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In September 2000 the Nigerian High Commission in London hosted on the advice of the President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo a seminar for all Nigerians with recognized Professions resident in Europe. Over 500 participated in the seminar. The aim was to discuss the possibility of establishing a very strong Organisation that comprises Nigerian academicians and professionals residing here in Europe. Such an Organisation if feasible would function as a “think-tank” for the home government in specific matters and projects confronting the nation. The Organisation would also be a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). The President himself was at the seminar and held a special audience with the participants in a question and answer forum. A month later it was agreed after a series of consultations between Abuja, Europe and America that such an Organisation should be known as Nigerians in Diaspora Organisations, alias NIDO. Protem Committees were set-up in London and New York simultaneously to initiate the formations of NIDO Europe (NIDOE) and NIDO America (NIDOA).After tête-à-tête between the High Commission in London and the European ambassadors, the first meeting of NIDOE Protem Committee was held in London in January 2001. In June 2002, NIDOE was registered under Companies Act 1985 in London. The official launching of NIDOE as a non-governmental organisation in Europe took place in October 2002 in London. Coincidentally with the help of the late Ambassador, Senator Emeka Echeruo and the former Charge de Affairs Mr. Baba Wakil, a Protem Committee was set up in Germany to organize and establish NIDO German Chapter. After holding a series of meetings, the Constitution was written and adopted. In a General Election held on the 8th of September 2001, my humble self was elected as the first President of NIDO German Chapter. Membership-drive is for us of utmost importance. This we hope to achieve through quarterly magazines, leaflets and the Internet. So far, we are growing in number and quality too. Some of the members are Professors, Physicians, Journalists, Engineers, Information engineers, Businessmen, Architects, Nurses and People on special duties. We have been formally registered (as an “eingetragener Verein” e. V.) (Non-Profit organization) in Germany. Our motto “In pursuance of national development” was accepted by the Board of Trustees in London as the common motto for NIDO Europe. |