Manny Ita –
Nigeria is participating in the International Migration Review Forum 2026 in New York, where government representatives are advocating for a new migration and development strategy centered on “Diaspora Investment” rather than relying solely on remittances from citizens living abroad.
At the global forum, Nigerian officials emphasized the need to reposition the country’s diaspora community as active partners in national development through structured investments, skills transfer, technology collaboration, entrepreneurship support, and knowledge exchange.
According to delegates at the summit, the new approach seeks to create stronger institutional frameworks that encourage Nigerians abroad to participate more directly in sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, technology, manufacturing, and renewable energy.
Government representatives argued that while remittances remain important to the Nigerian economy, diaspora engagement should go beyond family support and foreign exchange inflows to include long-term economic partnerships capable of driving sustainable growth and job creation.
The Nigerian delegation also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve migration governance, strengthen legal migration pathways, protect migrant rights, and deepen collaboration with international partners on issues affecting mobility, labor migration, and diaspora inclusion.
Officials noted that the country’s large global diaspora population represents a major economic and intellectual asset that can contribute significantly to innovation, investment, and national competitiveness if properly integrated into development planning.
The IMRF 2026 gathering brings together governments, international organizations, civil society groups, and migration experts from across the world to review progress on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and discuss emerging migration challenges and opportunities.
