Nurses lead as 60,000 Nigerians in Diaspora Register on NiDCOM Data Portal

Over 60,000 Nigerians living abroad have registered on the Diaspora Data Mapping Portal launched by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), with nurses leading the professional categories represented.

The portal, which was introduced on June 29, 2021, is a key component of NiDCOM’s strategy to integrate diaspora Nigerians into national development planning. It collects detailed demographic and socio-economic information on Nigerians residing in various countries across the globe.

As of the latest update, registrations have come in from over 30 countries. Data from NiDCOM’s Technology, Transfer, Innovation and Investment Department shows that nurses represent the largest professional group, accounting for 29.97% of total registrants. They are followed by pharmacists (14.0%), medical doctors (12.03%), educators (12.0%), and students (11.0%). Engineers make up 8.0%, while civil servants represent 7.0%.

Other professions include leadership development, international NGOs, the airline industry, construction engineering, and medical physiology each contributing around 1.0%.

In terms of country distribution, Cameroon recorded the highest number of registrations at 6.69%, closely followed by Niger (6.63%) and Sudan (6.07%). These figures highlight strong historical, cultural, and economic ties with Nigeria’s regional neighbors.

Other notable countries include:

• Ghana: ~5%

• United Kingdom: 4.83%

• United States: 4.58%

• Saudi Arabia: 4.58%

• Canada: 3.87%

• Egypt: 3.19%

• Germany & France: 2.94% each

• India: 2.90%

• Italy: 2.61%

• China: 2.51%

• South Africa: 2.38%

• Benin Republic: 2.04%

• UAE: 1.65%

• Kenya: 1.63%

• Senegal: 1.54%

• Libya: 1.33%

• Brazil: 1.28%

• Congo: 1.26%

• Ethiopia: 1.25%

• Chad: 1.17%

• Ivory Coast: 1.16%

• Malaysia: 1.12%

• Qatar: 1.05%

• Central African Republic: 1.0%

• Sierra Leone: 0.88%

• Turkey: 0.83%

An additional 19.13% of registrants fall under the "Others" category, reflecting a wide dispersion of Nigerians across less-represented countries.

NiDCOM affirms that the portal remains vital for harnessing diaspora potential in technology transfer, investment, and national development efforts.