The Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, NISER, in partnership with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, has taken a major step toward repositioning Nigeria’s global diaspora as a strategic driver of national development.
The move culminated in a high-level validation workshop for a landmark six-continent study on diaspora engagement in Abuja.
The workshop brought together policymakers, lawmakers, development partners, professional bodies, and diaspora experts to scrutinise and refine the study titled “A Six-Continent Survey of Nigerian Professionals in Diaspora: Policy Measures for Harnessing Contributions to National Development.”
Speaking at the event, NISER Director-General, Antonia Taiye Simbine, described the study as a pivotal intervention aimed at strengthening evidence-based policymaking and ensuring that diaspora contributions are effectively integrated into Nigeria’s development agenda.
She noted that Nigeria’s diaspora community remains one of the country’s most valuable yet underutilised assets, contributing over $20 billion annually in remittances—one of the highest inflows in Africa.
Beyond financial contributions, she emphasised the diaspora’s role in driving knowledge transfer, innovation, mentorship, and global networking.
Simbine, however, pointed out that despite this immense potential, structural challenges continue to limit optimal engagement.
These include policy inconsistencies, weak institutional coordination, trust deficits, regulatory barriers, and the absence of robust frameworks to channel diaspora expertise into national priorities.
According to her, the study provides empirical insights into these challenges while offering practical, implementable policy recommendations.
She added that the validation process is critical to strengthening the study’s credibility, ensuring stakeholder buy-in, and shaping a more responsive diaspora engagement framework.
“The outcome of this engagement will significantly influence how Nigeria harnesses its global talent pool for sustainable development,” she said, urging participants to contribute meaningfully to the deliberations.
Also speaking, NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described Nigerians in the diaspora as a highly skilled and globally competitive community making remarkable impacts across sectors including healthcare, technology, entrepreneurship, and the creative economy.
She stressed the need to move beyond consumption-driven remittances to investment-focused contributions that drive wealth creation, innovation, and long-term economic growth.
“This workshop offers a strategic platform to critically assess diaspora contributions, address existing challenges, and unlock new opportunities for national transformation,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
She highlighted priority areas such as structured diaspora engagement, policy coordination, investment-friendly ecosystems, technology transfer, and data-driven decision-making as critical to maximising diaspora impact.
Importantly, she called for deliberate efforts to reverse brain drain through what she described as “brain gain” and “brain circulation,” encouraging policies that promote the exchange of skills, knowledge, and expertise between Nigeria and its global professionals.
Stakeholders at the workshop echoed similar sentiments, underscoring the importance of inclusive, credible, and actionable policy frameworks.
The Abuja Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Adamu Yusuf, commended the initiative, describing it as a significant step toward unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s diaspora.
He noted that diaspora professionals remain critical partners in investment, institutional development, and innovation, and called for sustained collaboration to translate research findings into practical outcomes.
In the health sector, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, highlighted the transformative impact of diaspora expertise on healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Representing the NMA President, Bala Mohammed Audu, Dr. Liman Idris Mohammed stressed the importance of sustained collaboration with Nigerian medical professionals abroad.
He cited instances where diaspora-trained doctors have returned to establish advanced medical facilities and introduce specialised services such as In-Vitro Fertilisation, IVF, now widely available in Nigeria.
He emphasised that Nigerian professionals often excel globally and possess the capacity to significantly strengthen domestic systems if properly engaged.
As deliberations continue, stakeholders expressed optimism that the validated study will serve as a practical roadmap for integrating diaspora expertise into national planning, fostering investment, and accelerating Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation.
The initiative signals a renewed commitment by the Federal Government and its partners to convert Nigeria’s vast diaspora potential into measurable development outcomes, positioning the country to better compete in an increasingly knowledge-driven global economy.
