President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians living in Rwanda that his administration will continue working to remove obstacles limiting citizens’ potential, while reaffirming his commitment to economic reforms, transparent governance, and national unity.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured Nigerians living in Rwanda that his administration will continue working tirelessly to ensure Nigeria attains its rightful position among leading nations of the world.
The President gave the assurance on Friday during an interactive session with members of the Nigerian community in Kigali, comprising academics, professionals, entrepreneurs, and students.
President Tinubu also pledged that his administration would confront every challenge hindering Nigerians from achieving their full potential both within the country and in the diaspora.
The President commended the delegation for being worthy ambassadors of Nigeria through their respect for the laws of their host country and their contributions to pan-African development.
“I thank you for being good ambassadors, and we are proud of what you are doing, which reflects the Nigerian pride. Our reforms are working, and the economy is bright and stable,” Tinubu said.
He further stated that the Federal Government remained committed to creating opportunities that would enable Nigerians at home and abroad to thrive.
“We owe every Nigerian, both at home and abroad, the provision of the enabling environment to break and lead in all spheres. To the students and professionals here, I promise today that Nigeria will be governed transparently. I will lead with sincerity regardless of tribe or any other considerations,” the President added.
Tinubu urged Nigerians in Rwanda to remain united and avoid ethnic or tribal divisions, stressing that national identity should take precedence over sectional interests.
“The Green-White-Green flag means so much to all of us. None of us has direct control over where we are born; God has that prerogative. Your tribe does not matter as you have no control over where you are born or who your parents are,” he told the gathering.
Reflecting on Rwanda’s history, the President noted that the country had overcome past crises by embracing reconciliation and focusing on the future.
Tinubu also explained the significance of the symbol on his trademark cap, saying it represents his belief in breaking the chains of poverty, ignorance, disease, and other barriers preventing citizens from achieving success.
The President directed Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires in Rwanda, Ibrahim Zanna, to collaborate closely with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and the Presidency to address concerns raised by Nigerians in Rwanda, particularly in harnessing the economic and intellectual potential of the diaspora community.
Ambassador Zanna informed the President that the Nigerian High Commission in Kigali had digitised its records and maintained a comprehensive database of Nigerians residing in Rwanda.
Earlier, Director-General of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described members of the delegation as exceptional Nigerians contributing significantly to Rwanda’s development across education, ICT, hospitality, business, and sports sectors.
According to her, the delegation included 28 PhD holders and several chief executives working with multinational organisations and international agencies.
Chairman of the Association of Nigerians in Rwanda, Umar Wali, said the association was founded through the efforts of members of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps serving in Rwanda.
He explained that the group had continued to promote unity, peaceful coexistence, lawful conduct, cultural exchange, and stronger relationships between Nigerians and Rwandans.
Prof. Wali, however, highlighted challenges relating to passport renewals and visa processing, noting the absence of a Passport Office at the Nigerian High Commission in Kigali.
“There is no Passport Office at the Nigerian High Commission in Kigali, and many members of our community face difficulties renewing passports and obtaining passports for newborn babies,” he said.
Also speaking, Olugbemi Adekakan, expressed interest in contributing more directly to Nigeria’s development and sought the support of the Federal Government.
Fatima Attahiru assured the President that the United Nations Development Programme would continue exploring areas of partnership with Nigeria in human capacity development and skills acquisition.
Former Nigerian-Canadian basketball player Michael Masai Ujiri also informed the President of his interest in developing Nigeria’s sports infrastructure into a modern investment-driven enterprise.
Ujiri disclosed that he developed the Zaria Court integrated sports and hospitality complex in Rwanda to international standards.
Executive Vice Chairman of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Khalil Sulaiman Halilu, assured the diaspora community that the agency had developed specialised programmes to help Nigerians abroad contribute to national development.
Members of the delegation praised President Tinubu’s participation at the Africa CEO Forum and reaffirmed their commitment to projecting Nigeria positively across Rwanda and other parts of the world.
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