and reflective of stakeholder realities and aspirations.
Yusuf emphasised that the diaspora remains a vital partner in knowledge transfer, investment, innovation, institutional growth, and sustainable development.
He encouraged participants to engage openly, contribute constructively, and generate practical recommendations that will strengthen the final report and support effective implementation of its outcomes.
He also commended the organisers, facilitators, researchers, and participants for their dedication and collaborative spirit in advancing the initiative.
Speaking on behalf of the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Bala Mohammed Audu, represented by Dr. Liman Idris Mohammed, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at National Hospital Abuja, underscored the importance of diaspora collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system and professional development.
Mohammed stated that the NMA places great importance on Nigerian medical practitioners in the diaspora and deeply appreciates their contributions toward improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
He noted that upon receiving the invitation to the workshop, the President of the NMA showed strong interest in the study and directed the Association to actively participate, recognising its relevance to the future of healthcare delivery in the country.
According to him, the findings of the workshop will be presented to the NMA President and carefully reviewed to determine how the recommendations can be applied within the Association and across the broader health sector to improve medical services in Nigeria.
He explained that even before the study was conceptualized, there were already practical examples of successful diaspora contributions to Nigeria’s healthcare sector. He cited the establishment of major medical facilities in Abuja and Lagos by Nigerian professionals who acquired expertise abroad and returned to invest in the country.
He also referenced a medical doctor from the Association who studied In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in the 1990s and successfully established the practice locally in Nigeria, noting that today IVF services are widely available across the country.
Mohammed stressed that Nigerian professionals often excel beyond the systems where they acquired their training, demonstrating the immense capacity and excellence of Nigerian medical practitioners globally.
He called for stronger utilisation of the expertise of Nigerian medical professionals abroad, emphasising the need for continuous knowledge exchange, professional collaboration, and what he described as “the circulation of skills” between home and the diaspora.
E-signed
Abdur-Rahman Balogun mnipr
Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols (NIDCOM) Abuja.
Dabiri-Erewa Hails Anosike’s Historic NBL Sweep
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has congratulated E.J Anosike on his remarkable achievement as the Finals MVP of the 2026 National Basketball League (China) Season.
In a statement issued by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa described Anosike’s accomplishment as historic, noting that he is the first player in the history of the league to win all major accolades, including the NBL Championship (2026), Finals MVP (2026), Regular Season Scoring Leader (2024), Best International Player (2025), two-time All-Star (2025, 2026), and All-Star Slam Dunk Champion (2026).
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She commended his consistency, discipline, and outstanding performance, stating that his achievement reflects the resilience and excellence that Nigerians continue to demonstrate on the global stage.
Dabiri-Erewa
According to her, “Anosike’s journey is a powerful testament to hard work, focus, and determination. His record-breaking accomplishments have not only brought pride to Nigeria but have also set a new standard of excellence in international basketball.”
The NiDCOM Boss further noted that his success serves as an inspiration to young Nigerians, particularly aspiring athletes, encouraging them to pursue their dreams with dedication and confidence.
E-signed
Abdur-Rahman Balogun (mnipr),
Head, Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit.
(NiDCOM)
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