Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has urged stakeholders to strengthen regular migration pathways to boost labour mobility and reduce the risks associated with irregular migration.
Speaking during a keynote address at the ongoing Rabat Process Thematic Meeting on Migration and Development, held under Nigeria’s Chairmanship, Dabiri-Erewa emphasized the importance of sustained public awareness and education on legal migration frameworks. The conference, themed “Youth, Education and Innovation: Driving the Future of Migration,” is part of the Euro-African Dialogue on Migration and Development.
She noted that while the Nigerian government continues to fight irregular migration, there is a need for increased collaboration in providing safe, legal, and beneficial migration options especially for the youth.
Highlighting the contribution of Nigerians living abroad, Dabiri-Erewa said the diaspora community over 20 million strong remitted around $20 billion to the country in 2024. This figure, she noted, represents 5.7% of Nigeria’s GDP and is 11 times greater than the foreign direct investment received by the country in the same year.
“Youths must be included in every stage of migration policy and implementation,” she said, adding that NiDCOM has developed dedicated initiatives for diaspora youth under its Home Strings programme.
The Rabat Process is a multilateral platform fostering dialogue between European and African countries on migration and development challenges and solutions.
