•NiDCOM chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has said it will launch the Diaspora Home and Abroad platform this week.
The platform, according to the commission’s Chairman, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, will be launched during the sixth edition of National Diaspora Day (NDD) on July 25 and 26 at the State House Conference Centre of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, reports The Nation.
About 1,200 physical participants and thousands of virtual attendees from around the world are expected to participate in this year’s edition of the event.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said the platform was designed to provide Nigerians living abroad with safe, reliable, and accessible housing options.
The NiDCOM chief executive said this year’s celebration is geared towards having a real and practical engagement with Nigerians living abroad.
“In 2024 alone, Nigerians in the diaspora sent home over $20 billion, more than the country’s foreign direct investment,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
“But beyond the numbers is a wealth of knowledge, skills, and global exposure that we must now channel into nation-building.”
The NiDCOM chairman announced that the theme for this year’s celebration is: Optimising Formidable Diaspora Potentials for National Development and Growth, to reflect the need for action, not just talk, in harnessing diaspora contributions.
In a show of growing global interest, a group of 25 African American visitors will also join the Abuja celebration, highlighting renewed connections between Nigeria and the historic African diaspora.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said NiDCOM’s focus in recent years has been to deepen structured diaspora engagement through initiatives, such as the Diaspora Focal Point Officers in states, the National Diaspora Policy, the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS), and the ongoing Diaspora Data Mapping, as well as constant engagements.
As part of the celebration, a Youth Empowerment Summit will also take place, focusing on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) as a key driver of development. Students from 14 schools across Abuja will participate in the summit.
The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Mr Abiodun Akanbi, confirmed that over 500 young people will attend the STEM summit, which forms a key part of the overall programme.
Other highlights of the two-day hybrid event include plenary sessions, investment fora, and strategic networking.
The celebration will end with the National Diaspora Merit Awards, honouring exceptional Nigerians making a difference globally.
