President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Tinubu says Nigerians ought not to be poor. President Bola Tinubu has advised Nigerians in the United States to rise beyond failure by adopting a new mindset for success in all aspects of life.
Tinubu, speaking at the Presidential Townhall Meeting with Nigerians in the Diaspora on Wednesday in New York, said Nigerians had no cause to be impoverished.
According to the Nigerian News Agency, the Townhall Meeting was organized on the fringes of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.
Tinubu, who praised the efforts to educate out-of-school children, the healthcare program, and the need to reduce poverty, stated that Nigeria is a privileged country.
“Sincerely, we have no reason to be poor; we are simply lacking in some areas of leadership.”
“That’s what I emphasized throughout my campaign.” It was a very gruesome campaign but I won the election but if I didn’t thrown myself into it with strong determination and result, I wouldn’t have won.
“There were so many hurdles on my way that would have stopped me. I refused to be stopped, you can do the same as many of you here that are contesting elections”, the President said.
Speaking further, he said, “I want to give you a measure that will resonate with you. I was once a diaspora. What you have been through, I have been through it. A change of mindset is necessary.
“Take it this night that Nigeria is home for business opportunities.
“Also, anywhere you stay, there is always going to be an opportunity in, and in everything you do, there is always going to be an opportunity, if you know how to search and put your mind into it,’’ he said.
The president, however, expressed delight in the conduct of Nigerians who have continued to excel in their chosen fields in their host country.
“You are lucky to be among those who are celebrated for good manners and behavior and are operating in an acceptable manner.
“I’m very proud of you; I have also been beneficial of inspiration, determination, commitment and perseverance and that is all you need to get to pull through.
“But, we need you back home, Nigeria has arrived; forget the frustration of the previous year’s leadership,’’ he said.
In addition, he urged the Nigerians to embrace one another, urging that there should not be no sentiment and discrimination among them.
Tinubu said: “You ought to embrace one another. No labeling, no identity, you should remove ethnic identify that tend to differentiate us.
“We are a single family living in the same house but in separate rooms.”
Earlier, the Chairperson of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, introduced the president to some Nigerians who are thriving in their chosen sectors in the United States.
Some of those who spoke acknowledged their admiration for the president’s leadership daring, promising to continue to support him in his attempts to improve Nigeria.
They committed to continue to make Nigeria proud in their host country while also contributing their fair share to the development of their home country.
In his remarks, the first Nigerian-American elected into the United States Congress, Oye Owolewa, said 25 per cent of business orders in the U,S. were black and 1.7 per cent got federal contracts.
Owolewa, who represents Washington, DC, stated that they have been assisting people in seizing such possibilities for economic development.
“Those are the best opportunities for investors in New York.”
“In my office, we do the talk, we teach our people how to get contract, we teach our people how to get grants.,’’ he said.
Also speaking, a Nigerian-American, Olufunmilola Obe, an Inspector working in the New York Police Department, briefed the president on her efforts to make Africa, especially Nigeria proud in her office.
She told Tinubu that she was the coordinator of an African Law Enforcement Organisation, an association within the NYPD, as Vice President.
Obe is the first African ever to be promoted to the rank of an Inspector in the history of NYPD.
NAN reports that the Town Hall Meeting was attended by the Minister of Foreign of Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola and the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Amb.Tijjani Muhammad-Bande
Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Amb. Uzoma Emenike; Consul General of Nigeria in New York, Amb. Lot Egopija; and Consul General in Atlanta, Amb. Amina Samaila were also in attendance.
Others included Akwa Ibom Gov. Umo Eno, Kaduna State Gov. Uba Sani, and Kwara Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq.