From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has reaffirmed the invaluable role of over 20 million Nigerians living abroad in national development during the 2025 National Diaspora Day celebrations at the State House Conference, Abuja.
Chairman and CEO of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, highlighted the diaspora’s remarkable achievements and officially launched the Diaspora Presidential Fellowship Programme—a flagship initiative aimed at leveraging diaspora expertise for Nigeria’s growth.
Dabiri-Erewa hailed the diaspora communities from across the globe, including members of the historic African diaspora, emphasising their resilience, patriotism, and outstanding productivity in fields as diverse as medicine, technology, business, and governance.
“The National Diaspora Day is an occasion set aside by the National Diaspora Policy to recognize, acknowledge, and celebrate the over 20 million Nigerians in the diaspora—both modern and historic—who are contributing immensely to Nigeria’s growth,”she stated.
Dabiri-Erewa, underscored the rich diversity and unity within the Nigerian global community. “Our diaspora are known for their hard work, resilience, patriotism, and high productivity. They are barrier breakers and pacesetters in various fields of endeavour. It is therefore incumbent upon us to celebrate our very best, without losing sight of the few who may lag behind,” she said.
Since its establishment over six years ago, she said NIDCOM has championed the interests of Nigerians abroad through a broad spectrum of impactful initiatives.
“The legacy team has sustained the passion and consistency that saw to the formation of NIDCOM,” -Erewa affirmed. Among the flagship programmes she highlighted were the annual National Diaspora Day Celebrations, now in its seventh edition, which honours the Nigerian diaspora globally, and the National Diaspora Merit Award, which celebrates individuals and associations whose contributions to Nigeria and their host countries have been exemplary.
She also spoke passionately about the Badagry Door of Return Festival, which commemorates the historic African diaspora and the poignant legacy of the transatlantic slave trade. Dabiri-Erewa noted its role as “a unique platform attracting African descendants from across Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean back to their ancestral homeland to reside and invest.”
Addressing housing and investment opportunities for Nigerians abroad, she described the Diaspora Mortgage Scheme as a joint effort with the Federal Mortgage Bank and Central Bank of Nigeria, aimed at providing affordable housing for Nigerians abroad through structured payment systems. The Diaspora Investment Trust Fund, another critical initiative, was created to facilitate diaspora investments in Nigeria, with collaborations involving the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment to open long-term opportunities across sectors such as agriculture, ICT, energy, healthcare, and education.
Dabiri-Erewa also underscored the creation of a Diaspora Data Mapping Portal (www.nidcom.gov.ng/registry), intended to catalogue skills and mobilize Nigerian talents globally for national development.
On welfare issues, she explained that NIDCOM continuously receives petitions from Nigerians in the diaspora concerning their wellbeing in countries ranging from South Africa and India to Russia and the United Kingdom. The commission has facilitated registrations of diaspora organizations with the Corporate Affairs Commission to enhance their engagement.
Addressing humanitarian efforts, she detailed NIDCOM’s role in assisting returnees amid crises such as xenophobic attacks in South Africa, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and evacuations from Sudan and the Middle East. She highlighted educational and cultural engagements including the Diaspora Research Centre at the University of Ibadan, supported by TETFund, and the Diaspora Quarterly Lecture Series, which recently delivered a virtual session on the new passport policies easing access for Nigerians abroad.
Despite these achievements, she openly acknowledged challenges impacting the commission: “Poor funding remains a significant hurdle, inhibiting our ability to engage extensively with the diaspora globally. Additionally, we still lack a befitting office space and continental offices worldwide, which are critical to enhance our effectiveness.”
She welcomed the recent progress on diaspora enfranchisement, saying, “It is worthy of note that diaspora voting has now passed the first reading in Parliament, a milestone championed by Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House, and Hon. Sadiq Ango Abdulahi. This signifies a major leap forward in recognizing diaspora Nigerians’ rights.”
Economic contributions of Nigerians abroad remain invaluable. She stated, “According to World Bank statistics, over 99 billion US dollars have been remitted by the Nigerian diaspora in the past six years alone—a profound testament to their commitment to national progress.”
Looking ahead, the chairperson proposed the launch of a Diaspora Presidential Fellowship Programme to encourage Nigerians abroad to return for six-month sabbaticals focused on knowledge transfer, brain gain, and intellectual property contributions. “This initiative will deepen the diaspora’s sense of belonging and provide a significant knowledge-driven giveback to the fatherland,” she said.
The 2025 National Diaspora Day theme, “Optimizing Formidable Diaspora Potentials for National Development and Growth,” captures the strategic focus of both government and diaspora communities. Dr. Dabiri-Erewa expressed optimism: “Our diaspora’s rich academic, professional, and global exposure place us at an advantageous position to contribute profoundly to Nigeria’s growth.”
Dabiri-Erewa concluding by extending her gratitude to partners and sponsors, including First Bank Plc, Central Bank of Nigeria, and Federal Mortgage Bank, whose support has been vital.
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