The Zumunta Association USA Inc, an umbrella body for Nigerians from across the 19 Northern states living in the United States, said it would train 1000 youths across Nasarawa State on ICT, as the association holds its annual general meeting and convention in Lafia.
Engineer (Dr) Sule Yakubu Bassi, Secretary, Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), disclosed this when he led a delegation of the association on a courtesy call on Governor Abdullahi Sule at the Nasarawa State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja on Tuesday.
Representing Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa, Chairman/COO of NIDCOM, Engineer Bassi said the special convention billed to hold from July 13th-24th in Lafia, would also feature amongst other things, a medical outreach by the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas, in the newly constructed Gudu General Hospital, a sporting event, as well as a golf tournament that would take place at the Nasarawa Golf Club.
The NIDCOM secretary added that the Zumunta annual general meeting would also feature n investment summit between Zumunta members and investors in Nasarawa State in four basic areas of agriculture, minerals and mines, education and health.
“There would also be cultural events consisting of a gala night and also a welcome party. There would also be a theme colloquium, discussing how Nigerians in the Diaspora can engage in investments in Nigeria. Many at times, we have the Diaspora home remittances to consist mainly of palliatives and help for families. We want to move the Diaspora from thinking on only home remittances to investment. There are so many areas in Northern Nigeria that the Diaspora can invest. There would be a colloquium, discussing that,” he stated.
Engineer Bassi explained that the purpose of the courtesy call was to inform Governor Sule about the decision of the board of trustees of the Zumunta Association to move the 2025 annual general meeting of the association to Nigeria, with the last of such held 15 years ago, and the choice of Lafia as the venue for the event.
He added that the decision to host their annual convention in Nigeria falls in line with the core values behind the establishment of the NIDCOM.
“We are here as the National Planning Committee for the Zumunta Annual General Meeting 2025. The Board of Trustees of Zumunta Association USA Inc, decided that this year, as part of the annual general meeting of Zumunta, it should be moved to Nigeria. They contacted the NIDCOM, which is the embassy of all diasporans in Nigeria, that this is their thought, they would like to have their annual general meeting and convention here in Nigeria in 2025. We were so happy with that because one of our major objectives as NIDCOM is to engage with Nigerians in the Diaspora with a view to helping them to engage with Nigeria,” he said.
Engineer Bassi pointed out that NIDCOM took the decision seriously and immediately set about actualizing the decision.
“We found this very interesting suggestion and took it onboard and started working on actializing it. At our preliminary meetings, we decided that to actualize this, it would be good to take it to a place where we have a foothold. That was why we decided that Lafia in Nasarawa State should be a good venue to have this once-in-a-long-while Zumunta annual general meeting in Nigeria,” he said.
He noted that NIDCOM had been following the activities of Governor Sule which explained why he was awarded the national Diaspora merit award by the committee on the national Diaspora merit award in July last year.
“Coming here for us from NIDCOM is coming to one of our honourees. We thank you very much for the good job that you are doing in engineering and also in leadership,” he said.
He described the decision by the Zumunta Association to hold its convention in Nigeria as not only being key but novel, particularly that the association not held its convention in the country in the past 15 years.
“For the past 15 years Zumunta has not had a convention in Nigetia. This is very novel. This is key. I am sure at the end of it, many Zumunta members would find ways to key into investment in the SMEs sector in Nasarawa State,” he said.
Responding, Governor Abdullahi Sule expressed satisfaction that the NIDCOM under the leadership of Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa, is doing a wonderful job regarding coordination of the activities of Nigerians in Diaspora.
Tracing the beginning of the Zumunta to 1991, Governor Sule lauded the recognition being given the association by NIDCOM, stressing that if there is any such association that deserves recognition, it is the Zumunta Association.
“Zumunta deserves the recognition by NIDCOM. Not to see any association negatively, when we started Zumunta in 1991, in Washington DC. I started as the pioneer secretary, and Aliyu Mustapha was the pioneer president. Two years later, I became the president. Zumunta is me, and I am Zumunta. There is no way I would say no to your request,” he stated.
According to the Governor, so many people are proud of Zumunta, adding that back in 1991, there existed 127 associations of Nigerians in Houston but only one association of the 19 states of Northern Nigeria and that is the Zumunta Association.
He described the Zumanta Association as a vital vehicle for unity among Nigerians of Northern Nigeria extraction living in the United States.
“Let us know exactly what is expected of us. I have every reason to make it one of the best conventions that you are going to have. The only way I can do that is if I know my limitations. What and what is expected of me so that I am ready to do that,” he stated.
Governor Sule directed his Commissioner nominee, Dr. Margret Elayo, who doubles as the NIDCOM’s Nasarawa State Focal Person for Nigerians in Diaspora, to liaise with the Zumunta Association with a view to making the annual general meeting and convention a success.
Ali Abare
Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Abdullahi Sule
Wednesday, February 12th, 2025.
