African Giants Extend Helping Hand

Janet Olisa

Also, part of Olisa’s duties will be to minister to the growing Nigerian community in Belize which ranges from nurses in the hospitals to sculptor Stephen Okeke. She told News Five that the Nigerian government is looking for opportunities to export human resources in any area that Belize desires, including education and even the judiciary.

Janet Olisa, Nigerian High Commissioner to Belize

“We have a very vibrant and professional Nigerian community in Belize, mostly in the health sector. And I had a meeting with them on Sunday; they expressed that they have been well treated by the Belizean people, and I hope that this is will be a continuous trend because we are one people, one race.”

Isani Cayetano

“While you have mentioned that there is a healthy Nigerian community in Belize and a majority of those professionals are in the health sector, do you foresee any talk in terms of being able to branch off in other areas of expertise outside of the health sector? I ask because the Nigerian community here is multifaceted, where you have persons who are doctors, they are into the sciences; they are into agriculture even, but I’m not sure we’re exploring the full scope of their talents. In your capacity would you be able to dialogue perhaps with Government to see what other areas we can employ Nigerians into?”

Janet Olisa

“If it’s private employment, yes. Nigerians are kind of nomads – we move around, we travel to every nook and corner of the world in terms of professionals working. But on the technical assistance – yes, the Nigerian government is open to any field, any sector. For example we provide judges in The Gambia, so it’s something we can also do here. We provide lecturers in different countries. We also provide teachers, not just lecturers, so we can come down to the level of having teachers.”