General News
THE Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. (Dr.) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has urged Africans living abroad to embrace their role as a vital bridge connecting the continent to global opportunities through innovation, investment and knowledge transfer.
Dabiri-Erewa made the call while speaking as a special guest at the 2026 Black Engineering Week (BEW) in San Jose, California, United States, themed “Africans in Diaspora as Bridge Builders.”
According to a statement issued on Thursday by NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the NiDCOM boss challenged engineers, founders, investors and technology leaders of African descent to channel their expertise, influence and resources towards Africa’s development.
“You left the continent. But you never really left.
“You live in two worlds and refuse to choose. You connect them. That is engineering at its highest level,” she told participants.
Dabiri-Erewa rejected the long-held narrative of “brain drain,” describing Africans in the diaspora instead as a source of “brain gain” and “brain circulation,” whose contributions are advancing global technological innovation while creating new opportunities for Africa.
She identified talent, capital and credibility as the three major areas where Africans in the diaspora are making significant impact.
The NiDCOM chairman noted that although Black and African engineers remain underrepresented in Silicon Valley, they are among those developing technologies shaping the future.
She disclosed that the commission was collaborating with state governments and diaspora partners on initiatives aimed at verifying Nigerian talent, expanding remote work opportunities and facilitating recruitment of skilled Nigerian professionals by international companies.
On economic development, Dabiri-Erewa highlighted the enormous potential of diaspora remittances, saying that funds sent home by Nigerians abroad could become a major catalyst for industrialisation, entrepreneurship, climate technology and venture capital if strategically invested in productive sectors.
She also emphasised the reputational value of Nigerians and other Africans occupying leadership positions in global technology companies, noting that their visibility continues to enhance Africa’s image while inspiring young innovators across the continent.
The NiDCOM boss encouraged diaspora professionals to intentionally mentor emerging talents, create jobs and invest in young entrepreneurs.
She also urged African governments to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks and establish enabling environments that would attract greater diaspora investment and participation in national development.
Dabiri-Erewa further advocated stronger partnerships between Silicon Valley institutions and African universities through expanded internships, fellowships, research collaborations and innovation programmes.
She said such initiatives could unlock opportunities for Africa’s population of more than 1.4 billion people.
According to her, Africa is well-positioned not only to produce the world’s next billion digital users but also the engineers who will develop future technological solutions.
The event featured a Founders Showcase sponsored by Adobe in partnership with San Jose State University and the Black Engineers Network.
The programme brought together engineers, investors and innovators for panel discussions, startup pitches and conversations focused on diaspora engagement.
President of the Black Engineers Association, Folarin Erogbogbo, described the event as a platform designed to accelerate Black-led innovation through a Founder Demo Showcase and judging competition where selected entrepreneurs pitched their startups before a panel of judges.
On the sidelines of the conference, Dabiri-Erewa also held talks with the Supervisor of Santa Clara County, who expressed the county’s readiness to explore partnerships with Nigerian cities, particularly in healthcare, to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation between both regions.
F.O
Tags: Africn Diaporal Dabiri Erewa