By Mondy Gold

Together, we gather not merely as speakers, but as torchbearers of transformation, united by a common mission to reimagine governance, justice, and inclusion for Nigeria and the African diaspora. It is in this spirit, and with a deep sense of duty and patriotic conviction that I rise to address a matter that can no longer be treated as peripheral to national policy or relegated to ceremonial lip service. The future of Nigeria as a competitive global power depends not only on the decisions made within our borders but also on the deliberate engagement, empowerment, and inclusion of our citizens across the world.

Nigeria’s diaspora represents one of the most vibrant and resourceful communities of Africans outside the continent. They are not just migrants; they are innovators, investors, scholars, healthcare professionals, engineers, cultural ambassadors, and thought leaders. They remit more than 20 billion dollars annually to our economy, often exceeding foreign direct investment and oil revenue. These remittances support millions of families, fund education, build homes, and even sustain local governments in remote areas.

Yet, despite this immense contribution, the Nigerian government, particularly over the past eight years, has continued to treat the diaspora as an afterthought, failing to implement constitutional reforms, neglecting statutory obligations, and deliberately undermining the operational effectiveness of critical institutions such as the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM). The persistent refusal to constitute its governing board, as mandated by law, is emblematic of a broader pattern of disengagement and institutional disregard.

Let us interrogate the numbers and the practices of other nations to fully grasp the magnitude of what we are losing due to this neglect.

Mexico, with a population of 130 million and a diaspora of approximately 38.8 million people, received 68.2 billion dollars in remittances in 2024. The Philippines, with 117 million citizens, attracted 40 billion dollars. Pakistan, a country of 240 million people, secured 33 billion dollars in diaspora inflows. Bangladesh, with 173 million people and a diaspora of merely 8 million, pulled in 27 billion dollars, nearly a third more than Nigeria, despite our diaspora being more than double in size.

Bangladesh achieved this by establishing a fully functioning Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, which coordinates job placements abroad, regulates remittance channels, supports diaspora investments, and protects the rights of Bangladeshi citizens overseas through labor attachés and legal support desks at consulates.

In Canada, a G7 nation with only 4 million of its 40 million citizens living abroad, the government maintains a Ministry for Global Affairs that includes a specific division for diaspora engagement. This division ensures Canadian citizens abroad are protected, empowered, and consulted in shaping national policies that affect them. It supports Canadian businesses led by diaspora members, offers re-integration programs, promotes bilateral trade rooted in diaspora business networks, and includes diaspora voices in foreign policy consultations.

What then is Nigeria’s excuse? We have over 20 million Nigerians living abroad and by far the largest African diaspora, but we have no Ministry, no comprehensive framework, and no effective investment infrastructure to channel their goodwill, financial strength, and global expertise into the Nigerian project.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), a well-conceived agency established by an Act of the National Assembly, still operates without a governing board, years after its legal creation. The absence of a board violates the enabling Act, undermines accountability, and renders the Commission toothless in critical areas of policy coordination and diaspora protection. This omission is not merely bureaucratic negligence, it is a signal to the diaspora that they are not taken seriously.

Furthermore, our airports, supposed to be the national gateways, are scenes of humiliation for many returning diaspora citizens. Over 90 percent report instances of extortion, rude treatment, and poor service delivery. The inauguration of a VIP lounge may appear to be a gesture of goodwill, but comfort for the few does not replace justice and decency for the many. Dignity for the diaspora must be embedded into operational standards, not reserved for elites.

Nigeria must do what is long overdue. First, we must constitutionally guarantee the right of Nigerians in the diaspora to vote in national elections. Many nations have implemented digital voting platforms, postal ballots, and embassy-based voting to ensure their diaspora remains politically relevant. There is no legal or technological barrier that Nigeria cannot overcome in implementing this. The only barrier is political will.

Second, we must immediately constitute the board of NIDCOM as provided by law. The Board must include diaspora leaders, private sector representatives, and experts in global migration, diplomacy, and development. Their task must be to build a comprehensive national diaspora strategy that integrates financial, cultural, academic, and entrepreneurial engagement.

Third, Nigeria must create a Ministry of Diaspora Affairs with full cabinet status. This Ministry must have authority across foreign affairs, finance, education, commerce, and justice. It must support diaspora business registration and licensing in Nigeria through digital portals, offer diaspora bonds and structured savings instruments, create matching grant programs to attract joint investment in infrastructure and SMEs, and ensure legal protections against land and investment fraud.

In practical terms, diaspora engagement should include:
1.⁠ ⁠Creating an automated diaspora investment portal backed by Nigerian banks with diaspora desks.
2.⁠ ⁠Establishing diaspora business summits in key global cities to connect Nigerian entrepreneurs abroad with local government investment opportunities.
3.⁠ ⁠Launching diaspora-focused education funds for scholarships and university development.
4.⁠ ⁠Promoting dual-citizenship policies for second-generation Nigerians born abroad to retain their allegiance to Nigeria.

Above all, we must stop reducing our diaspora to remittance senders. They are nation builders. They are policy influencers. They are Nigeria’s best foot forward on the global stage.

This is not just a policy question. It is a matter of national honor. To ignore the diaspora is to silence the voices of millions who still carry Nigeria in their hearts, despite the odds. To neglect their engagement is to forfeit billions in investment and goodwill that our struggling economy desperately needs. And to continue operating as though the diaspora is optional is to betray the very spirit of a nation that seeks global greatness.

Let us begin a bold new chapter, one inscribed not just with rhetoric but with resolve. Let us act with courage, with foresight, and with an unshakable belief in the boundless potential of all Nigerians, whether they walk the sandy roads of Torugbene or stride the polished halls of Harvard, whether they call Bayelsa home or build bridges in Berlin, whether their roots are in Kano or their dreams bloom in Kuala Lumpur. Every Nigerian everywhere is a vital thread in the fabric of our collective destiny.

It is time to offer the diaspora more than applause. It is time to offer them a seat at the table of national development. In this age, the strength of nations is measured not only by what lies within their borders but also by the power of their global connections. Let us not merely celebrate our diaspora. Let us empower them. Let us honor their sacrifices with policies that reflect their value and presence. Let Nigeria rise to meet this moment, not tomorrow, not in the next fiscal quarter, but now. The future is waiting, and it is ours to shape together.

Professor Mondy Gold is the Chairman, BOT of the Ijaw Diaspora Council, Fellow, Chartered Institute of Leadership and Governance, and Former Chairman, BOT (NADECO) USA, wrote in from New Jersey, United States of America (USA).