NiDCOM Boss Urges LASU Graduates to Be “Useful, Visible and Nigerian”
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has urged graduating students of Lagos State University (LASU) to pursue excellence globally while remaining firmly connected to Nigeria and contributing meaningfully to national development.
The call was contained in a statement issued by Abdur-Rahman Balogun (mnipr), Director, Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NiDCOM, Abuja, on behalf of the Commission.
Dabiri-Erewa made the call while delivering the Convocation Lecture at LASU’s 29th and 30th Convocation Ceremonies on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, with the theme, “From LASU to the World: Harnessing the Nigerian Diaspora as the 7th Region for National Development.”
Addressing the graduands, the NiDCOM boss challenged them to think globally while maintaining a strong sense of national identity, stressing that international exposure should provide opportunities to acquire knowledge, build networks and develop expertise that could ultimately benefit Nigeria.
She described the Nigerian diaspora as “Nigeria’s 7th Region,” comprising a vast and influential community with skills, knowledge, investments, expertise and global networks capable of contributing significantly to the country’s development.
According to her, the increasing global presence of Nigerians offers enormous opportunities for national development, particularly when knowledge, experience and resources acquired abroad are channelled towards nation-building.
Dabiri-Erewa, who was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by LASU in 2023, urged the new graduates to pursue excellence wherever their careers take them while maintaining a strong connection to their homeland.
She emphasised that success should not be measured solely by personal accomplishments but also by the positive impact individuals make on their communities and society.
The NiDCOM chairman challenged the graduates to deploy their skills, knowledge and international networks through investments, innovation, mentorship, knowledge transfer, partnerships and other forms of engagement capable of advancing Nigeria.
She gave the graduates a simple but powerful charge: “Be Useful, Visible and Nigerian,” urging them to become positive ambassadors of the country wherever they find themselves.
Dabiri-Erewa further noted that Nigerians in the diaspora have an important role to play in shaping the country’s future, stressing that their global experiences and connections could be leveraged to create opportunities and strengthen national development.
She urged the graduands to remain connected to Nigeria despite the direction their careers or personal journeys might take, reminding them that their achievements abroad could become valuable assets to the country.
“Be Useful, Visible and Nigerian,” she told the graduating students, encouraging them to make meaningful contributions to society and remember to give back to their country.
The convocation lecture provided an opportunity for the NiDCOM boss to highlight the strategic importance of Nigeria’s diaspora community and the need for young Nigerians to view global mobility not as a disconnection from their homeland but as an avenue for building bridges and creating opportunities for national advancement.
