Kingsley Ohens reporting 

BENIN CITY, Edo State — Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has received the Prime Minister of the State of the African Diaspora, Dr. Louis-Georges Tin, and his delegation in Benin City, as both sides moved to establish a strategic partnership aimed at attracting investments and accelerating development across key sectors of the state.

The partnership, which was discussed during a meeting at the Edo State Government House, covers critical areas including the proposed Gele seaport, agriculture, railway infrastructure and other development projects identified as having the potential to expand economic opportunities and improve the wellbeing of Edo residents.

Governor Okpebholo welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation to the State of the African Diaspora for choosing Nigeria, particularly Edo State, as a destination for its proposed investments.

The governor described the partnership as significant, noting that it would create an avenue for people of African descent in the Diaspora to reconnect with their ancestral homeland while contributing meaningfully to its development.

“We thank you for coming and also choosing Nigeria. Not just choosing Nigeria in Africa, but Edo State,” the governor said.

Okpebholo stressed the importance of creating an investment-friendly environment capable of attracting Africans in the Diaspora to return home and participate in economic development.

He also highlighted the role of the Edo State Diaspora Agency in strengthening engagement between the state and Edo indigenes and people of African descent living abroad.

According to the governor, his administration has taken steps to strengthen the agency because of the enormous economic value of Diaspora engagement and the significant financial resources remitted to Nigeria by Africans living abroad.

“Looking at the remittances back home, I feel we should give them a chance. That is why you see the Diaspora agency that we have today. And we hope to expand on it,” he said.

Tin, who led the delegation, thanked Governor Okpebholo for the warm reception, describing the proposed partnership as more than an economic arrangement.

He said the State of the African Diaspora represents an estimated 350 million people of African descent across the world, many of whom are descendants of Africans who were forcibly taken from the continent.

According to him, the return of members of the Diaspora to Africa should therefore be viewed as a process of reconnection with their ancestral roots rather than conventional tourism.

“It’s reconnection,” Tin said, stressing the historical and cultural significance of the relationship.

Tin disclosed that his delegation had visited several locations and examined existing and proposed development projects in Edo State, identifying the seaport, railway infrastructure and agriculture among areas where the Diaspora state was interested in contributing.

He said joint teams comprising representatives of both sides had been constituted to drive the proposed collaboration, while priority projects identified during the engagement had been forwarded to the Attorney-General for legal review.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Roland Otaru, reviewed the proposed agreement and identified areas requiring clarification and possible amendments to ensure that the interests of Edo State are adequately protected while providing a workable framework for the proposed investments.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Edo State Diaspora Agency, Loretta Oduware Ogboro-Okoro, said the engagement was designed to deepen collaboration between Edo State and the State of the African Diaspora in pursuit of sustainable development.

She explained that the State of the African Diaspora comprises people and institutions working with the United Nations Alliance for Sustainable Development Goals to promote development initiatives and strategic partnerships capable of advancing Africa’s economic future.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Edo State Government, including the Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Yakubu Musa; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua; and other government officials.

The proposed partnership is expected to provide a structured framework for attracting Diaspora investment, developing critical infrastructure, strengthening economic cooperation and creating new opportunities for the people of Edo State.

The development was contained in a statement issued on Monday by Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.