The Nigerians in Diaspora organisation (NIDO) said its members remitted about $63.17 billion (N10.35 trillion) into the country between 2011 and June 2014. Dr George Manuwuike, the Chairman Board of Trustees of NIDO, stated this in Abuja during a news conference on the Diaspora Day 2015 scheduled to hold from July 23 to July 27 in Abuja. Manuwuike said that the Diaspora remittance was second only to oil and gas revenue as the highest foreign exchange injection to the Nigerian economy.

“As the umbrella organisation of Diaspora Nigerians, we are proud to associate with the phenomenal amount that Nigerians living abroad have been bringing to the national economy. Recently, the World Bank reported that between 2011 to June 2014, Nigerians in the Diaspora had remitted about 63.17 billion dollars (N10.35 trillion) into the country.

“In terms of remittance from her citizens living abroad, Nigeria was ranked five globally next to China, India, Philippines and Mexico,” he said.

The chairman said that NIDO, since its inception in 2000 had served as forum for Nigerian Diaspora networking and advocacy. He said that it had organised tens of trade and investment conferences that brought together Nigerians and foreign investors for dialogue opportunities for technological, educational, industrial and other forms of investment in Nigeria and others. He said that NIDO intended to reverse and convert the “brain-drain” the country had suffered for so long into “‘brain-gain”.

“NIDO plans to ramp up its engagement in Nigeria to ensure that its mission and goals are achieved, and impact of its actions are felt by both government and the Nigerian masses. It is for this and other purposes that a structure of NIDO has recently been registered here in Abuja as a Non Governmental Organisation.

We believed that this action will instil confidence in NIDO as a partner with all our citizens and government at all levels,” he said. He said that the organisation wanted to use this year Diaspora Day to raise funds for a number of projects that were proposed for the benefit of Nigerian people.

According to him, key among the projects are multi-million naira Diagnostic and Trauma Centre, and Boko Haram Victims Rehabilitation Fund to assist victims of terrorism and minimise the trauma experienced by survivors. He said that this would be done through facilitating access to proper medical and psychological treatment through a Diaspora Liaison Office in Abuja.