By Ismail Azeez
The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has stated that Nigerians in the diaspora have an important role to play in shaping the country’s future through investments, innovation, and other forms of engagement.
The NiDCOM boss made the call while delivering the convocation lecture at the 29th and 30th Convocation Ceremonies of Lagos State University on Tuesday, themed “From LASU to the World: Harnessing the Nigerian Diaspora as the 7th Region for National Development.”
According to a statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols at NiDCOM, there is a need to promote knowledge transfer, mentorship, and partnerships to connect Nigeria to the world.
Addressing the students, the NiDCOM boss encouraged them to think globally while remaining firmly connected to Nigeria, stressing that international exposure should serve as an avenue for acquiring knowledge, building networks, and creating opportunities that can ultimately benefit the country.
She described the Nigerian diaspora as Nigeria’s “7th Region”, a vast and influential community endowed with skills, knowledge, expertise, investments, and global networks capable of contributing significantly to national development.
According to her, the increasing global presence of Nigerians presents enormous opportunities for the country, particularly when the knowledge, experiences, and resources acquired abroad are channeled toward nation-building.
Dabiri-Erewa, who was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by the institution in 2023, urged the graduates to pursue excellence wherever their journeys take them, while maintaining a strong sense of responsibility and connection to their homeland.
She called on the graduating students of Lagos State University (LASU) to step into the world with purpose, excellence, and a strong sense of national identity, urging them to act as ambassadors of Nigeria wherever they go.
She further challenged the graduates to deploy their skills, knowledge, and networks to make tangible contributions to national development, emphasizing that success should not be measured solely by personal achievement, but also by the impact individuals make on society.
The NiDCOM boss concluded by urging the new graduates to “Be Useful, Visible, and Nigerian,” encouraging them to remain positive ambassadors of Nigeria across the globe.