Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to fully engaging Nigerians in the diaspora, assuring them that their skills, experiences, and investments are essential to the country’s transformation under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at an interactive session with the Nigerian community in the United States on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Shettima called on Nigerians abroad to remain confident in the nation’s direction.
“Each one of you has value-addition capabilities,” he said. “Your experience is not something you can buy in the market you’ve earned it. Continue to believe in Nigeria. We’re on the right track, and in time, we will occupy our rightful place among nations.”
He pointed to key macroeconomic improvements such as foreign reserves approaching $40 billion, increased revenue to state governments, and major infrastructure projects across the country. He also mentioned youth-driven initiatives like the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as proof of the administration’s focus on inclusive growth and opportunity.
Also speaking at the session, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), highlighted efforts by the Tinubu administration to make life easier for Nigerians abroad. She cited the streamlining of passport processing, the successful rollout of non-resident Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), and new investment opportunities across various sectors.
“Under this administration, it’s now easier for you to get your passport. The non-resident BVN is working you don’t need to travel home for it. Most importantly, Nigeria’s economy is being restructured and it’s a good time to invest,” she said.
Members of the diaspora expressed readiness to support national development in areas such as mining, healthcare, AI, fintech, the creative industry, and agriculture. Notable speakers, including Amazon AI engineer Adebimpe Daniels, healthcare expert Saratu Garba, and investor Idoni Matthew, applauded the government’s efforts to create a more enabling business environment.
Vice President Shettima has since proceeded to Frankfurt, Germany, where he will continue high level meetings with international development partners.
