, has raised concerns over the plight of over 5,000 Nigerians, primarily women, who are stranded in Iraq, many of them sent there as caregivers.){kind=link}
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has raised concerns over the plight of over 5,000 Nigerians, primarily women, who are stranded in Iraq, many of them sent there as caregivers.
During a seminar in Lagos, Dabiri-Erewa revealed that these women have encountered severe difficulties upon arrival, far from the promises made to them.
She shared the tragic case of a Nigerian woman sent to Iraq by her husband to work as a caregiver, who mysteriously died. This prompted the Nigerian Mission to intervene, conduct an autopsy, and facilitate the repatriation of her remains.
“There are currently about 5,000 women stranded in Iraq. One woman was sent by her husband to work as a caregiver, and she died under suspicious circumstances,” Dabiri-Erewa stated.
The NIDCOM Chair further addressed the seminar on “Sensitization and Advocacy Program for Promoting Diaspora Investment Potentials in South-West Nigeria,” urging Nigerians to rethink irregular migration, especially given the untapped investment opportunities available in their home country.
“Although Nigeria faces its challenges, there are significant opportunities for investment here, just as there are in other nations,” she added.
Dabiri-Erewa also pointed out a shift in migration trends, noting a growing interest among African Americans and members of the Nigerian diaspora in returning to Nigeria to trace their roots and invest in the country.
“While some Nigerians seek to migrate, many African Americans are eager to return. They are tracing their heritage, discovering their villages, and expressing a desire to come home and invest in Nigeria,” she concluded.