By Nkechi Eze
Nigerian experts from across the globe have called for bold, strategic approaches to harness the vast talents and investment potential of the Nigerian diaspora as a cornerstone for the country’s sustainable development. This consensus emerged during a high-level thematic session held as part of the 2025 National Diaspora Day (NDD) celebrations in Abuja, themed “Optimising Formidable Diaspora Potentials for National Development and Growth.”
Director of Media and Public Relations at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abdur-Rahman Balogun, in an official statement disclosed that the session brought together distinguished professionals and academics who shared insights into how Nigeria can leverage the diaspora for transformative growth across sectors.
Opening the discussion, Mrs. Voke Ogueh, a respected STEM advocate and U.S. Presidential Awardee, urged Nigeria to invest deliberately in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, especially targeting young people and women. She stressed that innovation and digital literacy remain vital for empowering Nigerian youth and closing global opportunity gaps.
“Innovation is the currency of the future,” Ogueh said. “Nigeria must tap into its abundant human capital by prioritising STEM education and creating pathways for young minds particularly girls, to lead in technology and innovation spaces.”
Contributing to the discussion, Professor Hakeem Ibikunle Tijani of Morgan State University, Maryland, USA, emphasized the importance of historical awareness and strategic policymaking. He urged the country to deepen engagement with its diaspora to gain from their rich academic and cultural resources, which can help shape a progressive development agenda.
“Development must be grounded in historical understanding and driven by leaders who embrace strategic thinking,” Tijani noted. “Nigeria should institutionalize sustained academic exchange and knowledge transfer with its diaspora scholars.”
Also speaking at the session, Professor Adedeji Bodunde Badiru, CEO of AB International Consulting Services (ABICS), Ohio, USA, advocated a systems-thinking approach to national growth. He explained that embracing productivity, process optimization, and strategic planning as common practices in successful economies, would enable Nigeria’s public and private sectors to perform more efficiently.
“National development must move from rhetoric to results. Systems thinking enables nations to move forward with intentionality, discipline, and innovation,” Badiru stated.
On the healthcare front, Dr. Adebayo Akintobi, Founder of the Global Health Charity and Training Foundation, highlighted the urgent need for stronger collaborations between Nigerian health institutions and diaspora health professionals. He noted that diaspora-led training, telemedicine initiatives, and community-based health programs are critical tools to improve healthcare access and equity in Nigeria.
Akintobi raised concerns about the country’s low investment in health insurance, pointing out that only five per cent of total investment currently goes to that area. He called for immediate healthcare reform and intentional investment in preventive and accessible healthcare systems.
“The diaspora is not just a donor community,” he said. “We are health practitioners, educators, strategists and we are ready to work hand in hand with our counterparts in Nigeria to build a stronger health system.”
Moderated by Professor Akintunde Akinade of Georgetown University, Qatar, the session concluded with resounding calls for robust policy mechanisms that will formally integrate diaspora expertise and innovation into Nigeria’s development strategies. Experts emphasized that the Nigerian diaspora must not only be seen as financial contributors, but as co-architects in shaping the nation’s economic, social, and institutional future.
The session was a major highlight of the 2025 National Diaspora Day, which continues to serve as a platform for cross-continental collaboration and policy engagement between the Nigerian government and its global diaspora communities.
