The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) is set to host the 2025 edition of the National Diaspora Day (NDD) and the 3rd National Diaspora Merit Awards (NDMA) from July 25 to 26, 2025, in Abuja.
The two-day event will be held in a hybrid format at the State House Conference Centre, Presidential Villa, allowing participation from both local and global audiences.
Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this during a World Press conference at the commission’s headquarters, emphasised that this year’s theme, “Optimising Formidable Diaspora Potentials for National Development and Growth,” reflected a strong national commitment to deepen diaspora engagement beyond rhetoric.
“Our diaspora community, numbering over 20 million, remains one of our most underutilised assets. In 2024 alone, remittances exceeded $20 billion, surpassing foreign direct investment. But beyond the figures lie immense reservoirs of skills, networks and goodwill that can drive transformative development,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
The NiDCOM boss highlighted key achievements including the establishment of State Diaspora Focal Point Officers, the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit, National Diaspora Policy, and the ongoing Data Mapping Project. She also announced the launch of the “Diaspora Home and Abroad Housing Platform” aimed at addressing housing challenges and fostering diaspora investment in real estate.
Speaking on the event line-up, she revealed that thematic sessions, panel discussions, mentorship programmes, strategic dialogues and cultural exhibitions will feature prominently. The National Diaspora Merit Awards will recognise distinguished Nigerians in the diaspora for their outstanding contributions in diverse fields including health, education, governance, and innovation.
Registration remain open via www.nidcom.gov.ng/diasporaday, though physical registration has closed. Virtual participation is still available, with over 10,000 global attendees anticipated.
In his remarks,Abiodun Akanbi, Head of Programmes and Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chairman, added that the celebration is segmented into three major components: the National Diaspora Day on Friday, July 25 (3 p.m. start); the Youth Empowerment Summit on Saturday morning, focusing on STEM education and national development; and the Grand Finale – the National Diaspora Merit Awards – at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 26, with over 1,200 guests expected in-person and thousands more virtually.
In closing, Dabiri-Erewa thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support for diaspora initiatives and called on Nigerians to embrace the event as a collective national effort to “reconnect, reimagine and rebuild” the nation through active diaspora collaboration.
“This is not just an annual celebration; it’s a movement toward structurally embedding the diaspora in our development journey,” she said.
