President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians in the diaspora to invest their resources back at home.
According to him, this would drive national growth and development.
Tinubu made this appeal on Thursday while having an interactive meeting with members of the Nigerian community on the sidelines of the ongoing Tokyo International Conference on African Development, TICAD9, in Japan.
In a statement by his Senior Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president said that Nigeria was on the rise again under his leadership.
According to him, leadership is about “thinking and doing”, stressing that the priority of his administration was to create an environment where every Nigerian can feel the positive impact of change.
The Nigerian leader listed improvement in passport issuance, a reversal in medical tourism through upgraded healthcare infrastructure and increased access, and economic transformation as key areas of progress.
“I am happy to listen to you. I’m happy to report that many of our people are returning home.
“Yes, for economic reasons, some people might decide to stay away; it’s a fundamental right of the individual, but for the economic growth and opportunity available in Nigeria, don’t stay away," Tinubu said.
The president also stressed that the strength of citizenship is not just in holding a Nigerian passport but in one’s character and commitment to the nation’s progress.
He, however, warned against negative portrayals of Nigeria, stating that such actions do little to advance development and discourage needed investment and partnerships.
