Chidimma Uchegbu – Abuja
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has challenged Nigerians in diaspora to think home in their investment plans.
She also implored them not to see the United States of America and Europe as their ‘permanent homes,’ but to begin to take proactive steps in replicating in their respective communities in Nigeria, the development and infrastructure they enjoyed in their places of residence abroad.
The minister made the call at the 16th Annual Mbaise USA Convention held in Minnesota, USA, where she officially flagged off the commencement of construction on the Medville Medical City in Uvuru, Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria.
She emphasised the importance of channelling the skills, resources, and innovative spirit acquired abroad back to their homeland, as well as fostering a cycle of growth that benefits both present and future generations.
According to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the progress recorded in diaspora communities should serve as a blueprint for local development, inspiring purposeful investments and initiatives in Nigeria.
“By building bridges between their experiences overseas and opportunities at home, Nigerians can collectively uplift their communities and strengthen the nation’s fabrics,” the minister stated.
This was contained in the statement issued and signed by the Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Magnus Eze stating that the Minister acknowledged the accomplishments of Mbaise USA over the years, stating that the group has demonstrated sufficient capacity in complementing the Federal Government’s efforts towards national development, especially in the area of affordable healthcare. These accomplishments, she said, no doubt, were consistent with the present administration’s foreign policy thrust of Democracy, Diaspora, Demography and Development, codenamed-4Ds, as well as the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
On the Medville Medical City project embarked upon by the diaspora group, the Minister stated: “I am aware that this year’s convention is dedicated to massive support and fundraising to commence the construction of this state-of-the-art project, and I have specifically been invited to speak at this landmark event and to formally flag off the commencement of construction on the Medville Medical City in Uvuru, Mbaise, IMO State.”
Continuing, shesaid that “the Medville Medical City is a legacy project that will place the Mbaise Nation and Nigeria as a whole on the global map, given its potentials to bring about a remarkable breakthrough in the much-desired advancement in modern medicine and healthcare delivery in the country. I congratulate the brain behind this vision, Dr. Nancy Akunna, for her foresight, brilliance, dedication, resilience and patriotic zeal in designing a medical concept that is capable of revolutionizing the medical industry in Nigeria.”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu further assured the diaspora group that both the Federal and Government and the Imo State Government were aware of the proposed Medville project and fully support the initiative.
“In my capacity as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs responsible for diaspora affairs, I have keyed into the project, which I consider strategic in improving the lives of our people back home as well as pivotal to the core mandates of the present administration, and the Renewed Hope Agenda. My office is available to partner with your organization, as well as collaborate with the Imo State Government and other relevant Nigerian institutions in every way possible to facilitate the actualization of the Medville project.
Wife of Abia State Governor, Dr. Priscilla Otti, a daughter of Mbaise, congratulated the leadership and members of Mbaise USA for the great jobs they were doing, especially for bringing home development targeted at improving the living conditions of their communities in Nigeria.
She applauded the Medville initiative and expressed the willingness of the Abia State Government to explore possible areas of partnership in the future.
In their separate welcome remarks, National President of Mbaise USA, Ezeji Alozie Aguwa, and the Chairman of Board of Delegates, Dr. Charles Iwejuo, both highlighted that the positive impacts made by the diaspora group clearly reflected in their numerous projects and initiatives.
The President, Mbaise USA disclosed that the group had championed annual medical missions, facilitated access to healthcare insurance, awarded education scholarships, and supported skills acquisition programmes.
In addition, he said that the organisation had engaged in vital infrastructure development, including providing World Health Organization-standard water boreholes as well as spearheading community electrification projects.
He added that the group was perfecting partnership arrangements towards creating a digital-driven economy through the establishment of technology hubs and the investors-driven Medville Medical City.
Addressing the convention, the chief initiator of the Medville Medical City project, Dr Nancy Akunna explained that the Medville Medical City was envisioned as a transformative initiative, aimed at bridging the gap between local limitations and international standards.
She said: “By bringing together state-of-the-art medical services, educational opportunities, and an environment conducive to both healing and enterprise, I hope to inspire a model community that would be top-notch in our rural setting.”
The annual convention attracted many dignitaries including Chairman, ABC Transport, Frank Nneji, Executive Director, Fidelity Bank PLC, Sir Stanley Amuchie, and former Commissioner for Lands, Imo State, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu.
Others were former Nigeria Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea, Innocent Iwejuo, the Catholic Bishop of Ahiara Diocese, Bishop Simeon Okezue Nwobi, The Anglican Bishop of Mbaise, Bishop Chamberlain Ogunedo, and Eze M.J.O. Nwaturuocha.
