Chi Onwurah MP for Newcastle Central working with the Nigerian Association of Tyne & Wear has invited the North East’s Nigerian Diaspora communities to a Town Hall style meeting at Newcastle University Business School this Friday(20th May) with the Hon Ms Abike Dabiri Erewa, The Senior Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Diaspora & Foreign Affairs.
Chi said:
“ I am delighted that Abike, the President of Nigeria’s special adviser for Diaspora, has accepted my invitation to come to Newcastle to meet with members of the Nigerian diaspora here, Universities and wider business networks in the North East.
“ This will be an opportunity for those of Nigerian heritage to raise issues with Abike and for her to hear about the contribution they are making to our region. It is also the opportunity for universities and businesses to develop high level links with Nigeria, the largest country in Africa with around 173 million people and a growing economy.
“ My father came to Newcastle from Nigeria to study in the fifties, so I am very aware of the strong links between the North East and Nigeria. On my recent trade mission there I was told they want to see more British trade and investment and the North East diaspora can make a great contribution to that.
Ms Onwurah hopes the meeting can help develop strong trade and cultural links of mutual benefit to the North East and Nigeria.
She believes that the existing Nigerian community networks in the Region could be of real help in stimulating and enabling economic and cultural activities of benefit to both the North East and Nigeria.