The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has called for stronger collaboration between Nigerian professionals abroad and institutions at home to translate their global achievements into tangible benefits for national development.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, made the call while commending Nigerians who have secured prominent leadership positions in international organisations, healthcare institutions, global corporations and academic establishments.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, October 26, 2026, Dabiri-Erewa said the accomplishments of Nigerians abroad demonstrated the country’s wealth of talent and its citizens’ capacity to contribute meaningfully to global development, innovation, research and leadership.
She said the achievements aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s 4Ds Foreign Policy Agenda of Development, Democracy, Demography and Diaspora, which recognises Nigerians abroad as strategic partners in advancing national development.
According to her, the increasing visibility of Nigerians in influential global positions presents an opportunity for the country to harness their expertise, professional networks and international experience to address domestic development priorities.
“These achievements are a source of pride to Nigeria. They demonstrate that Nigerians, wherever they may reside, continue to contribute significantly to global progress.
“Their accomplishments reinforce the importance of the Diaspora pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 4Ds Foreign Policy Agenda and the need to engage our citizens abroad as valuable partners in national development,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa explained that the four pillars provide a framework for understanding the strategic contributions Nigerians abroad could make to the country.
She noted that the Development pillar covers diaspora contributions through expertise, innovation, investment and knowledge transfer, while Democracy promotes good governance, institutional development and democratic values.
She added that Demography recognises Nigeria’s large, youthful and globally distributed population as a significant source of human capital, while Diaspora focuses on mobilising the skills, networks and resources of Nigerians abroad for national progress.
Among the Nigerians whose reported achievements have attracted attention are Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu in international cancer control; Professor Ibrahim Abubakar in global epidemic preparedness; Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi in Canadian medical leadership; and Professor Christian Harrison in academic management.
Others are Ugwechi Amadi in global corporate strategy; Dr. Salamat Ahuoiza Aliu-Ibrahim in specialised neurosurgery; and Ifeanyi Umunna in student leadership at Harvard Law School.
The NiDCOM chief stressed that these accomplishments should encourage stronger partnerships between diaspora professionals and Nigerian institutions, particularly in healthcare, education, research, technology, entrepreneurship and public policy.
She called for deliberate measures to promote knowledge exchange, professional mentorship, investment partnerships and institutional cooperation, noting that Nigeria could benefit significantly by connecting the expertise of its citizens abroad with national priorities.
Dabiri-Erewa also urged young Nigerians to draw inspiration from the achievements of their compatriots internationally, emphasising the importance of excellence, integrity, innovation and dedication in professional and public life.
She reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to identifying, documenting, celebrating and engaging Nigerians in the diaspora in support of the Federal Government’s development objectives.
“Our diaspora is not merely a community living beyond Nigeria’s sovereign boundaries; it is an invaluable reservoir of talent, experience, innovation, and opportunity.
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“By strengthening our engagement with Nigerians abroad, we can translate individual achievements into broader benefits for our country,” she said.
NiDCOM maintained that sustained engagement with Nigerians abroad would create opportunities to deepen international partnerships, improve Nigeria’s global image and advance national development.
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