Japa: ‘Nigerians Can Become Global Citizens Through Grenada in 6 Months’, Caribbean Country’s Envoy
- Grenada’s first honorary consul in Nigeria, Abidemi Sonoiki, has said the Caribbean country serves as a gateway to both North and South America, including countries like the United States and Canada
- In an interview with Legit.ng, Sonoiki disclosed that Grenadians have direct access to the UK and are treated as citizens there
- The Grenada envoy asserted that Nigerians do not need to 'japa' (depart permanently to live abroad) again because “there are abundant opportunities in the Caribbean”
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Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering migration.
Ikoyi, Lagos state - Abidemi Oluwagbenga Sonoiki is the honorary consul of the honorary consulate of Grenada in Nigeria.
Sonoiki's journey in the banking industry spanning over 25 years ago has afforded him opportunities like attending an event at Buckingham Palace and contributing to key fiscal and monetary policy matters.
Source: Original
In an interview with Legit.ng, the seasoned banker spoke on the relationship between Nigeria and Grenada, and the benefits of obtaining Grenadian citizenship, among other issues.
Here is the full excerpt:
Legit.ng: We would like you to share with us how you emerged as the honorary consul of the consulate of Grenada and what your role entails.
Sonoiki: I went to Grenada and handed over my résumé and personal profile for deliberation. All required paperwork and interviews were completed, including international security checks, as part of the due diligence and background check to ensure there were no criminal histories or records. It was an election period, two months after the new government assumed power, I was contacted and invited to Grenada by the permanent secretary of the ministry of foreign affairs for trade and investment for another thorough evaluation. The new prime minister was gracious and directed the confirmation of my appointment as the honorary consul effective immediately.
I received my letter of appointment afterwards, and then the journey began.
Naturally, once you are appointed by a country to another country, you will need to align with your host country which includes involving the presidency and the ministry of foreign affairs.
The accreditation and processes took a while, it’s been a journey of two years so far.
My duty and responsibility is to serve as the intermediary between Grenada and Nigeria. There is a need for us to harness all the talents and skills of the people of the two nations together. My topmost priority is to promote investment and trade and to foster collaboration in areas such as education, health, tourism, culture, cross-cultural interactions, ideas and talent sharing, waste management and other critical areas.
The consulate also delivers consular services to all Nigerians desiring travelling for business, education and leisure. Including Nigerians pursuing pathways for citizenship by enhancing seamless trade capacity and the abundance of investment opportunities.
We also provide firsthand information for enquiries, so that they don’t get defrauded by anyone or agency.
Legit.ng: What are some of those key initiatives that are in place to strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and Grenada?
Sonoiki: The first thing when you get such a mandate is to find like minds, identify skilled people, knowledgeable individuals in economy, investment and trade experts by bringing them together. We have been able to do that. Now, we are putting together the Nigeria-Grenada Chamber of Commerce. You know, because that is the engine that would help bring all the business people together from North, South, East and West. There was nothing like that before now. We are also doing some exchange where our people will go there, some of them have been here.
In April 2024, we hosted some investors from Grenada. They were in Abuja and Lagos. We spoke to them, and they took back some ideas that they are working on.
We are also planning a direct flight for some Nigerian businessmen and women in October 2024. This exhibition would show case Nigerian small and medium enterprises and afford them collaborations in their various areas of interest.
Legit.ng: In the next five years, how do you see the relationship between Nigeria and Grenada?
Sonoiki: I want to witness a successful partnership. A partnership that will enable or afford Nigerians to make Grenada their second home and for Grenadians to make Nigeria their second home. The world has become a global market space and Nigerians who are doing business there can earn foreign Exchange (currency). We need all those foreign currencies to come to Nigeria.
Nigerians are exceptionally gifted. Before my appointment, over 150 Nigerians used to travel to Grenada to study medicine. Grenada has an excellent medical college. The numbers have increased to more than 250 in the last two years. We are considering the potential of increasing it to 500 because the medical systems in America and Canada absolve roughly 1000 doctors from this college. Isn't that lovely? to witness Nigerians handling matters and returning money to their country? I see huge opportunities in the areas of travel and tourism to real estate investment and renewable energy. This synergy can earn us a remarkable amount of foreign exchange yield.
Legit: One of the major challenges in getting to Grenada from Nigeria is a lack of an air transport system. What are the plans to solve this issue?
Sonoiki: Two airlines’ opportunities are currently in the works. One of the biggest airlines in Nigeria is almost concluding with one in the Caricom State. We are also working on a wet lease arrangement for a direct flight from Nigeria to Grenada. This will enable Nigerians and Africans to fly directly from here to Grenada in under 10 hours once everything is ready. The norm is that you will either need to travel to the United Kingdom for six or seven hours, then a layover for another four (4) hours or three (3) hours before travelling for finally for eight or more to the destination in Grenada.
Similarly, if you choose to travel via the USA as well, you will need to travel to Atlanta or New York and then to Miami, which will take 16 to 21 hours to the Island of Grenada.
We're bringing in financial partners (investors) to resolve this challenge because I've witnessed all these obstacles. We are very definite of the possibilities of direct flight in the next 6 to 9 months.
Legit.ng: What are the benefits of obtaining a Grenadian citizenship? And then in this age of Japa, why do you think Nigerian youths should ditch countries like the UK, and Canada and opt for Grenada?
Sonoiki: Speaking to citizenship, If you want to be a citizen of America or Canada, you may need to be there physically for the next three to five years to acquire such privilege. You don’t need to do that with Grenada which affords you access and visa-free to about 150 destinations. You can become a global citizen through Grenada in less than six months, though through very thorough international checks and processes.
Your access to London, Paris, Switzerland, Russia and China will become a delight and pride. You may also enjoy as much as 10 years of visa access to both America and Canada. Why would you want to be subjected to humiliation and unwarranted hardship in another country when you can enjoy the privileges in Grenada, the pride of the Caribbean?
If you choose to visit Grenada, to explore and experience firsthand, we will be delighted to issue appropriate entry visas before determining your next step of action.
Young talented and enterprising Nigerians can take advantage of the small business opportunities, creating sustainable wealth, and preserving same for their effort and sweat.
Read more on Japa
- Japa phenomenon: 'Canada is stressing my life', how Nigerians are embracing fear and starting over
- "There are benefits of living in Nigeria": Lady abroad shares some difficulties that come with japa
- Japa syndrome: Lady in UK sees many fellow citizens, wonders if anyone is remaining in Nigeria
‘Europeans are ‘japaing’ to Africa’ - Lecturer
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Dr Isa Olalekan Elegbede, a lecturer at the Department of Fisheries, Lagos State University (LASU), said that while many Africans are migrating overseas, “Europeans are coming in hordes to Africa.”
Elegbede urged Nigerians to “begin to have conversations around the economic opportunities in Africa”.
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Source: Legit.ng
