Nigerians in Diaspora, game-changer for national devt

The vast, unexploited opportunities presented by Nigerians living abroad could play a significant role in propelling the country’s growth and development.

This was the position of experts on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2025 International Conference organised by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Centre for Excellence in Migration and Global Studies (CEMGS).

The workshop, themed “Immigration and Sustainable Development: Problems and Prospects,” brought together experts to explore the complex relationship between migration and sustainable growth.

In his remarks, Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, emphasised that Nigeria needs to harness the benefits of migration while minimising its drawbacks.

He said this involves maximising the positive effects of migration, such as increased remittances, new skills, and cultural exchange, while addressing the negative consequences, including brain drain, exploitation, and strain on public services.

“There are a lot of challenges that we must address in this conference. We do know that migration is a source of cultural shock in any country because it’s either people are admitted into their home country, or they are moving to another state.

“And therefore, there will be a lot of cultural challenges, which we think can either be positive or negative. Not only that, migration can also serve as an employment activity, and it has a lot of rewards, perhaps more than what is shared by the diaspora colleagues who are there and have not shared from their activities.

“Well, let me say that as a ministry, we continue to support all efforts that will ensure that migrants and internally displaced persons are also given their due consideration,” he said.

Also, the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, highlighted that migration has a dual impact, bringing about significant advantages and substantial difficulties for countries, communities, and individuals.

The Don underscored the need for a nuanced understanding of migration’s multifaceted effects, as well as the importance of developing strategies to maximize its benefits while mitigating its challenges.

He said effectively tackling migration issues requires a comprehensive and people-focused strategy that prioritizes the needs and well-being of individuals and communities affected by migration.

His words: “This means creating systems that provide safe, legal pathways for migration, protecting the rights of migrants, and addressing the root causes that compel people to leave their homes in the first place.

“It also means fostering cooperation and partnerships between countries, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector. The opportunity before us is to create a future in which migration is not seen as a threat but as a potential driver of innovation, growth, and progress.

“The problems associated with migration are indeed complex and challenging, but the prospects are equally promising. It is up to the government, institutions, communities, and individuals to shape policies that promote the potential of migration as a tool for sustainable development.”

Similarly, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said, “We are trying to bring Diaspora issues to the front burner.

“When the Minister of Health said people are coming to Nigeria for medical treatment, some people said, ‘What is he talking about?’ I can testify.

“Nigerian doctors in the diaspora are bringing hospitals back home. I know about 10 in the last few years. And guess what? People indeed are coming.

“I’m hoping to work with your Centre to put more of that together. And then we have a lot of programs—the Diaspora Day, where we come together and celebrate our diaspora; the Diaspora Investment Summit, where we gather together and show them where they can invest—and that is beginning to happen.

“The Diaspora data mapping, because data is key. We are mapping our data of the diaspora. Diaspora mapping is key.”
Earlier, the Director of the Centre, Prof. Gloria Anetor, said the institution was initially set up with a seed grant provided by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) several years ago.

While stating that the Centre has been growing steadily since its inception, Prof. Anetor expressed the need for the Centre to float postgraduate programs in migration and global studies, which can be further achieved through financial support and updates to its mandates.

She said the vision of the Centre is to serve as the bridge between humanity and the future, and its mission is to provide sustainable leverage for interdisciplinary research in migration and global studies.

“The good news is that the Centre is beginning to gain international recognition. It has recently attracted an international institution, Munich Forum Dialogue (MFD), in collaboration with the University of Krems, Austria. The university signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre to collaborate in the training of individuals in migration agencies on ‘Circular and Return Migration,'” she said.

In a presentation, the keynote speaker, Dr. Emeka Obiezu, who spoke on “Unlocking the Migration-Development Nexus: A Holistic Approach to Policy and Practice,” emphasised the need to promote healthy migration through well-thought-out laws.

The Guardian reports that the event was graced by the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono; his predecessor, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro; National Librarian of the National Library of Nigeria, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi; Chief of Mission to Nigeria, International Organization of Migration, Paola Pace, among others.