The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) will launch the Diaspora Home and Abroad Platform during the sixth edition of the National Diaspora Day (NDD), scheduled for July 25 and 26, 2025, at the State House Conference Centre, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the new platform is designed to provide safe, accessible, and reliable housing opportunities for Nigerians living abroad, enabling them to invest in real estate back home with confidence.
She explained that the 2025 celebration is focused on meaningful and practical engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora. According to her, Nigerians abroad remitted over $20 billion in 2024, a figure that surpassed the country’s total foreign direct investment. She emphasised that beyond the impressive remittance figures lies a vast wealth of knowledge, skills, and global exposure that must be effectively harnessed to drive national development.
Dabiri-Erewa described this year’s theme, “Optimising Formidable Diaspora Potentials for National Development and Growth,” as a reflection of Nigeria’s renewed commitment to transform diaspora contributions from mere conversations to concrete actions.
The 2025 edition of NDD is expected to draw more than 1,200 physical participants and thousands of virtual attendees from around the world. Among those expected to join the event in Abuja is a group of 25 African American visitors, symbolising a deepening connection between Nigeria and the broader African diaspora.
She further noted that NiDCOM has in recent years strengthened structured diaspora engagement through several initiatives and programmes aimed at integrating the Nigerian diaspora into the country’s socio-economic development process. These efforts include policy frameworks, strategic dialogues, and continuous engagements aimed at building trust and collaboration with Nigerian communities abroad.
As part of the two-day celebration, a Youth Empowerment Summit focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) will be held. Students from 14 schools across Abuja are scheduled to participate in this initiative. Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Mr. Abiodun Akanbi, revealed that over 500 young Nigerians are expected at the summit, which is designed to inspire innovation and future leadership among Nigerian youth.
Other major highlights of the event include plenary sessions, investment fora, and strategic networking engagements between diaspora professionals and key stakeholders in Nigeria’s public and private sectors.
The grand finale of the celebration will feature the National Diaspora Merit Awards, where distinguished Nigerians in the diaspora who have made exceptional contributions in various fields will be honoured for their efforts in promoting Nigeria’s image and development globally.
National Diaspora Day was first observed in 2005 and has since evolved into a platform for recognising and celebrating the invaluable role of Nigerians abroad in national development.
