FREE Diaspora of Africa Newsletter - 02/09 Edition

Welcome back to the second edition of the Diaspora of Africa newsletter. From now on I will be publishing these posts each Monday instead of Saturday.

My weekly posts will keep you in the know about all of the significant Diaspora dealings as and when I come across them. If I hear about it, it’ll be posted and gathered here, nearly onto one page.

Diaspora finance and remittances news:

Nigerian Diaspora sent nearly $400 billion worth of remittances over 20 year period

Data shared by NIDCOM shows that the Nigerian Diaspora sent $367 billion back to Nigeria in the form of remittances over the 20 year period from 2000-2020. In some years, the value of the foreign exchange earned from remittances exceeded that of the country’s oil exports.

The figures given are also likely an undercount of the entire sum of money sent back home by the Nigerian Diaspora over that period as it only measures formal remittances. As This metric doesn't include money given to domiciled Nigerians by members of the Nigerian Diaspora in person on trips back home, nor does it include gifts sent. In fact, recent studies put the true figure in excess of 50 percent of the amount stated in official data.

Nigeria could potentially attract up to $100 billion per year in remittances

On this note, Head of Research at Comercio Partners, Ifeanyi Uba recently touted the possibility of Nigeria attracting $100 billion per year in remittances in the near future by “investing in education, skills development, and exports, similar to India’s achievements.” With that said, while all of these numbers are impressive, how does the Nollywood nation plan to make remittances generate sustained economic growth? In spite of receiving such vast sums of gifted money, in 2023 Nigeria’s economy was still smaller than it was in 2010.

Upward trajectory for Kenyan Diaspora remittances as Saudi Arabia overtakes UK for source of Kenyan remittances

Fellow NEKS member Kenya also announced its intentions to increase annual diaspora remittances to Sh1 trillion (approximately $7.7 billion) by 2027, up considerably from 2023 figures of Sh671 billion (approximately $5.2 billion). Kenyan real estate companies are also looking to cash in on the lucrative and expanding Kenyan Diaspora market by making it simpler and more convenient for them to purchase land plots and dwellings from abroad.

Data also shows that Kenyan Diaspora remittance flows from Saudi Arabia surpassed those of the United Kingdom this year. Marking a significant shift in the migration patterns of the Kenyan Diaspora over time with government figures indicating that over 300,000 Kenyans - or close to one percent of the Saudi Arabia’s total population - are now working in the country.

Issues concerning the abuse of Kenyan workers by Saudi employers notwithstanding, both national governments seem intent on having more Kenyans take up gainful employment in the Gulf state. Within the last year, President William Ruto has announced that Saudi Arabia wants to create 350,000 jobs for Kenyans, with this intention being underlined by the East African nation recently agreeing to send 2,500 skilled workers to the country, and Saudi Arabia agreeing to lower the hiring fees for Kenyan workers earlier this year.

Travel and immigration news:

Race to pledge innovative policies to attract more of the Diaspora into Ghana ahead of December elections

Last week I reported on New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate Mahamudu Bawumia’s promise to grant visa-free travel for all citizens of African and Caribbean countries if voted in as President of Ghana in the December 2024 general elections.

In response to this announcement, opposition presidential candidate John Dramani revealed ambitions to launch a “Pan African Month, Celebrating Heritage, History and Diaspora” as part of a wider ‘Black Star Experience’ initiative geared towards growing the country’s creative industries.

Shortly thereafter, independent presidential candidate and entrepreneur Nana Kwame Bediako a.k.a. Cheddar pledged to raise $50 billion by selling access to Ghanaian citizenship to 1 million Africans who invest at least $50,000 into the country.

As we near closer to what is arguably Ghana’s most important national election in over 20 years, such campaign promises highlight the growing economic importance of the wider global African Diaspora to Ghana.

Ghanaian NIA to launch pilot programme for Ghana card “virtual” applications

Last week, Ghanaian authority the National Identification Agency announced the launch of a pilot programme in Ottawa, Canada, that will test the feasibility of allowing those eligible for register for their Ghana Card online and not just in-person.

Brand Ambassador estimates that Nigeria passed up $9 billion of revenue by not launching their own version of Ghana Year of the Return campaign

Circling back to Nigeria again, Nigerian brand ambassador and Managing Director of Kalo Brand Media Kazeem Balogun estimated that the country lost out on $9 billion in revenue by not adopting a campaign similar to that of Ghana’s 2019 Year of Return. Given that these estimates are based on Ghanaian figures, such a number is likely an undershot once we consider the vast size and scale of Nigeria’s economy when compared with that of Ghana’s.

Although, it is not always as easy as simply cutting and pasting an initiative to a neighbouring nation. Any Year of Return-like cultural exchange initiative that Nigeria plans to implement needs targeted private sector engagement, along with relaxed travel and visa reforms if it wants to truly emulate the success of the Ghanaian tourism campaign.

NDVC pushes for eligibility of Nigerians stationed abroad to vote in Nigerian elections

The Nigerian Diaspora Voting Council is lobbying for the passage of the Diaspora Voting Bill. Passage of this bill would enable Nigerian citizens to vote in elections while based abroad. Considering that the size of the Nigerian Diaspora is calculated at 17 million, approval of such a bill into law would have wide repercussions for the political landscape of Nigeria.

Tanzania makes amendments to immigration and land rights for Tanzanian non-citizen Diaspora

I also reported on appeals made by Tanzania’s Diaspora to the government to reform dual citizenship laws in last week’s newsletter. And things seem to be moving in a favourable direction on that front. The Tanzanian government plans to make amendments to the Immigration and Land Acts which include updating the definitions for a Diaspora Tanzanite Card that those who were once originally Tanzanian citizens will be eligible for as members of the Tanzania non-citizen diaspora. The Land Act will categorize Tanzania non-citizen diaspora in with Tanzanian citizens for the right to “special derivative rights” too.

Kenyan Diaspora wants to see changes made dual citizenship eligibility criteria

Diaspora of neighbouring nation Kenya are also pushing for change in their home country on the dual citizenship front. Specifically in relation to a provision within the Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011 that currently denies Kenyans who obtained foreign citizenship before 2010 eligibility for dual citizenship.

New African Diaspora appointments and initiatives:

Afrieximbank Opens Internship Programme for African citizens and African Diaspora

”full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study programmes in a recognised institution of learning in the year of the Internship are preferred”, other details relating to the internship include:
- Those aged between 20 and 32 being eligible to apply for the program;
- candidates whose field of study is in economics, business administration, finance, accounting, social sciences, statistics, law, sciences, engineering or related fields;
- A monthly tax-free stipend of $800 and housing allowance of $400 for interns relocating from their home countries.

Browse here for more information pertaining to the internship opportunity.

Open call: Pan-African Creative Exchange 2025 in South Africa

”Creatives are invited to submit applications for the 2025 edition of Pan-African Creative Exchange (PACE) in South Africa. PACE 2025 will take place within the first two weeks of July 2025, with exact dates to be announced as soon as they become available.”

Application deadline: 9th September 2024

Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program | IIE - The Power of International Education

”Accredited African universities in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and member institutions of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and partner universities with the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) can submit a project request to host an African-born scholar currently living in the United States or Canada to work on projects in research collaboration, graduate student teaching/mentoring and curriculum co-development.”

Application deadline: 18th September 2024

Zimbabwean Woman Elected First African Mayor In UK Town

”A Zimbabwean-born woman, Mara Makunura, has been elected to lead the Rushmoor Borough Council in the United Kingdom, making history as the first female and first Black African Mayor of Rushmoor.”

Healthcare Federation of Nigeria officially launches the D3 Hub

“The D3 Hub is envisioned as a comprehensive solution that offers a ‘soft landing’ for professionals looking to return to Nigeria, whether permanently, temporarily, or digitally. The hub will also serve as a central location for HFN members to network, innovate, and collaborate on solutions to improve Nigeria’s healthcare landscape."

Africans in Diaspora Chamber of Commerce (ADICC) vows to “support” Nigerian youth running in local elections

”the Africans in Diaspora Chamber of Commerce (ADICC) has vowed to support any Nigerian youth between the ages of 25 and 45 years who has the capacity to run for either Local Government chairman or councillor position”

Member of the Nigerian Diaspora who once lived in the US running for governorship of Edo State

2023 Nigerian presidential candidate Patience Ndidi Key is now running for governor of Edo State for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in September 21, 2024 regional elections. She is a “healthcare practitioner, a former Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Organization for the United States, and currently runs the Nigerian Diaspora Chamber of Commerce. " Her key reason for running for the seat is because she sees “hunger and anger in the land.”

Recent events:

124th National Black Business Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, USA: 21st - 24th August 2024

”Alongside esteemed partners and co-founders of the National Alliance for Black Business—the National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), the World Conference of Mayors (WCM) celebrating its 40th Anniversary, and over 50 national organizations—the NBL, NBCC, WCM, and NABB stand united.”

Basingstoke's Africa Day of Celebration, Basingstoke, England: 24th August 2024

”A first-of-its-kind event, brought the various diverse African communities, and supporters in Basingstoke to the one venue, where they enjoyed food, games and more. The occasion, according to the AUD movement, was held "to celebrate Africa, to celebrate Africans, and to chart a way forward to support African causes.”

Diaspora Africa Conference Ghana 2024, Academic City University College, Accra, Ghana: 30th August 2024 - 2nd September 2024

”the conference, themed "Building Resilient Connections: The Power of the African Diaspora," will assemble leaders in Business, Technology, and Real Estate.”

Ongoing and upcoming events:

Ethiopia at the Crossroads, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, Ohio, USA: 17th August - 10th November 2024

”The Toledo Museum of Art presents Ethiopia at the Crossroads, an extraordinary exhibition celebrating the artistic traditions of Ethiopia from their origins to the present day.”

Afro-Cuban Music Workshops, The Neal Rantoul Vault Theatre, Lynn, Massachusetts, Boston, USA: 7th September 2024 and 19th October 2024

”The Saturday Afro-Cuban music workshops with Maestro Sandy Pérez will be continuing in the fall. He will hold intermediate and beginner workshops on September 7th and October 19th, at our usual location in Lynn.”

Industrial Investment Summit, Abeere, Osun State, Nigeria :11th - 14th September 2024

”The Osun State Investment Summit 2024 is packaged to showcase bankable opportunities and strategic matchmaking platforms, convening stakeholders to Osun Industrial ecosystem to facilitate partnerships and investments in the State.”

2024 East Africa Diaspora Investment Symposium, Nairobi, Kenya: 27th September 2024

”This year, the Pan-African Council has partnered with Diamond Trust Bank (Kenya) for the 2024 East Africa Diaspora Investment Symposium, an interactive and dynamic action-oriented full-day event with the theme of “Empowering the African Diaspora to Accelerate Trade, Investment, and Economic Growth in East Africa”.”

UK-Zimbabwe Business Expo, Birmingham, England: 4th October 2024

"We anticipate drawing around 3 000 participants to the event, which will be held at the Bethnal Centre in Birmingham, a fitting venue that resonates with our vision, as it is also Zimbabwean-owned."

Inspiring Stories:

Kenyan Woman Leads Cutting Edge Research in Australia

”Her research focuses on gas fermentation, a cutting-edge area of biotechnology with potential environmental applications. Galaiya's exceptional achievements have earned her recognition as one of the 50 finalists for the 2024 Chegg.org Global Student Prize, a prestigious award with a substantial monetary value.”

The Ghanaian researcher who came home

”launching Yemaachi Biotech, an immunogenomics research company, with guidance from a university mentor who shared his long-term vision. “We want to be the first of many, we want to clear the path for many more to come and stand on our shoulders,” Yaw says. His goal in starting the company was to do globally competitive work while training and retaining local talent. “

Other news:

Kenyan police officers in Haiti face delayed pay amid challenging security mission

"Hundreds of Kenyan police officers leading an international security mission in Haiti have not received their full pay for two months, adding to the challenges of an already difficult deployment in the gang-ridden Caribbean nation."

Raid in India Rescues 14 Kenyan Women from Prostitution Ring

"Indian authorities have successfully dismantled a prostitution ring in Hyderabad, India, rescuing 17 East African women, including 14 Kenyans."

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