Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has urged Kogites and other Nigerians living in the United Kingdom to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms by investing in the country, promoting a positive national image and contributing their expertise to accelerate development.

The Governor made the appeal on Thursday during a Town Hall Meeting with Kogites and Nigerians in London, where he described the Nigerian diaspora as a strategic partner in nation-building and called for stronger collaboration with the Kogi State Government.

According to him, the country’s future depends on the collective efforts of citizens at home and abroad, stressing that beyond remittances, the diaspora should deploy its knowledge, innovation and international networks to drive sustainable growth.

“Bring home not only your investments, but also your ideas, your expertise, your innovation and your global networks. Nations are transformed not only by the wealth their people send home, but by the knowledge, values and vision they bring home,” Ododo said.

The Governor said Kogi State’s steady progress was built on the unity deliberately nurtured over the past decade, noting that the people had moved beyond ethnic and religious divisions to pursue a common vision of development.

“There was a time when our differences were exploited against us. Today, we understand that poverty has no tribe, hunger has no religion and underdevelopment respects no ethnicity. Our unity has become the engine of our progress,” he added.

Ododo praised President Tinubu for implementing what he described as bold but necessary reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange unification and fiscal restructuring, saying the policies had strengthened the financial position of states and created opportunities for greater investments in critical sectors.

He listed major Federal Government projects in Kogi to include the approval of the Kogi International Airport, the Kogi Free Trade Zone, the Agricultural Processing Zone, renewed efforts to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company and the reconstruction of key federal roads across the state.

The Governor said his administration had leveraged the opportunities created by the reforms to expand road infrastructure, provide free education from primary to secondary school, pay public examination fees, improve healthcare delivery, expand health insurance coverage, promote agricultural mechanisation and implement empowerment programmes for youths and women.

He also identified security as the foundation of development, saying the state’s collaboration with the Federal Government, the Office of the National Security Adviser and security agencies had enhanced safety and created a conducive environment for investment.

On the Kogi Rebrand Initiative, Ododo urged citizens to become ambassadors of the state by projecting its strengths and opportunities rather than focusing solely on its challenges.

“No nation rises above the story it tells about itself. Let us become ambassadors of hope, confidence and possibility because every positive story we tell about Kogi State and Nigeria opens another door to investment and opportunity,” he said.

Speaking at the event, the member representing Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Salman Idris, said Governor Ododo was working closely with the Federal Government to facilitate the resuscitation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, describing the initiative as critical to the economic future of both Kogi State and Nigeria.

He commended the Governor’s development agenda and urged Kogites in the diaspora to support the administration by bringing home investments, expertise and global networks.

Participants at the meeting lauded the Governor for what they described as significant achievements in infrastructure, education, healthcare, security and economic development.

They also welcomed the engagement, describing it as the first time in recent years that a sitting Kogi governor had travelled to the United Kingdom to interact directly with members of the diaspora and provide an account of developments in the state.

The participants pledged to support the state’s development agenda through professional partnerships, technical expertise and investment while encouraging other investors to explore the economic opportunities available in Kogi State.

They further expressed support for President Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying the measures were restoring investor confidence and laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth.

The meeting ended with a renewed commitment by Kogites in the diaspora to deepen collaboration with the Kogi State Government in advancing the state’s development agenda.

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