Dabiri-Erewa Urges Nigeria to Harness Global Expertise of Diaspora Professionals

Dabiri-Erewa Urges Nigeria to Harness Global Expertise of Diaspora Professionals

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria could unlock greater opportunities for national development by connecting the expertise, investments and global networks of its citizens abroad to local priorities, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has said, as she celebrated Nigerians attaining influential positions in international healthcare, academia, corporate leadership and other sectors.

Dabiri-Erewa said the achievements demonstrated the depth of talent within Nigeria’s diaspora community, stressing that the country must move beyond celebrating individual successes to building partnerships that translate their expertise into tangible benefits at home.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, she linked the achievements to President Bola Tinubu’s 4Ds foreign policy agenda of Development, Democracy, Demography and Diaspora, which recognises Nigerians abroad as strategic partners in national progress.

Among those recognised was Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, who assumed office as president of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) for the 2026–2028 term, becoming the first African and Nigerian to lead the global organisation.

Her appointment places a Nigerian at the helm of an international body focused on advancing cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and care. The role also presents an opportunity to strengthen global engagement on cancer control, including advocacy for improved access to services and better outcomes for patients.

Professor Ibrahim Abubakar was also recognised following his appointment as chief executive officer-designate of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a global partnership focused on developing vaccines and strengthening preparedness against epidemics and pandemics.

Abubakar, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at University College London and its vice-provost for health, is expected to join CEPI in March 2027 and assume the chief executive role in April. He brings more than three decades of experience spanning medicine, epidemiology, public health research and international health policy.

His appointment comes at a time when international cooperation on vaccine development and pandemic preparedness remains central to efforts to respond to emerging infectious diseases.

Dabiri-Erewa also celebrated Dr Bolu Ogunyemi, a Nigerian-born physician elected to lead the Canadian Medical Association. Ogunyemi, a clinical associate professor of medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland, became the first Black physician to head the association.

His professional experience spans clinical practice, medical education, administration and healthcare advocacy, placing him in a leadership position within Canada’s medical profession.

In academia and public service, Professor Christian Harrison was recognised for his reported appointment to the United Kingdom’s Government Skills College of Experts, which brings together academics and practitioners to provide specialist knowledge and evidence-based advice on strengthening government skills and public-sector capacity.

Ugwechi Amadi was recognised for her appointment as senior vice-president and chief strategy officer of McDonald’s, the global restaurant company. She joined the company in July after serving as executive vice-president and head of corporate strategy and development at LIV Golf.

Amadi previously held leadership roles at Nike and Boston Consulting Group. Her appointment places her in a senior corporate position involving strategy, business development and organisational growth at a major multinational company.

Dabiri-Erewa also highlighted Dr Salamat Ahuoiza Aliu-Ibrahim, Nigeria’s first female neurosurgeon, whose appointment as medical director of a children’s hospital in the United States was reported by NiDCOM and Nigerian media. Aliu-Ibrahim trained in neurosurgery in Nigeria before moving to the United States, where she now practises paediatrics.

Her career has drawn attention to the achievements of Nigerian women in highly specialised medical fields, as well as the challenges involved in retaining and supporting skilled healthcare professionals within the country.

The commission also celebrated Ifeanyi Ruth Umunna, who was elected co-president of Harvard Law School’s student government for the 2026–2027 academic year, alongside Tenzin Yonten. The student government represents students’ interests and works on issues affecting their welfare and participation in school governance.

Umunna’s election adds student leadership and legal education to the range of fields in which Nigerians are attaining positions of influence internationally.

The achievements span global health advocacy, epidemic preparedness, medical leadership, public-sector expertise, corporate strategy, specialised medicine and legal education. Together, they illustrate the breadth of professional experience within Nigeria’s diaspora community and the potential for that experience to contribute to national development.

Dabiri-Erewa called for stronger knowledge exchange, mentoring initiatives, investment partnerships and institutional cooperation between Nigerians abroad and organisations at home.

Such links could help Nigerian universities and research institutions establish international collaborations, improve professional training and widen access to specialist expertise. In healthcare, for example, partnerships with diaspora doctors and researchers could support training, research and knowledge sharing, while collaboration with professionals in corporate leadership and technology could create opportunities for investment, entrepreneurship and access to international markets.

The diaspora’s contribution to development, therefore, extends beyond financial remittances to include professional networks, specialised skills, research partnerships and the ability to connect Nigerian institutions with global opportunities.

However, converting individual accomplishments into lasting national benefits would require sustained engagement and practical arrangements through which diaspora expertise could be applied to local priorities. These could include structured mentoring programmes, research partnerships, professional exchanges and investment initiatives linking Nigerians abroad with institutions and businesses at home.

Dabiri-Erewa said the achievements aligned with Tinubu’s 4Ds foreign policy agenda, which places Development, Democracy, Demography and Diaspora at the centre of Nigeria’s international engagement.

She maintained that Nigerians abroad should be recognised not only for their individual accomplishments but also for the opportunities their expertise and global connections could create for the country.

The commission’s recognition of the professionals also highlights the role of international achievement in projecting Nigeria’s image and encouraging younger Nigerians to pursue excellence in fields where the country needs stronger expertise and institutional capacity.

For Nigeria, the broader challenge is to build enduring relationships with accomplished citizens abroad so that their experience, networks and investments can support stronger institutions, wider economic opportunities and improved public services at home.

Dabiri-Erewa Urges Nigeria to Harness Global Expertise of Diaspora Professionals