NDD 2025 Youth Empowerment Summit and National Diaspora Merit Awards Highlight Nigeria’s Drive for Youth Inclusion and Global Excellence
Maryam Aminu
The 2025 edition of the National Diaspora Day (NDD), Youth Empowerment Summit and National Diaspora Merit Awards and Dinner was held with grandeur in Abuja, drawing influential leaders, industry professionals, youth advocates, and members of the Nigerian diaspora for a day of impactful engagement and celebration.
During the morning session, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. (Dr.) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, emphasized the importance of equity, fairness, and justice in shaping a united and prosperous Nigeria.
Speaking directly to the youth, she urged them to add value to their pursuits, embrace humility, and stay true to their dreams with courage and hard work.
“Believe in yourself, be courageous, and remember that hard work pays,” she told a hall filled with young participants, urging them to be purpose-driven and resilient.
Representing the Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Dr. Jimoh Musa Yusuf lauded the summit as a crucial platform for equipping youth with essential skills for a competitive global environment.
He called for increased efforts in promoting global citizenship and leveraging the diaspora’s potential in national development.
Adding to the call for youth empowerment, the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, praised NiDCOM’s strategic focus on diaspora engagement.
He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to empowering and safeguarding the Nigerian youth, urging them to remain diligent and active contributors to Nigeria’s growth.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Alfred Okoigun, Group Managing Director of Arco Group Plc, underscored the transformative power of dedication, discipline, and private sector involvement in youth development.
He highlighted Arco Group’s investments in STEM education as a way of equipping the next generation for future opportunities.
STEM advocate and U.S. Presidential Award recipient, Mrs. Voke Ogueh, also called for deliberate national investment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, particularly among youth and women.
She emphasized the role of innovation and digital literacy in closing the global opportunity gap and fostering inclusive development.
The session concluded with a resounding call for policy frameworks that integrate diaspora skills and expertise into Nigeria’s national development strategy, reimagining the Nigerian diaspora not just as supporters, but as co-architects of national progress.
The evening event transitioned into a night of celebration as NiDCOM hosted the 2025 National Diaspora Merit Awards and Dinner, honouring distinguished Nigerians in the diaspora for their outstanding contributions across various fields.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, commended the awardees and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to addressing diaspora challenges.
He described the diaspora community as partners in national development and promised the creation of more strategic platforms for engagement.
“Our foreign missions have improved on customer services, and we are working to further institutionalize diaspora engagement,” he said, congratulating the honorees and urging them to remain exemplary ambassadors of Nigeria.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa applauded the recipients for their remarkable achievements and highlighted the growing impact of diaspora remittances and knowledge transfer to the Nigerian economy.
She expressed gratitude to the Local Organising Committee and partners for their support in making the event a success.
This year’s recipients of the National Diaspora Merit Award include:
Prof. Akintunde Akinade: Scholar and diaspora advocate
Hon. Bobby Digi: Community leader in the U.S.
Engr. Oluyemi Ogundele: Technologist and innovator
Prof. Hauwa Ibrahim: Renowned legal scholar
Mrs. Voke Ogueh: STEM leader and mentor
Engr. Alfred Okoigun: Industrialist and philanthropist
Prof. Adam Abba-Aji: Mental health expert
Capt. Adebanke Osilaja: Trailblazing pilot and the first female to fly the Dreamlifter Boeing 747-BAS
