NISER, NiDCOM Confirm Diaspora Study to Enhance Policy Framework for National Development
Published by Sola Akingboye, April 28, 2026
The Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), in partnership with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has initiated the validation workshop for a significant diaspora study entitled, “A Six-Continent Survey of Nigerian Professionals in Diaspora: Policy Measures for Harnessing Contributions to National Development.”
In a statement, the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols (NIDCOM) Abuja, Abdur-Rahman Balogun mnipr, said the workshop, conducted at BON Hotel, Octagon, Jahi, Abuja, assembled key stakeholders, policymakers, members of the National Assembly Committees, diaspora specialists, professional organizations, development partners, media representatives, and delegates from pertinent Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to discuss strategies for enhancing Nigeria’s interaction with its diaspora community and optimizing their contributions to national development.
In her opening remarks, the Director-General of NISER, Antonia Taiye Simbine, characterized the study as an essential move towards evidence-based policymaking and sustainable engagement with the diaspora.
She remarked that the validation workshop embodies the collective dedication of stakeholders towards promoting Nigeria’s development through informed interaction with the diaspora community, emphasizing that the substantial attendance of experts and partners highlights the significance of the initiative and the importance placed on evidence-based policymaking.
Simbine elaborated that NISER, recognized as Nigeria’s leading policy research institution, is tasked with delivering thorough, evidence-supported policy recommendations that tackle pressing socio-economic issues facing the nation. She mentioned that the Institute collaborates closely with pertinent MDAs as well as both national and international partners to achieve this objective.
As she stated, the diaspora study is directly aligned with NISER’s fundamental duty of offering policy solutions to national development challenges and was conducted in collaboration with NiDCOM as part of a mutual commitment to utilizing research for the advancement of the nation.
She pointed out that Nigeria’s diaspora community is one of the country’s most vital resources, making substantial contributions through annual remittances that exceed 20 billion US dollars, positioning Nigeria as one of Africa’s leading countries in terms of remittance inflow.
Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in the 1990s and successfully established the practice locally in Nigeria, noting that today IVF services are widely available across the country.
Mohammed stressed that Nigerian professionals often excel beyond the systems where they acquired their training, demonstrating the immense capacity and excellence of Nigerian medical practitioners globally.
He called for stronger utilisation of the expertise of Nigerian medical professionals abroad, emphasising the need for continuous knowledge exchange, professional collaboration, and what he described as “the circulation of skills” between home and the diaspora.
