The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has honoured 32 outstanding Nigerians living abroad, organisations and distinguished individuals with the 2026 National Diaspora Merit Awards in recognition of their exceptional contributions to national development and their achievements across various professional fields around the world.
According to an official statement signed by the Head, Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the awards were presented during the 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration in Abuja, which brought together government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners and Nigerians in the diaspora.
The statement said the awards are designed to recognise and celebrate Nigerians abroad who have distinguished themselves in their professions while projecting a positive image of the country globally.
Presenting an overview of the awards, the Secretary to the Commission, Engr. (Dr.) Sule Yakubu Bassi, said the recipients were selected for their outstanding contributions across diverse sectors, including medicine and healthcare, education, science and technology, agriculture, entrepreneurship, engineering, finance, economics, leadership development, philanthropy, politics, media and entertainment, oil and gas, sports, and information and communication technology.
Bassi congratulated the awardees, describing them as worthy ambassadors whose achievements reflect the resilience, innovation, excellence and patriotism of Nigerians across the world.
He urged them to continue excelling in their respective host countries while remaining committed to deploying their knowledge, expertise and resources towards Nigeria’s development.
The NiDCOM secretary also encouraged other Nigerians in the diaspora to emulate the award recipients, stressing that their accomplishments demonstrate the enormous potential of Nigerians living abroad.
He emphasised the importance of sustained diaspora engagement, noting that the responsibility for Nigeria’s development rests primarily with Nigerians both at home and abroad.
Representing the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, described Nigerians in the diaspora as a formidable force for national development and stability.
She commended the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and the commission’s management for consistently recognising the invaluable contributions of Nigerians in the diaspora.
Hajia Shettima congratulated the recipients for their patriotism, dedication and unwavering commitment to nation-building, particularly their support for the 2026 National Diaspora Day theme focused on restoring and revitalising Nigeria’s healthcare system.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the recognition of distinguished Nigerians and organisations for their contributions to engineering, education, healthcare, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, technology, finance, leadership development, arts, tourism and humanitarian services.
The commission also honoured several diaspora medical associations for their contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare sector through the Diaspora Health Initiative (DHII). The organisations recognised include the Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists (CANPAD), Concerned Medics Foundation (CMF), Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain (MANSAG), Nigerian Association of Medical Doctors Australia, Nigerian Doctors Forum–South Africa (NDF-SA), Nigerian Medical Association Germany (NMA-G) and DOWA.
The event also featured posthumous awards in honour of Prof. Bola Awotedu, Dr. Uzoma Nwaubani and Ms. Oghenetega Claire Inoni in recognition of their enduring contributions to Nigeria’s development.
In addition, Distinguished Service Awards were presented to the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako; Hadiza Bala Usman; Mr. Haruna Kuje Anzaku; Mr. Lawal Akibu; Dr. Yakubu Gana; and Prof. Is-haq Oloyede for their exemplary service and contributions to nation-building.
The 2026 National Diaspora Merit Awards reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to recognising excellence, celebrating patriotism and strengthening partnerships with Nigerians in the diaspora whose expertise, investments, innovation and humanitarian efforts continue to make significant contributions to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
