By Nkechi Eze
The Presidency and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) have reaffirmed their commitment to aligning strategies that will deepen diaspora engagement and channel the contributions of Nigerians abroad into measurable national development outcomes.
At a high-level strategic meeting in Abuja, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, underscored President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resolve to place the Nigerian diaspora at the heart of his administration’s development agenda. She met with Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, to deliberate on ways to achieve high-impact results from diaspora participation in areas such as health, remittances, climate change, and trade.
According to a statement issued by Gabriel Odu of NiDCOM’s Media and Public Relations unit, Usman stressed that the Tinubu administration is focused on “quality targets with visible impact” and urged NiDCOM to highlight specific programmes and initiatives that could be elevated for greater inclusion in the government’s priority framework.
“The Nigerian Diaspora are vital partners in national development,” Usman said. “Our goal is to ensure their contributions are fully captured and aligned with the administration’s focus on high-impact results.”
In her remarks, Dabiri-Erewa highlighted two priority areas for immediate attention , the establishment of a Diaspora Trust Fund and the recognition of Nigerians tracing their genetic roots to the country through DNA technology. She explained that the Trust Fund would serve as a transparent and sustainable pool of resources, financed by diaspora contributions, to drive national projects.
“Such a fund would boost confidence, encourage remittances, and ensure transparent, collective ownership of development initiatives,” she said.
On ancestry reconnection, the NiDCOM boss emphasized that acknowledging individuals who have traced their lineage to Nigeria through DNA technology would strengthen cultural identity, enhance the country’s global image, and stimulate opportunities in tourism, investment, and cultural diplomacy.
She further called for the creation of structured platforms to incentivize diaspora returnees interested in investing or establishing businesses in Nigeria. “We must create an incentive for those willing to return, invest, and establish businesses in Nigeria,” Dabiri-Erewa stressed.
Both officials commended the resilience and excellence of Nigerians abroad, pledging to work in synergy to ensure that the enormous potential of the diaspora is fully harnessed for Nigeria’s growth and development.
