The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering innovation, youth entrepreneurship, and diaspora engagement with the successful hosting of the second edition of the Connected Diaspora Innovation Challenge under its Home Strings Programme.
The event, themed “Building, Breaking & Believing in Nigeria,” called on Nigerians in the diaspora to leverage their expertise and global exposure to contribute meaningfully to national development. Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, who served as Special Guest of Honour, emphasized that innovation, youth empowerment, and diaspora collaboration are vital tools for nation-building. Drawing from personal experience, he highlighted the racial challenges faced abroad and explained his decision to return home to make a positive impact.
Keynote speaker Mr. Leo Stan Eke, Chairman of Zinox Group, urged young Nigerians to invest in homegrown solutions that address local challenges while remaining globally competitive. In her remarks, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, stressed the importance of skills transfer, collaboration, and collective responsibility in nation-building, noted that the country remains open to partnerships in technology, entrepreneurship, and other sectors.
The programme featured panel discussions moderated by Nosa Okunsebor, Co-Founder of Connected Diaspora, with panelists including Adesuwa Okunbo-Rhodes, Preston Ideh, Subuola Adeleye, Chime Nwoka, and Siji Abere, who explored entrepreneurship, innovation, and building sustainable businesses in Nigeria.
A highlight of the event was the awarding of ₦1 million first-place prize of the DOWA Start-Up Challenge to Team VeriProp, while Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa received the Mipad Diaspora Champion Award from Kamil Olufowobi, founder of Most Influential Persons of African Decade (Mipad).
Representatives from the Bank of Industry, First Bank, Lagos State Diaspora Office, youth leaders, and diaspora stakeholders delivered goodwill messages, emphasizing collective efforts in driving Nigeria’s development.
The event convened government officials, diaspora leaders, entrepreneurs, and young Nigerians from across the globe, underscoring NiDCOM’s dedication to strengthening diaspora engagement, empowering youth, and driving inclusive national development through innovation.
