By Stanley Opara   Monday, 27 Sep 2010

 

 

Global money transfer company, MoneyGram International, has ranked Nigeria among the top 10 countries receiving money transfer.

Making reference to the World Bank estimates, the company said $10bn in remittances was sent to Nigeria in 2009 – with the United States being the primary sending country.

 

Other top countries from which money was sent, it added, included Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Spain, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

 

The Regional Director for Anglophone West Africa, Mrs. Funmi Omitowoju, in a statement on Friday, said in recognising the contribution of Nigeria to its successes, MoneyGram was celebrating the 50th anniversary of Nigeria‘s independence with a series of activities lined up in Canada, Germany, Italy, Libya, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States and Nigeria.

 

With an estimated 15 million living outside their homeland, the company said, Nigerian immigrants were active in sending funds back to their home country to support family.

 

”As a global money transfer provider, with strong ties to Nigerians who send money from all over the world, MoneyGram is well aware of Nigeria‘s national pride,” Omitowoju said, adding that, ”MoneyGram is excited to celebrate Nigeria‘s Independence Day with Nigerians in Diaspora.”

 

She disclosed that MoneyGram was celebrating via a variety of activities lined up already for October 2 and 3. In Nigeria, Omitowoju emphasised that MoneyGram was not only celebrating Nigeria‘s independence, but also its dedication to the empowerment of young women through education. She added that to educate a woman was to educate a nation.

 

In line with that, she said that MoneyGram and partner agent banks were awarding 10 scholarships to deserving young women to attend university. Each student, she said, would receive $6,700 to offset the cost of his education at the university of his choice, and the scholarships would be given in November, this year.

 

As part of the celebrations, Omitowoju disclosed that MoneyGram was determined to reward anybody who transferred money to Nigeria from Spain between October 1 and December 31, 2010. According to her, customers have a chance to win 1,000 euros; while MoneyGram would also participate in a pre-independence celebration scheduled already for the largest Nigerian church in Spain, Bride of Christ Church.

Source: The Punch