Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili said that for Africa to reach its potential, it has to fully integrate the knowledge the diaspora brings into its development process.
Speaking at Newscentral’s Town Hall Series in New York, Ezekwesili stressed that the continent cannot develop without engaging the resources it has in the diaspora.
“The diaspora matter is not just intellectual for me; it is something that goes to the heart of whether we can take action by taking advantage of the resources they represent.”
The former World Bank Chief noted that the three key ingredients to solving developmental problems are partnerships, knowledge and money and added that the diaspora provides all three.
“The diaspora is an incredible community of people that represents these three resources, so understanding that makes us look at our diaspora entirely differently.”
“And in the sense that you have just heard that educational attainment and success, professional success, and that Nigerian diaspora are at the top of it, you can imagine the quality of partnerships they can unlock for the country.”
She stressed that it was high time the continent moved beyond the massive injection of money the diaspora provides and gave the diaspora a voting voice.
“You’ve got partnerships, you’ve got knowledge, you’ve got massive injection of money into the economy of Nigeria, but you don’t have. You’ve got these three things but don’t have a voice.”