The Executive Director of the African Travel Commission [ATC], Dr. Lucky Onoriode George, has challenged Africans living abroad to earn the trust and respect of governments and citizens in their home countries, warning that their continued relevance in Africa's development depends on constructive engagement rather than antagonism.

George made the call at the 2026 AfricaUK Week Africa Market Access & Innovation Forum, held at Croydon Town Hall, London, United Kingdom, on October 30, under the theme “Unlocking Markets, Driving Innovation, Mobilising Capital.”

The event attracted a strong line-up of speakers, panellists and stakeholders from different sectors. Two Ghanaian-British councillors representing Enfield and Croydon also attended, highlighting the importance of local government participation in strengthening Africa-UK relations and diaspora engagement.

George urged Africans abroad and people of African descent in the Caribbean to become ambassadors, bridge-builders and development partners of their ancestral countries rather than antagonists of the governments and people they seek to engage.

He acknowledged their right to criticise government policies and demand accountability but warned against allowing political disagreements to become a permanent attitude of hostility towards their countries.

“Being in the diaspora does not automatically make anyone an authority on the affairs of their home country, neither does living abroad confer the exclusive right to lecture those who remain at home. If we want our governments and people to take us seriously, we must first earn their trust and respect,” he said.

He stressed that criticising a government should not be confused with hostility towards one's country.

“You can disagree with your President, your government or its policies without becoming an enemy of your country. You can demand good governance without deliberately undermining your nation's image. A country is bigger than any government or individual,” he stated.

George challenged Africans to learn from Jewish, Indian, Chinese, Scottish and Irish communities, among others, which have maintained strong connections with their ancestral homelands while building international networks and influence.

He said their experiences offered lessons in organisation, networking, cultural preservation, economic cooperation and strategic engagement.

“Look at the Jewish, Indian, Chinese, Scottish and Irish communities. There are important lessons to learn from how they have maintained their connections, built networks and promoted their interests internationally.

“Why should Africans, with our enormous population, cultural diversity, professional expertise and global presence, find it difficult to organise ourselves around the development and promotion of our countries and continent?” he queried.

He added that Africans did not necessarily have to replicate their experiences but should embrace the principles of collective responsibility and commitment to their ancestral communities.

The ATC chief said Africans abroad occupy an important position in shaping international perceptions of their countries and the continent. He urged them to promote Africa and the Caribbean through tourism, trade, investment, cultural diplomacy and knowledge transfer.

As head of the African Travel Commission, he particularly identified tourism as an area where diaspora communities could make meaningful contributions by attracting visitors and investors, promoting destinations and connecting African businesses to international markets.

“Every African living abroad should see himself or herself as a potential tourism ambassador. You do not need to hold a government appointment before promoting your country. You can influence people to visit, invest, establish businesses or explore opportunities in Africa,” he said.

He added that Africa needed people who could open doors, build bridges and create opportunities rather than use their international presence to perpetually attack their countries.

George also commended the organisers of AfricaUK Week, describing the week-long programme as one of the few genuine platforms for meaningful engagement between Africans on the continent, members of the diaspora and other stakeholders interested in Africa's development.

He said the programme provided an opportunity for people from different backgrounds and perspectives to exchange ideas, address concerns, build mutual understanding and explore practical partnerships.

“Africa needs more platforms where governments, private-sector operators, diaspora professionals, entrepreneurs and development partners can engage honestly and constructively. Events such as AfricaUK Week create opportunities for people on both sides of the divide to meet, listen to one another and build meaningful relationships.

“We cannot build the Africa we desire if those who live on the continent and those who live abroad continue to see themselves as opposing camps,” he said.

While challenging diaspora communities, George acknowledged that African governments also had responsibilities in building stronger relationships with their citizens abroad.

He called for greater openness, transparency, accountability and credible platforms for diaspora participation in national development.

He noted that governments could not expect diaspora members to invest, transfer expertise or establish meaningful partnerships without addressing legitimate concerns about governance, security, institutional transparency and the business environment.

He advocated a relationship based on mutual responsibility, where governments recognise the diaspora as a strategic development partner and diaspora communities demonstrate respect for local realities.

George maintained that the diaspora should be seen as more than a source of remittances, given its potential contributions to investment, trade, tourism, education, technology and entrepreneurship.

He urged Africans abroad to measure their relevance not merely by their visibility, social media following or criticism of political leadership, but by the positive contributions they make to their countries and communities of origin.

“The question every African in the diaspora should ask is simple: What am I doing to make my country better? What am I doing to promote Africa? What opportunities am I creating for the people at home?

“Africa needs ambassadors, bridge-builders, investors, innovators and development partners. Our presence abroad should be an advantage to Africa, not another source of division. We must earn the trust of our people and governments and demonstrate through our actions that we genuinely want to see our countries and continent succeed,” George concluded.

His message called for a new approach to Africa-diaspora relations: moving from confrontation to cooperation, from criticism without engagement to constructive participation, and from individual success abroad to collective contributions to Africa's development and international standing.

Source: African Travel Commission [ATC] Media Unit