Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has raised an alarm that over 5,000 Nigerians are stranded in Iraq, mostly women sent as caregivers.
Speaking at a seminar in Lagos, Dabiri-Erewa disclosed that many of the women faced severe challenges upon arrival, contrary to the expectations sold to them.
She made reference to the tragic fate of a Nigerian woman sent to Iraq by her husband to work as a caregiver.
“She died under mysterious circumstances, prompting intervention by the Nigerian Mission to conduct an autopsy and repatriate her remains.
“As I speak with you today, there are about 5,000 women stranded in Iraq. A husband sent his wife to Iraq to go and be a caregiver, and she’s dead,” Dabiri-Erewa stated.
Addressing participants at the seminar on “Sensitization and Advocacy Program for Promoting Diaspora Investment Potentials in South-West Nigeria,” Dabiri-Erewa said there are untapped opportunities in Nigeria and urged Nigerians to reconsider irregular migration.
“While there are challenges in Nigeria, just like in other countries, there are huge opportunities for investment,” she stated.
Despite the migration trend, Dabiri-Erewa noted a growing interest among African Americans and the Nigerian diaspora in tracing their roots and investing in Nigeria.
Her words: “While some people want to japa (migrate), many African Americans want to come back. They’re tracing their roots, finding their villages, and saying, ‘I want to come back home and invest in Nigeria.’”
