Hon. (Dr.) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has called on Africans living abroad to embrace their role as the vital bridge connecting the continent to global opportunities through innovation, investment and technology-driven development.
According to an official statement signed by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa made the call while speaking as a special guest at the 2026 Black Engineering Week (BEW) in San Jose, California, themed “Africans in Diaspora as Bridge Builders.”
Addressing engineers, founders, investors and technology leaders, the NiDCOM Chairman challenged African professionals in the diaspora to channel their expertise, influence and resources towards accelerating Africa’s economic growth and technological advancement.
Rejecting the long-standing narrative of brain drain, Dabiri-Erewa described Africans in the diaspora as representing “brain gain” and “brain circulation,” noting that their global contributions are not only driving technological advancement worldwide but are also creating opportunities for sustainable development across Africa.
“You live in two worlds and refuse to choose. You connect them. That is engineering at its highest level,” she told participants.
She identified talent, capital and credibility as the three key areas where the African diaspora continues to make significant contributions.
Dabiri-Erewa observed that although Black and African engineers remain underrepresented in Silicon Valley, they are among those developing technologies that will shape the future. She disclosed that NiDCOM is collaborating with state governments and diaspora partners on initiatives aimed at verifying Nigerian talent, promoting remote work opportunities and facilitating the recruitment of skilled Nigerian professionals by global companies.
On the economic potential of the diaspora, she highlighted the enormous value of remittances sent home by Nigerians abroad, stressing that when strategically channelled into productive investments, such funds could become a major catalyst for industrialisation, entrepreneurship, climate technology and venture capital development.
She also underscored the importance of Nigerians and other Africans occupying leadership positions in global technology companies, saying their achievements continue to enhance Africa’s global reputation while inspiring a new generation of innovators on the continent.
The NiDCOM Chairman urged diaspora professionals to intentionally give back by mentoring young talents, creating employment opportunities and investing in emerging entrepreneurs. She equally challenged African governments to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and establish enabling environments that encourage greater diaspora participation in national development.
Dabiri-Erewa further advocated stronger collaboration between Silicon Valley institutions and African universities through expanded internships, fellowships, research partnerships and innovation programmes capable of unlocking opportunities for Africa’s over 1.4 billion people.
She noted that modern networks are increasingly driven by technology, innovation, capital and human resources, expressing confidence that Africa is well-positioned not only to produce the world’s next billion digital users but also the engineers who will develop future technological solutions.
The conference also featured a Founders Showcase sponsored by Adobe in partnership with San Jose State University and the Black Engineers Network. The programme brought together engineers, investors and innovators for panel discussions, startup pitches and diaspora-focused engagements.
President of the Black Engineers Association, Folarin Erogbogbo, described the initiative as a platform designed to accelerate Black-led innovation, culminating in a Founder Demo Showcase and Judging Competition where selected entrepreneurs presented their startups before a panel of judges.
On the sidelines of the conference, Dabiri-Erewa also held discussions with the Supervisor of Santa Clara County, who expressed the county’s readiness to explore partnerships with Nigerian cities, particularly in the healthcare sector, as part of efforts to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation between both regions.
