The Diaspora and Sociopolitical Mobilizations in Nigeria

Qualitative Instrument for Nigerians in Diaspora

Introduction and Informed Consent Form

Good Day Ma/Sir.

I am conducting a PURELY ACADEMIC study which is to ultimately improve knowledge on the sustainable roles
of Nigerians in diaspora in development of Nigeria (their country of origin). A very important component of this
study/process involves interviewing systematically selected individuals to understand the issues. You are being
contacted because you are one of the systematically selected people to participate in this process. We seek your
understanding and confidential commitment to take quality time to attend to this instrument in great dispassionate
detail and accord it the importance it requires. There are no correct or wrong answers. All responses will be treated
with extreme confidentiality and discretion. This is certainly why we do not need your names throughout the
study/process. Thank you very much for taking time to be part of this study.
Please type your opinions about issues below comprehensively/exhaustively. Alternatively, you can do voice
recordings of your opinions and send to the email addresses below this document.

Prompts and probes

1. Please what is your age: 40
2. Kindly tell us your ethnic group in Nigeria: Yoruba
3. In which country are you currently living: South Africa
4. Please explain the major reason you left/travelled out of Nigeria: Work purpose
5. Would you consider yourself forced out of Nigeria? No! Give reasons. I left Nigeria
because there was a call for me to assist in an area that relates to my profession.
6. Please explain the roles you think Nigerians in diaspora are playing in the development of
Nigeria. Foreign remittances by diasporas contribute significantly to the economic
growth of the country as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP)
7. Please explain positive roles of the diaspora in Nigeria. 1. Chiefly in the area of
economic development as explained in the answer to question 6 above. 2. Business
establishment by some diasporas. 3. Skill transfer especially through educated
diasporas in academics and other sectors.
8. Please explain negative roles of the diaspora in Nigeria: Some use their social media
platforms to make incendiary comments that may be inimical to the political
stability of the country, example is Nnamidi Kanu in his agitation for the Biafra
nation.
9. Please comment on the new opinion that Nigerians in the diaspora are now mostly
responsible for spreading fake news about Nigeria: I’m not sure that is a valid opinion
and I don’t think so.
10. Please explain positive roles and negative roles you believe Nigerians in the diaspora are
playing in organising/encouraging political and social protests in Nigeria. Nigerians in
diaspora, having seen that things can be better in their home country following what
they have witnessed in their host country, agitates for a better society through
mostly social media by giving instances of how things operate in their host
community. I have no idea of any negative role played.
11. On ENDSARS protest, please explain positive roles and negative roles you believe
Nigerians in the diaspora played in organising/encouraging the protest. There is no clear
 cut distinction between the expressed opinions of diasporas and Nigerians at home
in my view. (Same answer for numbers 12-14)
12. On Igboho/Yoruba Nation agitations, please explain positive roles and negative roles you
believe Nigerians in the diaspora are playing in organising/encouraging the agitations
13. On Nnamdi Kanu/Biafra agitations, please explain positive roles and negative roles you
believe Nigerians in the diaspora are playing in organising/encouraging the agitations
14. Please explain other important issues relating to the positive and negative roles of
Nigerians in diaspora concerning fake news, social and political mobilisations and
agitations in Nigeria.
Thank you very much
Olayinka Akanle (PhD). Department of Sociology, Faculty of The Social Sciences, University of
Ibadan, Nigeria & Research Associate, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities,
University of Johannesburg, South Africa. E-mails: yakanle@yahoo.com, o.akanle@ui.edu.ng,
olayinkaakanle75@gmail.com