- NIDCOM, NISER Advocate Coordinated Diaspora Engagement Framework
- Abike Dabiri-Erewa urged a shift in how diaspora remittances are utilised
- Antonia Taiye Simbine described the Nigerian diaspora as a vital national asset, revealing that annual remittances exceed $20 billion among the highest in Africa
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has called for a stronger and more coordinated diaspora policy framework to boost Nigeria’s development, highlighting the need to better harness the contributions of citizens living abroad.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the call was made in partnership with Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research during a high-level validation workshop held to review findings from a comprehensive diaspora study covering six continents.
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Speaking at the event, NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, urged a shift in how diaspora remittances are utilised, stressing that Nigeria must move “from remittances for consumption to remittances for investment.”
She noted that Nigerians abroad remain globally competitive, contributing significantly across sectors such as healthcare, technology, and governance, adding that structured engagement would unlock greater economic and social benefits.
According to Dabiri-Erewa, the study will guide the development of a clear roadmap for diaspora engagement, anchored on improved policy coordination, investment-friendly frameworks, and enhanced technology transfer.
She also emphasised the importance of data-driven policymaking, noting that Nigeria must convert the challenge of “brain drain” into opportunities for “brain gain” and “brain circulation.”
Earlier, the Director-General of NISER, Antonia Taiye Simbine, described the Nigerian diaspora as a vital national asset, revealing that annual remittances exceed $20 billion among the highest in Africa.
She, however, identified key challenges limiting effective diaspora engagement, including policy inconsistencies, weak institutional coordination, regulatory bottlenecks, and trust deficits among stakeholders.
Simbine explained that the workshop was aimed at refining recommendations from the study to ensure they are practical, inclusive, and impactful.
Contributors at the session, including representatives of the Nigerian Medical Association, highlighted the growing influence of diaspora professionals in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
They pointed to advancements such as locally available in vitro fertilisation (IVF) services as evidence of knowledge transfer from Nigerians abroad.
Participants agreed that sustained and well-coordinated diaspora engagement could play a transformative role in national development, with the validation process expected to produce actionable, evidence-based policy recommendations.
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