The emerging role of diaspora in the restructuring of the Nigerian state

RC 31, Session E

The changing world economic fortunes as affected the 3^rd world countries has brought about various Structural Adjustment Programmes by the World Bank and other International organizations to cushion its effect on these regions. Over the years, the economic progress of these countries have remained dampened and even become worse while at the same time, the richer countries have become richer. In these circumstances, various other programmes, projects and methods have been designed to bring about development and turn things around for these countries and their regions. Poverty has been the obvious indicator of the hopelessness of the people of these regions of which Africa is said to have the highest number of such poverty-stricken countries and people living below the poverty level. Migration of people of these countries to oversea countries such as the USA, Europe for instance, is viewed as an opportunity to alleviate the suffering of families by the remittances the migrants send to their families back home. In recent times, researches have confirmed the importance of remittances by Africans in Diaspora. In fact, such remittances have exceeded official development assistance and Foreign Direct Investments as the Diaspora are becoming a vocal voice by their achievements in the countries of their abode which by and large they are beginning to be of immense assistance to their countries of natural birth by the positive contributions they make. This is basically the focus of this paper to examine the roles which the Diaspora have discovered for themselves in assisting Nigeria to address the developmental problems at the grass root with particular reference to poverty alleviation programme and such other roles they can embark upon in recognizance of their competencies and financial capabilities in the restructuring of the Nigerian State economically, socially and politically.