The South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Kim Young-Chae has emphasized the need for the fostering of partnership for a continuous diaspora engagement between Nigeria and South Korea.
Young-Chae stated this on Monday, July 10, 2023, when he paid a visit to the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Notifying NIDCOM Chairman/MD that the South Korean Government has just established the South Korean overseas agency similar to Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), as a one-stop shop for Korean nationals in the Diaspora, Young-Chae stated that the Nigerian Diaspora played a vital role in the global economy and urged them to invest in the private corporate sector of the country’s economy, thereby fostering a filial relationship with the Nigerian Government.
According to the statement signed by the NIDCOM’s Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Gabriel Odu, “Young-chae also raised that South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, launched a Diaspora one-stop centre to attend to its citizens all over the world. In addition, the South Korean Ambassador stated that unlike Nigerians living abroad, Korean citizens can vote globally in their embassies during an election period.”
Responding, Dabiri-Erewa commended the South Korean Ambassador for deepening the partnership with the Commission.
Her words, “We are happy that you have decided to set up an agency for Korean Diasporas as we hope to learn from one another to foster continuous engagement.
“We will ensure to work with you and reach out to key into our initiatives. We have a Diaspora Day coming up on July 25, 2023, which we celebrate annually, and a Diaspora Investment Summit in November.
“Nigerians are excelling in health, science and technology, education sports, media, and entertainment globally, amongst several others. The Commission produced a compendium in 2022 and the next edition is underway.
“We are also focused on our 2nd and 3rd Generation Diaspora and we look forward to continuous relationships and partnership.” She concluded.
Dabiri-Erewa further said NiDCOM is primarily building trust with the Nigerian Diaspora community to fast-track investment back home through various programmes.
