FG Calls For Deeper Economic Engagement From Nigerians in Diaspora

By Bukar BOLORI

The Federal Government has appealed for deeper economic engagement from Nigerians in the diaspora, calling on them to push stronger investment flows into the country.

Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, made the call in her remarks during the 2025 National Diaspora Day celebrationsp in Abuja.

He also renewed her call for diaspora voting rights, and also proposed a sabbatical-based fellowship programme to enable Nigerian professionals abroad to transfer skills back home.

Addressing an audience most comprising diaspora groups from across the globe, including representatives of the historic African diaspora, Dabiri-Erewa reiterated the need to institutionalise frameworks that promote investment, political inclusion, and knowledge exchange with Nigerians abroad.

She outlined NiDCOM’s numerous initiatives, including the Diaspora Mortgage Scheme, the Diaspora Housing Scheme, the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit, and the ongoing Diaspora Data Mapping Project.

These programmes, she explained, are intended to harness the full potential of Nigerians abroad and ensure their integration into Nigeria’s development strategy.

A key highlight of her remarks was the renewed push for diaspora voting, which she said has now passed its first reading in the National Assembly, stating that: “This is a huge plus for this administration,” even as she praised the House Speaker Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Sadiq Ango Abdullahi for sponsoring the bill.

She said: “The long-awaited diaspora voting which has been a consistent topic of discussion among the diaspora community, has now passed the first reading in the parliament, which is a huge plus for this administration.”

Dabiri-Erewa, said in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Diaspora Presidential Fellowship, a six-month sabbatical programme that would allow Nigerian professionals abroad to work in Nigeria temporarily, is been proposed.

She said: “We suggest the introduction of a Diaspora Presidential Fellowship Programme, which aims at encouraging diasporas to return home on a six-month sabbatical to provide knowledge transfer, brain gain and intellectual property initiative to the nation.

“This will not only give the diaspora community the sense of belonging in the nation-building process but will also serve as a knowledge-driven giveback initiative for the development of fatherland.” she stated.

The NiDCOM boss also disclosed that diaspora remittances have exceeded $99 billion over the last six years, describing it as “huge and highly commendable.”

Dabiri-Erewa, while highlighting these successes, also raised concerns over critical operational challenges. These include poor funding, the lack of a befitting office space, and the absence of continental NiDCOM offices abroad.

She decried that: “Funding is far inadequate to achieve our mandate. Despite an improvement this year, we still urge the government to come to our aid and improve more on our budgetary needs to enable us do more by engaging on a country-by-country basis with our diaspora.

“Six years down the line, still no befitting office space for NiDCOM, which is a huge challenge for productivity. Our staff are all over the place hanging around different facilities to discharge their official duties. It’s a huge bottleneck hindering our activities and productivity, considering the fact that this is a new establishment.We want to build a Diaspora Plaza.

“Setting up of NiDCOM continental offices around the world as stipulated in the law establishing the Commission, this is yet to happen. Setting up such offices will not only bring government close to her people but will also make our engagement initiatives with Nigerian communities in different continents a lot easier and more effective.”

She further called on the federal government and international partners to support NiDCOM in meeting its growing mandate.

Among her recommendations were expanded diaspora research initiatives, more country-specific engagements, and greater support from state diaspora focal officers across Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Govermental Organisations, Aniekan Bassey, said Nigerian diaspora possesses significant potential to drive national development through investment, entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer, partnerships, tourism, and financial support.

Bassey while noting the need to unlock this potential, said that Nigeria must establish robust diaspora engagement platforms, provide incentives, and implement supportive policies and programs.

He further called for a commitment to integrating the expertise, resources, and networks of the diaspora communities to build a prosperous future for Nigeria.