Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening protection for its citizens living abroad while strategically harnessing diaspora contributions for national development.

Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, gave the assurance while serving as Co-Chair of Roundtable 3 on Diaspora Engagement at the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF 2026), held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States.

The Minister noted that Nigeria’s diaspora remains a critical partner in driving inclusive growth, contributing significantly through remittances, investment, skills transfer, and innovation. He emphasized that the Federal Government is actively repositioning its engagement strategy to better integrate diaspora contributions into national development frameworks.

According to him, “platforms such as the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit and diaspora-focused financial instruments are being leveraged to promote investment and facilitate skills transfer.”

He explained that these initiatives are part of a broader effort to ensure that diaspora engagement translates into measurable socio-economic outcomes.

Dr. Doro further stated that “these efforts reflect a strategic shift towards recognizing diaspora communities not merely as beneficiaries of protection systems, but as active partners in development.”

He added that Nigeria’s experience, alongside those of other countries, provides valuable entry points for strengthening systems, improving coordination, and scaling impact across migration governance frameworks.

The Minister underscored the importance of moving beyond fragmented approaches to humanitarian and migration interventions, calling for more coordinated, systems-driven responses.

“This roundtable provides an opportunity to reflect on how we can collectively strengthen preventive protection mechanisms, deepen partnerships, and adopt innovative approaches that bridge policy commitments with practical implementation,” he said.

He also urged stakeholders to engage actively in shaping forward-looking solutions, noting that “As we begin our discussions, it is important to share concrete experiences, identify scalable solutions, and contribute to building a more proactive, inclusive, and development-oriented migration system.”

The Minister reiterated that Nigeria’s position aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes inclusive growth, strengthened global partnerships, and expanded opportunities for all Nigerians, including those in the diaspora.

He concluded by expressing optimism for the outcomes of the Forum, stating that Nigeria remains committed to building a more inclusive, coordinated, and development-driven migration system that safeguards its citizens and maximizes the potential of its diaspora for national transformation.

The International Migration Review Forum (IMRF 2026) is held from May 5–8. It is a primary intergovernmental platform for reviewing progress on the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).

The Forum brings together Heads of State, policymakers, development partners, civil society organisations, academia, and the private sector to advance global cooperation on migration and adopt a Progress Declaration to guide future actions.
By Kehinde Akintola
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