NISER, NiDCOM Review Diaspora Study to Deepen Policy Support for National Development
- Apr 29
- 2 min read
The Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) have held a validation workshop in Abuja to review findings from a wide-ranging study on Nigerian professionals living across six continents, aimed at improving policy engagement with the diaspora for national development.
The session, held at BON Hotel Octagon in Jahi, brought together government officials, lawmakers, development partners, professional associations, researchers, and representatives of key ministries and agencies. Discussions focused on strengthening frameworks that can better integrate diaspora contributions into Nigeria’s development agenda.
Speaking at the event, NISER Director-General, Antonia Taiye Simbine, described the initiative as a step toward more evidence-driven policymaking. She noted that the study was designed to provide practical insights into how Nigeria can more effectively leverage its global diaspora community for national growth.
Simbine highlighted that Nigerians abroad remain a significant economic and social asset, pointing to substantial annual remittance inflows, which she said exceed 20 billion US dollars. Beyond financial inflows, she emphasized contributions in skills transfer, innovation, technology exchange, mentorship, and global networking that continue to support domestic development efforts.
She, however, acknowledged persistent barriers limiting full diaspora engagement, including fragmented policies, weak institutional coordination, trust challenges, and regulatory constraints that affect the effective use of diaspora expertise and resources.
The NISER boss added that the validation exercise was intended to refine the study’s findings and build consensus on actionable strategies that can be adopted into national planning. She urged stakeholders to contribute robustly to the discussions, noting that the outcomes would shape future diaspora-related policies and programmes.
At the forum, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, also underscored the importance of structured engagement with Nigerians abroad, describing the diaspora as a critical partner in national development efforts.
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