- Prof. Jimmy Adegoke urges President Tinubu to utilize the expertise of Nigerians in the diaspora to tackle the country’s developmental challenges
- Adegoke highlights the diaspora’s potential for fostering partnerships, attracting investments, and enhancing Nigeria’s governance and economic growth
Renowned climate scientist and environmental consultant Prof. Jimmy Adegoke has advocated for President Bola Tinubu to leverage the expertise of Nigerians in the diaspora to address the country’s developmental challenges.
During a media chat following a send-off dinner hosted in his honour by a group of diaspora scholars and associates in Lagos, Professor Adegoke highlighted the potential contributions of Nigerians abroad. He recently retired from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), where he served as a tenured faculty member and academic leader for nearly 25 years, including roles as Chair of the Department of Geosciences and Director of the Center for Applied Environmental Research (CAER).
Prof. Adegoke, who currently serves as an advisor and senior consultant on climate change and green growth with the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, emphasized that Nigerians in the diaspora possess global exposure, networks, and diverse experiences that could help foster international partnerships, offer fresh perspectives on policy-making, and attract investments to Nigeria.
He pointed out that many Nigerians returning home are eager to contribute to the nation’s growth out of patriotism and commitment. According to him, by tapping into the diaspora’s talent and expertise, Nigeria could leverage its global human capital to drive economic growth, enhance governance, and improve its international standing.
Prof. Adegoke’s career spans science, climate policy, environmental governance, and capacity building. His research has been funded by organizations like NASA, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), and the AfDB. He has held notable roles, such as the interim Executive Director/CEO of the West African Science Service Center for Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) and the Executive Director of the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) Natural Resources & Environment (NRE) Division in Pretoria, South Africa.
In 2014, at the Nigerian government’s invitation, Professor Adegoke chaired the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Agricultural Resilience in Nigeria (ACARN), where he developed a national program on climate adaptation and agricultural resilience. He is also a member of multiple international science advisory boards and committees.
Prof. Adegoke maintains his residence in Kansas City, where he was appointed by the Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, to the city’s Environmental Management Commission (EMC). He was inducted into the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria Hall of Fame in 2021 as one of the “110 Most Powerful ABU Alumni.”
President Tinubu could harness this valuable human resource to propel Nigeria forward in its development journey by engaging Nigerians in the diaspora.