Tinubu to Nigerians in Rwanda: I’ll continue working hard until our dreams are realised

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday in Kigali assured the Nigerian community living in Rwanda that he will continue to work hard until the dreams of the country and her people are realised.

He also assured them that his administration will confront every obstacle hindering the realisation of Nigerians’ potentials and dreams, both at home and in the diaspora. 

President Tinubu made the declaration at an interactive session he had with a delegation of Nigerians living in Rwanda.

The delegation was composed of top-tier academics, professionals from various fields, business entrepreneurs, and students. 

The President commended them for being good ambassadors of Nigeria as exemplified by their respect for and obedience to the laws of their host country and their contributions to pan-Africanism, saying the nation is proud of them. 

He told the delegation that the reform programmes of his administration were working and that the economy had stabilised, despite the initial hiccups.

He assured them that the government owed every Nigerian – at home and abroad – the responsibility to fulfil their goals and aspirations.

Tinubu said: “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.

“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 promised today that Nigeria will be governed transparently. 

“I will lead with sincerity regardless of tribe or any other considerations.”

The President urged members of the delegation to live in unity, charging them to see themselves as Nigerians devoid of ethnic and tribal bias.

He said: The Green-White-Green Flag means so much to all of us. 

“None of us has a 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.”

Tinubu reflected on the tragic crisis that their host country had passed through in the past, but was encouraged that they had neutralised the past and embraced the future.

He told them that the symbol on his cap, which has become his trademark, symbolises his strong belief in breaking the shackles of poverty, ignorance, disease, and every other thing that hinders citizens from attaining their best. 

He directed Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires in Rwanda, Ambassador Ibrahim Zanna, to work closely with the Nigerian in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and his office to address Nigerians’ concerns about harnessing the economic and intellectual potential of citizens.

Ambassador Zanna told the President that the High Commission had digitised its records and maintains a comprehensive list of Nigerians in Rwanda.  

Earlier, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who led the team, told Tinubu that the delegation represented exceptional Nigerians living in Rwanda, including 28 PhD holders.

Dabiri-Erewa said many of them had become Chief Executives of various corporations and multinational agencies, testifying to their exemplary behaviour.

She told the President that the delegation represented the best crop of Nigerians who were contributing to the development of their host country in education, hospitality, ICT, diverse businesses, and sports.

The Chairman, Association of Nigerians in Rwanda, Prof. Umar Wali, who came to Rwanda as a TAC volunteer in 2005 and is now the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) of the University of Lay Adventists, Rwanda, told Tinubu that the association was initiated through the efforts of members of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (TAC) serving in Rwanda.