Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye have strengthened bilateral relations with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening cooperation on diaspora affairs.
The agreement was signed on behalf of Nigeria by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, while Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed for the Turkish government. The signing took place during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Türkiye.
Speaking during a visit to Türkiye’s Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) in Ankara, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the MoU as a major milestone under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She noted that the agreement is the first bilateral MoU of its kind signed by NiDCOM in its six years of existence.
According to her, the MoU provides a structured framework for cooperation through knowledge sharing, exchange of experiences, and adoption of best practices in diaspora engagement.
The agreement also promotes mutual visits, joint programmes, meetings, and conferences to enhance institutional collaboration between both countries.
Key areas of cooperation outlined in the MoU include diaspora participation in policy formulation and implementation, promotion of diaspora investment, educational, sports and cultural development, and collaboration in science and technology.
Other focus areas included sharing best practices in diaspora engagement, provision of protection and welfare services for citizens abroad, support for cultural and educational exchanges, and encouragement of economic partnerships.
Speaking on behalf of Türkiye, Abdulhadi Turus, Head of the Ministry of Turks Abroad and Related Communities, expressed appreciation for the partnership and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to closer collaboration with Nigeria on diaspora matters.
He described the agreement as a strategic step toward strengthening ties between Turkish and Nigerian diaspora communities worldwide.
Turus also disclosed that hundreds of Nigerian students have benefited from the Türkiye Scholarships Programme since 1992, with thousands currently studying in the country.
The MoU marks a new chapter in Nigeria–Türkiye relations and reflects both countries’ commitment to harnessing the potential of their diaspora communities for mutual development.
As part of the official engagements, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa also met with members of the Nigerian community in Ankara, alongside the Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Türkiye, Ambassador Zayad Abdulsalam, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. John Owan Enoh, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on International Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaye.
Discussions at the meeting focused on passport renewal processes, post-study visa challenges, and ease of doing business. Nigerians in Türkiye were encouraged to remain good ambassadors of the country and to deploy their skills and resources towards national development.
The engagement further reinforced the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing the concerns of Nigerians in the diaspora and strengthening their contribution to national growth.
