By Yahaya Musa
The Edo State Government is set to extend its Diaspora engagement drive to major cities across the United States and Canada, following a similar engagement recently undertaken in the United Kingdom by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening the relationship between the state government and Edo indigenes living abroad, while exploring opportunities to attract their expertise, investments and partnerships towards the development of Edo State.
The tour, organised by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Diaspora Affairs, is themed “Edo Rising, Diaspora Uniting, Futures Igniting.”
The programme is expected to bring government representatives into direct engagement with Edo Diaspora stakeholders on issues affecting the community, while creating opportunities for collaboration and greater participation in the state’s development process.
The delegation will be led by Hon. Francis G. Okoyo (GFO), FCA, Special Adviser to Governor Okpebholo on Diaspora Affairs, alongside Hon. Osarodion Osagie, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Diaspora Matters.
The tour will commence in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 4, followed by engagements in Dallas, Texas, on September 5, and Houston, Texas, on September 6.
The delegation will proceed to Austin, Texas, on September 7, Baltimore, Maryland, on September 9, and Boston, Massachusetts, on September 12.
The North American leg of the tour will continue in Canada, with scheduled engagements in Montreal on September 18, Vancouver on September 19, and Toronto on September 20.
The Edo Government said the engagements are part of efforts to deepen communication with the Diaspora and build stronger partnerships capable of supporting sustainable development in the state.
Beyond government-to-community interaction, the tour is expected to provide opportunities for Edo indigenes abroad to share their concerns, ideas and expertise, as well as explore possible investment and development partnerships with the state.
The latest initiative follows Governor Okpebholo’s recent engagement with Edo indigenes in the United Kingdom, signalling the administration’s broader effort to strengthen its relationship with the Edo Diaspora across different countries.
The programme is anchored on the message: “Together for Edo, Together for Nigeria.”
