May 29, 2019 will officially signal the end of Governor Benedict AYADE first term in Office Ordinary, it is expected that by now different public officers, government parastatals and ministries under the present state government would be taking stock in order to help the public make an unbiased assessment of their performance within their time of service.
Whether these government representatives have come to terms with this fact or not, the need for the public to have the account of their stewardship is a must. It was on this premise that concerned Cross riverians have launched "OPERATION PRESENT YOUR SCORECARD". For the record, the much touted achievements of the present state government is a product of the combined efforts of different government ministries, commissions, boards and other parastatals though under the overall command of the state governor. To this end, kudos must be given to these bodies which, amidst diverse challenges, have contributed immensely to the success of the state government.
There is no gainsaying that the current developmental strides witnessed in the state were made possible through the efficiency, effectiveness and sincerity of some government bodies.
Undoubtedly, one of such bodies/persons is the office of the special Adviser on diaspora affairs headed by Dr.Okeyim.
He is a pragmatic, focused, and result-oriented chief servant in Cross river state,
Dr. Okeyim has a multidisciplinary background in Political Science, Sociology, Communication , Psychology, and Law,
the diaspora affairs in the last few years has confronted some daring challenge in its bid to effectively serve the state and her people. Some of these challenges include legal immigration, foreign attacks, Diaspora data control, and increase in refugee crisis.
The challenges in recent years have exposed the office of the diaspora affairs to series of challenges but kudos to Dr.Okeyim such cases have been effectively managed and reduced to the barest minimum.
One of the highpoints of this office's performance was its prompt response to Nigeria Libya crisis that affected the state along with other states in the country. Apart from setting up a diaspora emergency unit in the office which was saddled with the responsibility of processing all diaspora emergency related reports to enable quick response and carrying out evacuation exercises in crisis prone areas to prevent more cases, it is on record that the Special Adviser on diaspora affairs, Dr.Mathew Okiri Okeyim personally visited many areas that were hit by these crisis to have a firsthand information.
Perhaps, the effectiveness of the Okiri led diaspora affairs towards managing the incident fully paid off when the federal government categorized the state among the least hit. Another achievement of this office which is worthy of note is the daunting task of giving the state a comprehensive data base of Cross riverians in diaspora.
Suffice to say that this is one task which has kept the Okiri led diaspora affairs on its toes in the last couple of years.
Until Dr.Okeyim assumed office as the State Special Adviser on diaspora affairs , diaspora data management was one of the greatest challenges facing cross river state .
A look at the summary of its achievement reveals that some of the database collection measures introduced by Okiri include; engaging Resource Persons from tested companies to handle different aspects of data management, consultation; procurement of modern Data Technology.
He established a friendly diaspora contacts and acquired a modern diaspora affairs office complex.
Perhaps, out of oversight, there have been instances where some people where not captured , but as recently revealed, Dr.Okeyim is on a tour with his team for a diaspora dialogue to ensured a quick response when pressing issues are brought to his knowledge.
According to him, "Cross river has become the tourism destination of choice as the process has been instituted to have a diaspora affairs desk at the international airport to showcase the true culture of cross river state to the world .
Dr.Okeyim has attracted 32 United Kingdom doctors to the state through the Aggiewinson medical voluntary organization in 2016. The medical group visited a couple local Governments in the state including Bakassi and Calabar municipal.
The Location of the Hospital was at Army junction in Calabar the cross river state capital.
Dr. okeyim, Contributed greatly for the visit of the German, and South Korean Ambassador to the state for multilateral and Bilateral relations. - Dr.okeyim, on the educational level he has continued to mediate between the state ministry of education and the Governor’s office for the welfare of our students in the Diaspora .
Furthermore, the office within the last few years has partnered various bodies with the overall aim of safeguarding our collective vision in diaspora. For instance, Dr Okeyim, Diplomatic initiatives recently took him to UK, Spain and Italy .
The visit to italky was triggered as a result of the meeting he had with Hon Abike Dabiri over the brutal murder of an indigene of CRS IN ITALY .
The under age children of the deceased are now with the Italian authorities, but through Dr.Okeyim’s diplomatic skills with the Nigerian Embassy and the Italian authorities the kids shall be released to the state government via the parents on humanitarian grounds. This and many other similar partnerships have contributed to the success recorded by the present of diaspora affairs.
Most fundamentally Dr. okeyim, in May this year paid a courtesy call to the presidency where he talks with Hon Abike Dabiri Erewa Special Adviser the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Diaspora.
The remains one of the greatest efforts Dr. Okeyim has made where important very crucial matters were discussed for the interest of the people and government of Cross river state including Diaspora issues, Diaspora Bills, Diaspora upcoming events, and Foreign policy Analysis. According to Dr.Okiri, other strides so far recorded in the diaspora sector include; setting up a data Bank of all Cross riverians across borders - Dr okeyim,set up a communication link between the local Domain and the Diaspora Dr okeyim, has created a lee way and a window for foreign investors to come and invest in the state by stating the benefits of investing in the state - Dr okeyim , as the envoy on foreign affairs has represented the state Government at the NIDO in Germany and Brussels in 2017 - Dr. okeyim, has visited the Cameroun and Guinea Equatorial Consulate mediating for cooperation between the two countries in the areas of trade, development and cultural relations.
With these and many other achievements, the office of the special Adviser on diaspora affairs under Dr.Mathew Okiri Okeyim has stood very high in terms of performance. However, Okeyim has refused to take the credit for his achievements.
According to him, the achievements are clear evidence of the commitment of state government under Senator Benedict AYADE towards safeguarding the interest of the people.
Hear him; "One major commitment of the Ayade's administration is to protect the interest of our people in diaspora for this reason we have initiated plans to have a diaspora -Diaspora complex own by the state Government, we intend to build a Diaspora building where all Diaspora activities shall be taking places.
The Diaspora building shall be housed in the Diaspora village, The Diaspora village is going to be a domain where all Diaspora investments and homes shall be located.
In conjunction with the Presidency Dr. okeyim is planning to organise a local Diaspora conference the first of its kind in the Month of August 2018. The essence of the seminar is intimate Diaspora within and across borders on our activities so far since we came on board and the way forward.
Secondly, we intend to engage on active public enlightenment campaign on the active participation of Diaspora in the home government through policy formulation and initiatives.
Diaspora is part of the local Domain so there is the need to give them a voice in the administration of the State.
Dr. Matthew Okiri Okeyim{B.SC, M.SC.DEA.PhD} hails from Odajie Mbube in Ogoja Local Local Government of Cross River State.
He holds a first degree and Masters Degree in Political Science from the University of Ibadan respectively. He did his Doctorate between the Queen Mary University of London and the Universidad de Alicante San Vincent Del Raspeig.
He has lectured in Calabar Polytechnic, University of Calabar, University of Liberia, African Methodist Episcopal , and Kwazilo University .
Dr.okeyim has published more than 15 Academic papers in international Journals . Dr okeyim is a Dutch Citizen married with a Dutch Dr Matthew okiri okeyim, was appointed Special Adviser Diaspora on the 15/12/2015 by Senator Prof. Ben Ayade.
His appointment was one of those that was a peck in round hole. Dr. okeyim is considered as a member of the new establishment with a pack of Diplomatic ideas until his appointment he was based in the Netherland for over 15 years and has worked in many places including the Academia and News paper houses in the Netherlands.
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