JAPA, BUT DON’T LET NIGERIA LEAVE YOU - DABIRI-EREWA URGES LASU GRADUANDS

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has urged Nigerian graduates seeking opportunities abroad to embrace migration as a pathway to personal growth while remaining committed to contributing to the development of their home country.

Dabiri-Erewa gave the charge in her convocation lecture titled 8 delivered at the 29th and 30th Convocation Ceremonies of Lagos State University.

Addressing the graduands, she said Nigerians who travel abroad for education, employment or business should see themselves as part of Nigeria’s global community and use their skills, knowledge, networks and resources to contribute to national development.

“Go and learn. Go and earn. Go and excel. But remember this: You can leave Nigeria, but do not let Nigeria leave you,” she said.

According to her, migration should not automatically be viewed as a loss to Nigeria, stressing that what matters is maintaining a strong connection between Nigerians abroad and the country.

She challenged graduates to consider how their expertise could be deployed to support development in Nigeria even when they live outside the country.

“Can the Nigerian who leaves still contribute to Nigeria? Can the engineer in London work with an engineering firm in Lagos? Can the doctor in Toronto share knowledge with a hospital in Nigeria? Can the technology professional in California mentor young Nigerians here?” she asked.

Dabiri-Erewa described the Nigerian diaspora as the country’s “7th Region”, comprising more than 20 million Nigerians living, studying, working and doing business across the world.

She clarified that the 7th Region was not a geographical or additional geopolitical zone, but a global Nigerian community with significant human capital, financial resources, expertise, networks and international connections.

The NiDCOM boss said Nigeria’s diaspora potential should not be measured solely by the remittances sent home, noting that Nigerians abroad possess skills and professional expertise capable of contributing significantly to the country’s development.

She disclosed that Nigerians in the diaspora sent home more than $20 billion in remittances last year, but stressed that the country could gain much more by leveraging the knowledge, technology, professional networks and investment opportunities available within the diaspora community.

According to her, Nigerians abroad are contributing across sectors including medicine, engineering, academia, technology, finance, research and entrepreneurship.

She noted that some professionals could contribute without returning permanently through virtual mentoring, research collaborations, professional exchanges, medical interventions and partnerships with Nigerian institutions.

Dabiri-Erewa also highlighted NiDCOM’s efforts to strengthen diaspora engagement through its mandate to “Engage, Empower and Enable” Nigerians living outside the country.

She said the commission was creating platforms to connect Nigerians abroad with opportunities at home, while working with states to establish Diaspora Desks and facilitate knowledge transfer.

She cited the National Diaspora Day, Diaspora Merit Awards and Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit among initiatives designed to deepen engagement and encourage investment and knowledge transfer.

“We are no longer saying, ‘Don’t go.’ We are saying, ‘Go, shine, remember home and go legally,’ she said.

The NiDCOM chairman further urged the graduands to become positive ambassadors of Nigeria wherever their careers take them, challenging them to change negative perceptions about the country through their conduct, achievements and contributions.

She encouraged the graduates to focus on solving problems rather than merely seeking employment, urging them to become useful, visible and proud Nigerians.

Dabiri-Erewa identified three principles for the graduates to remember as they begin their careers: “Be Useful. Be Visible. Be Nigerian.”

She urged those who remain in Nigeria to explore opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, technology, the creative industry and manufacturing, while those who travel abroad should build partnerships, share knowledge, mentor others and create opportunities for people back home.

“Some of you will travel. Some of you will stay. Both are patriotic,” she said.

She reminded the graduands that their degrees were only a foundation for their future, stressing that skills, character, consistency and service would ultimately determine the impact they make.

“Graduation is not the end. It is the launchpad,” she said, urging the graduates to use their education and opportunities to make meaningful contributions to Nigeria.

She congratulated the graduands and called on them to make the country proud wherever their journeys take them.