- Foreign Affairs Ministry, NIDCOM Unite to Drive Diaspora Development
- Enikanolaiye called for a more structured system to capture diaspora remittances through formal channels
- Advocated stronger partnerships to facilitate technology transfer and encourage diaspora investment in key sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture and housing
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) and the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration aimed at deepening diaspora engagement, boosting investment and formalising remittance inflows to support Nigeria’s development.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the commitment was made during a courtesy visit by NIDCOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri Erewa, and members of the commission’s management team to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, in Abuja.
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Speaking during the meeting, Enikanolaiye said the Federal Government remains committed to leveraging the contributions of Nigerians living abroad as part of President Bola Tinubu’s 4D Foreign Policy, which focuses on Democracy, Development, Demography and Diaspora.
According to the minister, development remains the central objective of the policy, with emphasis on improving infrastructure, healthcare, education, job creation, food security and poverty reduction.
He also commended the Renewed Hope Agenda, saying recent progress in addressing insecurity is creating a more conducive environment for economic growth and sustainable development.
Enikanolaiye called for a more structured system to capture diaspora remittances through formal channels and urged greater collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, noting that every state has the potential to benefit from engaging its citizens abroad.
He also advocated stronger partnerships to facilitate technology transfer and encourage diaspora investment in key sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture and housing.
The minister praised NIDCOM for coordinating the evacuation and repatriation of stranded Nigerians, particularly those recently returned from South Africa, while urging Nigerian missions abroad to improve service delivery and better protect the interests of citizens.
Acknowledging funding constraints facing the ministry, Enikanolaiye said efforts would be made to explore alternative revenue sources, including optimising assets at Nigeria’s foreign missions and encouraging greater private sector participation.
Earlier, Dabiri Erewa thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its continued support since NIDCOM was established, while identifying inadequate funding and office accommodation as major challenges confronting the commission.
She also announced that the fourth National Diaspora Merit Award will hold later this year to honour outstanding Nigerians living abroad and disclosed that work is ongoing to establish a Diaspora Trust Fund to attract greater diaspora investment into the country.
Both parties pledged to strengthen collaboration to maximise the contributions of Nigerians in the diaspora to national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
