Nigeria and Cabo Verde have agreed to strengthen cooperation on diaspora engagement, migration management and development, as both countries exchanged best practices during a strategic study visit by a Cabo Verdean delegation to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in Abuja.
Receiving the delegation, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, underscored the critical role of structured diaspora engagement in national development, urging African countries to prioritise their citizens abroad as strategic partners in growth.
Represented by the Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Sule Yakubu Bassi, Dabiri-Erewa outlined NiDCOM’s mandate and Nigeria’s institutional framework for diaspora relations, highlighting the National Diaspora Policy as the guiding document for engagement, investment and participation in national development.
According to a press statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, mnipr, Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NiDCOM, Dabiri-Erewa said Nigeria has designated July 25 as National Diaspora Day and institutionalised the National Diaspora Merit Awards to recognise outstanding contributions by Nigerians abroad.
She identified the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) as a major platform for attracting diaspora and foreign investments while creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs, adding that the Diaspora Youth Summit has helped engage young Nigerians abroad to better understand the country and contribute meaningfully to its development.
Dabiri-Erewa also stressed the importance of collaboration with key agencies such as the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), particularly in addressing migration management and human trafficking.
She noted that the appointment of State Diaspora Focal Point Officers (SDFPOs) by state governments remains vital to strengthening grassroots diaspora engagement, as every Nigerian in the diaspora is connected to a state of origin. She further emphasised the role of sustained media engagement in enhancing visibility, public awareness and effective communication of diaspora initiatives.
On future plans, Dabiri-Erewa disclosed that NiDCOM is exploring scholarship and exchange programmes through diaspora-based institutions to expand learning opportunities for young Nigerians, while acknowledging funding challenges and the need for innovative, non-traditional financing models.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Mr. Omaru Djalo Abreu, Project Manager at the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Cabo Verde, said his country has an estimated two million citizens living abroad and has benefited significantly from sustained diaspora engagement across socio-cultural, economic and financial sectors.
Abreu noted that Cabo Verde’s diaspora has played a crucial role during national emergencies, including support efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlighted similarities between both countries in diaspora data mapping, cultural exchanges and heritage-based tourism initiatives.
He referenced Cabo Verde’s Diaspora Museum, while citing Nigeria’s Badagry Door of Return and the Slave Trade Museum in Badagry as important historical sites that strengthen cultural connections between the diaspora and their roots.
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Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration and the exchange of best practices, positioning diaspora engagement as a critical tool for inclusive and sustainable development.
The study visit comprised a joint delegation from Cabo Verde, including migrant management institutions and the National Observatory on Trafficking in Persons.
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