The Federal Government has described Nigerians living abroad as one of the nation’s most underutilised resources, noting their significant contributions to the economy, especially the over $20 billion in remittances recorded in 2024.
This was disclosed by the Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa, during a press briefing in Abuja to announce the 2025 edition of the National Diaspora Day (NDD) celebration.
The two day event, which will also feature the third National Diaspora Merit Awards, is scheduled to hold from July 25 to 26 at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
This year’s celebration is themed “Optimising Formidable Diaspora Potentials for National Development and Growth.”
Dabiri Erewa described it as a national call to action aimed at moving beyond symbolic recognition to meaningful engagement with the estimated 20 million Nigerians living abroad.
“Our diaspora community is among Nigeria’s greatest exports. In 2024 alone, remittances from Nigerians abroad exceeded $20 billion, surpassing foreign direct investment. But more importantly, beyond the figures lies a vast pool of knowledge, networks, skills, and goodwill that, if properly harnessed, can drive transformative change across every sector,” she said.
She noted that Nigerians in the diaspora continue to make a mark globally across key areas such as health, education, technology, sports, business, the arts, and governance, positioning themselves as change makers and ambassadors of Nigeria.
Highlighting some of NiDCOM’s milestones, Dabiri Erewa pointed to initiatives such as the deployment of Diaspora Focal Point Officers in various states, the implementation of the National Diaspora Policy, the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit, and the Diaspora Data Mapping Project as key steps taken to formally integrate diaspora contributions into national development plans.
“Engagement with the diaspora is no longer theoretical, it is now visible, measurable, and impactful,” she said.
The NiDCOM boss announced that a key highlight of this year’s celebration will be the unveiling of the Diaspora Home and Abroad Housing Platform, which will provide a safe, transparent, and structured system for Nigerians abroad to invest in real estate back home without fear of fraud.
“This is about moving from sentiments and statistics to sustainable frameworks. The goal is to build a Nigeria where our diaspora community is not just celebrated occasionally, but structurally embedded into our growth strategy,” she added.
“Let this year’s event be remembered not for banners and speeches, but for the partnerships we forge and the futures we unlock. Your stories must be heard, your efforts recognised, and your patriotism celebrated,” Dabiri Erewa stated.
She also encouraged interested participants to register for both virtual and physical attendance through the NiDCOM website www.nidcom.gov.ng/diasporaday and follow NiDCOM’s official social media channels for real time updates.
Background Developments
In January 2025, during the budget defence before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Diaspora, Dabiri Erewa disclosed that diaspora Nigerians spent approximately ₦60 billion during visits to Nigeria in December 2024 alone.
In a further push to support Nigerians abroad, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in partnership with the Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), launched the Non Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) platform in May. The initiative now allows Nigerians overseas to obtain their BVN remotely, eliminating the need for in person verification in Nigeria.
