By Gabriel Ameh
ManagementAbuja, Jan. 20, 2026 — Nigeria and Cabo Verde have strengthened bilateral cooperation on diaspora engagement and migration management following a strategic study visit by a Cabo Verdean delegation to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in Abuja.Receiving the delegation, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, underscored the critical role of structured diaspora engagement in driving national development and urged African countries to accord greater priority to their citizens living abroad.Represented by the Secretary to the Commission, Dr Sule Yakubu Bassi, Dabiri-Erewa outlined NiDCOM’s mandate and Nigeria’s framework for diaspora engagement, highlighting the National Diaspora Policy as the guiding document that provides clear direction for diaspora relations, investment, and national participation.She disclosed that Nigeria observes July 25 annually as National Diaspora Day and has institutionalised the National Diaspora Merit Awards to recognise outstanding contributions by Nigerians in the diaspora.Dabiri-Erewa also identified the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) as a key platform for mobilising diaspora and foreign investments while creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs. She added that the Diaspora Youth Summit has played a significant role in engaging younger Nigerians abroad, fostering a better understanding of the country, and identifying pathways for national contribution.Emphasising the importance of inter-agency collaboration, she noted that NiDCOM works closely with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to address migration management and combat trafficking in persons.The NiDCOM Chairman further stressed the need for state governments to appoint State Diaspora Focal Point Officers (SDFPOs) to strengthen grassroots-level diaspora engagement, noting that every Nigerian in the diaspora traces their roots to a specific state.She added that maintaining a strong media presence across print, electronic, and digital platforms is essential for enhancing public awareness and effective communication of diaspora-related initiatives.On future plans, Dabiri-Erewa revealed that NiDCOM is exploring scholarship and exchange programmes that would enable young Nigerians to study and gain exposure through diaspora-based institutions. While acknowledging funding constraints, she stressed that innovative and non-traditional funding approaches remain vital to sustaining diaspora initiatives.Speaking on behalf of the Cabo Verdean delegation, Mr Omaru Djalo Abreu, Project Manager at the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), said Cabo Verde has an estimated two million citizens living abroad, whose contributions across socio-cultural, economic, and financial sectors have significantly supported national development.He noted that the Cabo Verdean diaspora has played a crucial role during national emergencies, including support provided during the COVID-19 pandemic and other periods of national need.Abreu also highlighted similarities between both countries in diaspora data mapping systems, cultural exchange programmes, and heritage-based tourism initiatives. He referenced Cabo Verde’s Diaspora Museum, while Nigeria’s Badagry Door of Return and the Slave Trade Museum in Badagry were cited as key historical and cultural sites connecting the diaspora to their roots.Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to sustained collaboration and the exchange of best practices to strengthen diaspora engagement as a tool for inclusive and sustainable development.The study visit comprised a joint delegation from Cabo Verde, including representatives of migrant management institutions and the National Observatory on Trafficking in Persons.
