The newly appointed Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Nigeria, Dimanche Sharon, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to deepening collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration, as well as enhance diaspora engagement.
Sharon gave this assurance during a courtesy visit to the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
Commending NiDCOM’s initiatives, Sharon described Nigeria’s migration and diaspora management frameworks as models worthy of emulation across Africa. She emphasised the critical role the Nigerian diaspora plays in national development, particularly through remittances.
“Migration, when well-managed, is a powerful catalyst for sustainable development,Nigeria received $20.1 billion in diaspora remittances in 2022 alone, accounting for 38 percent of Sub-Saharan Africa’s total. This underscores the value of the diaspora’s contribution”Sharon said.
She noted IOM’s willingness to scale up its strategic collaboration with NiDCOM in ways that will add value to national efforts and ensure better outcomes for Nigerians within and outside the country.
Over the years, IOM and NiDCOM have worked together on initiatives aimed at the safe return and reintegration of stranded Nigerians, especially during emergencies and humanitarian crises.
In her remarks, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa welcomed the new IOM Chief of Mission and expressed optimism that the long-standing relationship between both organisations would grow stronger and more impactful.
She identified priority areas for partnership, including the review and implementation of Nigeria’s Diaspora Policy, capacity-building opportunities for NiDCOM staff, study tours for institutional learning, joint campaigns against irregular migration, and continued synergy with the Standing Committee on Diaspora Matters.
Dabiri-Erewa stressed that migration should be seen through a development lens and reiterated NiDCOM’s resolve to collaborate with IOM to achieve shared goals for the benefit of Nigerians at home and abroad.
The visit marked a significant step in reinforcing bilateral cooperation between NiDCOM and IOM, aimed at ensuring that migration contributes meaningfully to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
