Diaspora Engagement: Data Mapping, Key To Our Mandate—Dabiri-Erewa 

By Bukar Bolori

Hon (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora  Commission, (NiDCOM), says secured access to active and reliable data helps in the collation, processing and publishing of accurate 

statistical information for developmental purposes.

NIDCOM in a statement issued by Gabriel Odu said Dabiri-Erewa stated this at the flag-off of the Virtual Diaspora Data 

Mapping Town Hall Meeting for Liberia and Sierra Leone held in Abuja.

The NIDCOM Boss believes that the Diaspora Data Mapping registration is 

aimed  at creating skills mapping of Nigerians in the diaspora for 

effective management of human and capital resources embedded in Nigeria.

She added that the scheme is of utmost importance to the Commission 

towards enhancing  contacts with Diaspora Nigerians in  information 

dissemination and coordination.

According to the Chairman/CEO, (NiDCOM), “if we don’t know where you are, what you are doing, how can we come in when we are needed?”

Amb. Zubairu Dada, Minister of State, Foreign Affairs,  represented by 

Amb. Nasir Aminu (International Organizations Department), Ministry of 

Foreign Affairs commended the amazing feats the Commission has achieved 

so far, stating that there are enormous benefits for registering in the 

NiDCOM Diaspora Portal particularly for remittances, investment and other purposes such as crises management in case of an emergency situation that will require quick evacuation among others.

Giving details of the programme, Hon. Abdulrahman Terab, NIDCOM’s Head 

of  Technology Transfer and Innovation, (TTI)  explained that the Diaspora Data Mapping is a process of acquiring information about Nigerians in the diaspora through online registration,  obtain basic demographics for the purpose of planning, engagement and development.

Terab further listed the common types of data needed in the Diaspora 

Data Mapping to include social demographic characteristics, locations 

and addresses, contacts, duration in the diaspora, among other variables.

Amb. Odudigbo Godfrey Nigerian Ambassador to Liberia and Amb. Henry 

Omaku, Nigerian Ambassador to Sierra Leone, both commended  

Chairman/CEO, NiDCOM for the initiative  to help engage, involve, monitor and  track Nigerians across the globe for meaningful development in Nigeria.

They jointly agreed to carry out massive sensitisation and awareness in  Liberia and Sierra Leone respectively.

Mr. Abiodun Oyebola (NIDO President, Sierra Leone) and Mr. ThankGod 

McDonald Iriruaga (NIDO President, Liberia), were appreciative of  the 

Chairman/CEO NiDCOM’s efforts, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 

Federal Government in rescuing and evacuating Nigerians during the 

Ukraine-Russian war and intervening in Diaspora matters globally.