From Tony Osauzo**, **Benin
Edo State Government and the State of the African Diaspora have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at attracting investment into the proposed Gele seaport, railway infrastructure, agriculture and other key sectors of the state’s economy.
Under the arrangement, joint teams from both sides are to develop an implementation framework for identified projects, with priority proposals already forwarded to the Edo State Attorney-General for legal review.
The partnership followed a meeting between Governor Monday Okpebholo and a delegation of the State of the African Diaspora led by its Prime Minister, Dr. Louis-Georges Tin, at Government House, Benin City. Okpebholo said the initiative would provide an opportunity to attract investment from the global African diaspora while reconnecting people of African descent with their ancestral homeland. “We thank you for coming and also choosing Nigeria. Not just choosing Nigeria in Africa, but Edo State,” the governor said.
He described diaspora investment as an important component of the state’s development strategy, saying his administration was committed to creating an environment conducive to investment. “Investment back home is the most important. Because these people actually took our people. But now, our people want to come back home,” he said.
Okpebholo said his administration was strengthening the Edo State Diaspora Agency to deepen engagement with Edo people and other Africans living abroad and harness the economic potential of diaspora investment and remittances.
“Looking at the remittances back home, I feel we should give them a chance. That is why you see the Diaspora Agency that we have today. And we hope to expand on it,” he said.
Tin said his organisation, which he said represents about 350 million people of African descent around the world, was interested in participating in major development projects in Edo.
He identified the proposed Gele seaport, a railway connection from Gele towards northern Nigeria and agriculture among the priority areas being considered.
“We also saw the seaport where we would like to contribute as well and bring development. The railway from Gele to the north as well. Agriculture, of course, is also on the table,” Tin said.
He explained that the partnership had both economic and historical significance for Africans in the diaspora.
“For us, it is not just about development, it is also spiritual. Because the State of the African Diaspora represents 350 million people of African descendants,” he said.
According to Tin, many members of the diaspora are descendants of Africans forcibly removed from the continent and therefore view engagement with Africa as reconnection rather than tourism.
“People who came out of Africa, who were deported from Africa, most of them were actually here before. So, when we come back to Africa, we are not doing tourism, we are meeting families. It’s reconnection,” he said.
Tin disclosed that teams had been constituted by both sides to work on the identified projects.
“The members of your team and members of my team are going to be working together. I’m glad to know that you have already made a nomination. On my side, I also signed an executive decree so that they can be nominated and work together,” he said.
He said several priority projects had already been identified and forwarded for legal consideration.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Roland Otaru, who reviewed the proposed agreement, identified aspects requiring clarification and adjustment before final implementation.
He said the outstanding issues would be subjected to further legal consideration and possible amendments to ensure that the agreement protected Edo State’s interests while providing a workable framework for the proposed investments.
Earlier, Director-General of the Edo State Diaspora Agency, Loretta Oduware Ogboro-Okoro, said the engagement was intended to deepen collaboration and attract sustainable development initiatives to the state.
The meeting was also attended by Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Yakubu Musa; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, and other senior government officials.
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