Nigerians living abroad have remitted more than $90 billion over the past five years to support national development, according to the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
She made this disclosure at a workshop organized by the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) in collaboration with NiDCOM, held in Abuja.
Themed "A Six-Continent Survey of Nigerian Professionals in Diaspora: Policy Measures for Harnessing Contributions to National Development," the workshop explored the role of Nigerians abroad in shaping the country's economy.
Dabiri-Erewa stressed the need for accurate data collection to maximize diaspora contributions and strengthen ties with Nigeria.
"By leveraging the derived data, NiDCOM can implement targeted policies that facilitate robust diaspora engagement and maximize their invaluable contributions to national development," she stated.
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She also commended NISER's Director-General, Prof. Antonia Taiye Simbine, for spearheading research on Nigerian professionals abroad and emphasized continued collaboration between both institutions.
Unlocking Diaspora Potential
Prof. Simbine highlighted that with over 17 million Nigerians living abroad, the research aims to develop strategic policies that harness their expertise and investments for national growth.
Similarly, Hon. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, Chairman of the House Committee on National Planning and Economy, acknowledged the significant financial impact of diaspora remittances, which have ranged between $17.2 billion and $20 billion annually in recent years.
"Nigerians in the diaspora must not be relegated to the side but participate as co-partners in developing the country," Isiaka said.
He referenced the Central Bank of Nigeria's plan to issue a diaspora bond and urged government agencies to establish structured platforms that encourage stronger engagement with Nigerians abroad.
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