Nigeria seeks to leverage diaspora expertise and EU market pathways

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has called on Nigeria to better integrate the expertise and investments of its citizens abroad to drive national development. Highlighting recent successes, she noted the appointment of Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu as president of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) for the 2026–2028 term, and Professor Ibrahim Abubakar as CEO-designate of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

Dabiri-Erewa emphasized that these achievements align with President Bola Tinubu’s 4Ds foreign policy agenda, which views the diaspora as strategic partners. She urged the nation to move beyond celebrating individual milestones toward building formal partnerships that translate global talent into domestic benefits.

In a separate development, immigration and business experts in Lagos are promoting structured entrepreneurial pathways for Nigerians to enter European markets. Firms such as O&J Capital, iworld, and Mirsatori are working to assist entrepreneurs in navigating legal and regulatory requirements to establish businesses in countries like Spain and France. These startup-based programs aim to facilitate legal entry for professionals in sectors including IT, agriculture, construction, and logistics.