SHINE AGENDA ACROSS BORDERS: BRING EDO’S DEVELOPMENT HOME THROUGH GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP
SHINE AGENDA ACROSS BORDERS: BRING EDO’S DEVELOPMENT HOME THROUGH GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP By Festus Alenkhe In an era where development is borderless, governance must also be borderless. It is in this context that Governor Monday Okpebholo’s “SHINE Agenda Across Borders” event in London deserves not just attention, but commendation and support. This was not a ceremonial gathering. It was a strategic economic diplomacy mission one that recognizes a fundamental reality: Edo State cannot develop in isolation. We endorse this initiative because it is timely, practical, and rooted in data. THE CASE FOR GOING ABROAD: FACTS AND FIGURES Edo State has one of Nigeria’s largest diaspora populations. The UK alone hosts an estimated 250,000+ Edo people, with heavy concentrations in London, Manchester, and Birmingham. According to World Bank and CBN 2023 data, Nigeria received $20.1 billion in diaspora remittances. Edo consistently ranks among the top 5 states in remittance inflow. Yet f...