President Buhari said that with the establishment of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Nigerians abroad can now transparently contribute their quota to national development, including investing in the economy.

The President said this on Saturday during a town hall meeting with Diaspora Nigerians on the sidelines of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), in Kigali, Rwanda.

Buhari urged them to continue upholding the good image of Nigeria by obeying the laws of their host country.

He hailed young Nigerians who are excelling at home and abroad, saying the country would welcome contributions and investments from compatriots with international exposure for the economy to thrive.

Buhari, in a statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said: “It is a great pleasure for me to be in Kigali, Rwanda, and to meet you, members of the Nigerian Diaspora, as part of my regular encounters with Nigerians wherever I visit other countries.

”Let me start by congratulating and congratulating Yewande Adebowale on becoming one of the first four winners of the Commonwealth Youth Competition at the Kigali Startup Festival 2022 at the Commonwealth Youth Forum.

”I also congratulate Esther Olanrewaju and Favor Aderinto who are the recipients of the Lakshmi Subramanian CMU-Africa Student Excellence Awards for Masters in Information Technology and Electrical and Computer Engineering respectively.

“I am proud of all of you, and I always remain proud of the excellence of our young Nigerians, at home and abroad.”

The President expressed his administration’s determination to work with Nigerians both at home and abroad to develop the economy and create a productive and peaceful nation that meets the needs of its citizens.

He added that his administration was also working “diligently” to protect all Nigerians, whether at home or abroad, so that they feel safe and realize their full potential in life.

The Nigerian High Commissioner to Rwanda, Ambassador Aishatu Musa, told President Buhari that Nigerians in the country are generally well behaved and their population has increased from 100 to 400 in recent years.

She added that the President of the Association of Nigerians was Professor Umaru Wali, Dean of the University of Rwanda, from Sokoto State.

The event, coordinated by NIDCOM Chairman, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, saw the following Nigerians interact with the Chairman: Kelechi Reginald, Managing Director of an investment company, Uduak Udoh, who runs an architectural consultancy firm , Muyiwa Omololu, managing director of Rope Ways Transit, a company that builds ropeways, Favor Aderinto and Esther Olanrewaju, winners of the Lakshmi Subramaniam Excellence Award, and Yewande Adebowale, who runs Salubata, a company that makes shoes from recycled plastic waste.

Also present at the event were Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama and Chief Sunday Dare, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Youth and Sports Development respectively.