Nigeria Pushes Stronger Diaspora Protection, Investment Drive at UN Migration Forum in New York
By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting citizens abroad and unlocking the economic potential of its diaspora community as the Federal Government intensified calls for stronger global migration governance at the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF 2026) in New York, United States.
The commitment was made by the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, while co-chairing Roundtable 3 on Diaspora Engagement during the high-level United Nations forum held at the UN Headquarters.
The position of the Federal Government was contained in a press release issued by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Janet McDickson, on May 5, 2026.
Speaking at the forum, Dr. Doro described Nigerians in the diaspora as critical partners in national development, citing their contributions through remittances, investments, innovation, and skills transfer.
He said the Federal Government is repositioning its diaspora engagement strategy to ensure that Nigerians living abroad play a more structured role in driving inclusive growth and economic transformation.
“Platforms such as the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit and diaspora-focused financial instruments are being leveraged to promote investment and facilitate skills transfer,” the Minister stated.
According to him, the initiatives are designed to ensure that diaspora engagement produces “measurable socio-economic outcomes” capable of accelerating national development.
Dr. Doro stressed that Nigeria now sees diaspora communities not only as individuals requiring protection but also as strategic development partners.
“These efforts reflect a strategic shift towards recognizing diaspora communities not merely as beneficiaries of protection systems, but as active partners in development,” he said.
The Minister also called for more coordinated and systems-driven approaches to migration governance and humanitarian interventions, warning against fragmented responses to global migration challenges.
“This roundtable provides an opportunity to reflect on how we can collectively strengthen preventive protection mechanisms, deepen partnerships, and adopt innovative approaches that bridge policy commitments with practical implementation,” he noted.
He urged governments, development partners, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders participating in the forum to focus on practical and scalable solutions that would improve migration governance globally.
“As we begin our discussions, it is important to share concrete experiences, identify scalable solutions, and contribute to building a more proactive, inclusive, and development-oriented migration system,” he added.
Dr. Doro further stated that Nigeria’s migration and diaspora policies align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusive growth, stronger international partnerships, and expanded opportunities for Nigerians both at home and abroad.
The Minister expressed optimism that deliberations at the forum would strengthen international cooperation on migration issues while helping countries develop more effective systems for protecting migrants and maximizing diaspora contributions.
The International Migration Review Forum (IMRF 2026), which runs from May 5 to 8, serves as the principal global platform for reviewing the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).
The forum brings together Heads of State, policymakers, development partners, civil society organisations, academics, and private sector leaders to advance international cooperation on migration and adopt a Progress Declaration to guide future global actions.
