President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians abroad to channel their skills, networks, and capital back into nation-building, declaring that “Nigeria is on the rise again.”
Speaking in Yokohama, Japan, during an engagement with members of the Nigerian community on the sidelines of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, Tinubu emphasized that the government’s reforms were already stabilizing the economy and opening fresh avenues for investment and innovation.
“Some of our citizens may remain abroad for personal or economic reasons, and that is their right,” Tinubu said. “But Nigeria’s growth requires your contribution. If you stay away, who will build the nation we all dream of?”
The President highlighted ongoing improvements in areas such as passport issuance, healthcare upgrades, and investment-friendly policies designed to attract both domestic and foreign investors. He urged the diaspora to not only return home where possible but also to actively project Nigeria positively on the global stage.
Nation-building, Tinubu argued, cannot be left to government alone. “If we don’t work together, we risk losing the leadership role destiny has assigned to us,” he said.
Government officials at the session—including the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, and NASENI’s Executive Vice-Chairman, Khalil Suleiman Halilu—outlined initiatives designed to create jobs, boost industrial capacity, and support innovation.
Adding weight to the conversation, Wale Tinubu, a business leader and presidential nephew, shared how reforms have improved competitiveness, energized the stock market, and drawn new streams of investment.
The Nigerian Union in Japan, led by Emeka Ebogota, pledged its support for the government’s agenda, while other attendees included entrepreneurs, academics, and professionals contributing to diverse sectors.
The event reinforced Tinubu’s broader message: Nigeria’s global citizens are not just observers but crucial partners in shaping an economy that can deliver prosperity at home.
