INTERVIEW WITH NIYI SANUSI - DIRECTOR PROJECT 40/40
SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH ADENIYI SANUSI -
Executive Director/Founder; NGA Diaspora Project 40/40
Public Relations Officer; NIDOE-Austria chapter
1. Tell us a bit about project 40/40:
Response: NGA Diaspora Project 40/40 is a social impact and creative Diaspora Engagement Initiative with the sole aim of bridging the existing gap between Nigerians living in Nigeria (Homeland) and Nigerians living abroad (Diaspora). NGA Diaspora Project 40/40 is in active collaborations with the Society of Young Nigerians in Diaspora for International Collaboration and Transnational Engagement, Friends of Nigeria (FON), Paris-France, Diaspora Innovations Institute, Journalists International Forum for Migration (JIFORM), NIDOE-Belgium/Luxembourg chapter, NIDOESweden chapter, and NIDOE-Greece chapter and other Nigerian Diaspora organizations globally.
Nigeria Diaspora Project 40/40 Global Conference aims to leverage the symbolism of the number 40 to inspire a new narrative for Nigeria and Nigerians in general. The first/upper 40; represents 40years of the "Nigerian Emigration Trends between 1981 - 2021“ the project seeks to highlight the major wave of emigration history of the Nigerian Diaspora specifically narrowing it down from 1981 till 2021 while the second / lower 40; represents 40 diaspora stories which will be crowd-sourced within the Nigerian Diaspora community across all relevant social media platforms in a strategically social media engagement format in order to highlight lessons learned and share migration tips and best practices for young Nigerians. The Nigeria Diaspora Project 40/40 Global Conference is scheduled to hold on Saturday 2nd October 2021; LIVE & ONLINE (Simulcast/Hybrid). It will hold LIVE in Nigeria 10am at CMD, Magodo, and simultaneously ONLINE - Zoom webinar to be co-hosted by Belgium 11am (NIDOE-Belgium/Luxembourg); Austria 11 am (NIDOE-Austria); Sweden 11am (NIDOE-Sweden).
The 40 diaspora stories will eventually be published into a Nigerian Diaspora stories-book in form of a manifesto and the compilation of 40 diaspora stories and it will be shared as a souvenir at the conference
venue and the ebook will be available for download online via the project website to both Nigerians who the event physically and those in the diaspora alongside with a first-of-kind Nigerian Diaspora story Documentary. The objectives of the 40 diaspora stories and lessons learned are to help redefine the 'Andrew checking out experience and also set the standard and new blueprint for the next generation 'Andrews'.
2. What prompted the creation of this project and why is it necessary?
Response: Based on a news report as far back as 2017
which is still as relevant today as it was then... It reported that 74% of Nigerians would “check out like Andrew” if they had the opportunity. “The relatively high shares of people in these countries who say they would resettle in another country is generally consistent with findings from other surveys, like Afrobarometer in Nigeria and Ghana, that pose questions about the desirability of migrating.
NGA Diaspora Project 40/40 is a social impact and creative Diaspora Engagement Initiative alongside Migration information and awareness-raising campaigns for information that may influence a positive behavioral change for Nigerians who may have the aspirations of achieving their travel abroad hopes and dreams. It provides a platform for sharing knowledge and best practices in terms of migration and integration with the sole aim of bridging the existing gap between Nigerians living in Nigeria (Homeland) and Nigerians living abroad (Diaspora). This project hopes to facilitate the gradual eradication of failed migration circumstances and also aims to provide awareness that will help in reducing irregular migration so as to promote the International reputation of the country Nigeria especially with regards to irregular migration.
3. Who are the key players and influencers of this project; The organizers, speakers, facilitators and participants?
Response: The organizers (key CREW Members)
Adeniyi Sanusi; Executive Director/Founder
Tito Philips, Jnr.; Director, Communications/Co-founder
Dr. Edna Ngozi Akagbusum; Director of Operations
Anca Elisabeta Ghinea; Biographical Consultant
Tolulope Awoyemi; Nigeria Project Manager
Engr. Oluyemi Ogundele; Project Advisor
Ajibola Abayomi; Media Advisor
Speakers
Dr. Andrew S. Nevin, Ph.D. (Partner & Chief Economist) PwC Nigeria; Keynote Speaker
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) - Guest speaker
Mr. Kingsley Aikins, Global Diaspora Consultant and CEO - The Networking Institute - Guest speaker
Mr. Chudi Kalu, CEO, Middlechase Property Ltd. (Lagos, Nigeria) - Guest speaker
Panelist speakers
Dr. Bashir Obasekola - Chairman, NiDO Europe - Panelist speaker
Dr. Isaac Adebusuyi - UN Migration Consultant - Panelist speaker
Mr. John Okoro; Co-founder, Friends Of Nigeria (FON) - Panelist speaker
Mr. Kabir Mohammed, Director Learning & Devt, CMD-Lagos - Panelist speaker
Mr. Abiodun Odunuga (Vice President of Friends of Nigeria - Panelist speaker
Participants
Nigerians living in Nigeria (Homeland) and Nigerians living abroad (Diaspora) and other African countries.
4. Who are the beneficiaries of project 40/40 and what is its impact on Nigerians living in Nigeria and in Diaspora?
Response: NGA Diaspora Project 40/40 is a social impact and creative Diaspora Engagement Initiative alongside Migration information and awareness-raising campaigns for information that may influence a positive behavioral change for Nigerians who may have the aspirations of achieving their travel abroad hopes and dreams. It provides a platform for sharing knowledge and best practices in terms of migration and integration with the sole aim of bridging the existing gap between Nigerians living in Nigeria (Homeland) and Nigerians living abroad (Diaspora). This project hopes to facilitate the gradual eradication of failed migration circumstances and also aims to provide awareness that will help in reducing irregular migration so as to promote the International reputation of the country Nigeria especially with regards to irregular migration.
5. When and where is this event taking place?
Response: NIGERIA GLOBAL DIASPORA CONFERENCE
2ND OCTOBER, 2021 LIVE & ONLINE
Nigeria 10am (CMD, Magodo)
Belgium 11am (NIDOE-Belgium/Luxembourg)
Austria 11am (NIDOE-Austria)
Sweden 11am (NIDOE-Sweden)
6. How can people be part of it wherever they are?
Response: The Largest Global Gathering of Nigerians in Diaspora to Connect with Nigerians Back Home towards the Betterment of our Motherland...
40 Years. 40 Diaspora Stories. ONE Global Event. is FREE but REGISTRATION is required.
The registration link is: www.NGAdiasporaproject4040.com/event-registration
7. Is this event specifically for Nigerians alone or are other African countries involved too?
Response: Since the NGA Diaspora Project 40/40 is a social impact and creative Diaspora Engagement Initiative which seeks to look into the Nigerian third wave emigration trend (1981-2021) alongside Migration information and awareness-raising campaign for information that may influence a positive behavioral change for Migrants or those still in their country of origin and may still have the aspirations of achieving their travel abroad hopes and dreams away from their country of origin, then, it may be a learning point for other African countries as well especially because the migration issues facing Nigerians as Black Africans is also the same issues facing other African countries when they migrate to other countries both within Africa and outside of Africa.
8. What do you hope to accomplish with the project?
Response: We are very much convinced that this project has already started to inspire hope and reflections to many Nigerians in the Diaspora while Nigerians at Home are eagerly looking forward to hearing and learn about inspiring stories of the Good, Bad and ugly - complexities, issues, and dynamics that are experienced as a result of being a Diaspora.
Useful links
Project official website link - www.ngadiasporaproject4040.com
The registration link is - www.NGAdiasporaproject4040.com/event-registration
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