FG: Diaspora, Strategic Partnerships Critical to Nigeria’s Security, Prosperity

Nigeria's Federal Government is placing a strong emphasis on leveraging its diaspora and forging strategic international partnerships to enhance national security and drive economic prosperity. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, articulated this vision at a Nigerian Diaspora Economic Conference dinner in Toronto, Canada.

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Security remains a major challenge, but the current administration is doing everything humanly possible to ensure that we contain these that have been with us in multifaceted manner for the past 10 or so years.

Enikanolaiye acknowledged that security remains a significant challenge for the country, but assured that President Bola Tinubu's administration is employing all available means to address the multifaceted threats that have persisted for over a decade. He also highlighted Nigeria's entry into a "new era of partnership of strategic autonomy" with key allies, including the United States, following recent high-level engagements in Washington.

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For this government, Nigerians in the diaspora are critical assets of national development.

The minister stressed that these renewed international collaborations aim for tangible benefits for Nigerians, focusing on concrete outcomes in security, prosperity, defense, and welfare, rather than mere symbolic diplomatic ties. He emphasized that the government now views Nigerians abroad not as a consular burden, but as crucial assets for national development.

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We don’t see you as a basket case of consular burden responsibilities always in need of government’s intervention and assistance. No.

"For this government, Nigerians in the diaspora are critical assets of national development," Enikanolaiye stated. "We don’t see you as a basket case of consular burden responsibilities always in need of government’s intervention and assistance. No." Instead, he asserted, the government recognizes the diaspora as a reservoir of skilled human resources, capital, and international experience that can significantly contribute to Nigeria's development priorities.

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On the contrary, we see you as a vital human resource with huge capacities for Nigeria which government is trying to harness in terms of our national development priorities.