Reclaiming The Role of The Nigerian Diaspora in Nation- Building

By Nuhu Makama
Coalition for Peace, Justice and National Stability (CPJNS)

The Nigeria diaspora represents one of our nation’s greatest untapped strengths spread across continents and excelling in diverse professions. Nigerians abroad have built reputation for brilliance, resilience and innovation. From Silicon Valley to the UK’s NHS, from global finance to the academia, the Nigeria diaspora continues to project the best of Nigerian excellence. Yet, the community must realize that with influence comes responsibility.

In an era where information travels faster than truth, the Nigeria diaspora holds enormous power to shape narratives. When such influence is deployed thoughtfully, it amplifies Nigeria’s progress and potential and inspires transformative citizenship. When it is driven by emotions or misinformation, it fuels division, damages the country’s global standing and incites citizens.

Nation-building is not a task reserved for those within the country’s borders. It is a collective project that transcends geography. The diaspora’s remittances, ideas and global exposure, are vital national assets that can drive reform, innovation, and social change if channeled constructively. What Nigeria needs from her diaspora today is partnership, not polarization; solutions, not slogans.

Constructive engagement means investing in education, technology, and enterprise at home; mentoring the next generation; promoting credible narratives that reflect Nigeria’s complexity, not its caricature. It means challenging misinformation with facts and championing peace in discourse about national issues while proferring credible policy alternatives.

Progress demands participation, not protest from afar. The diaspora can act as Nigeria’s unofficial ambassadors attracting opportunities, supporting reforms, and inspiring hope. This is how patriotism should manifest: not through agitation, but through collaboration grounded in truth and vision.

As Nigeria continues to evolve democratically, we must all embrace roles that heal and unify, not harm nor divide. Frantz Fanon in his 1961 book, “The Wretched of the Earth”, warned that “Each generation must discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it.” A caution that is re-echoed in Chinua Achebe’s “There Was A Country”, that “Every generation must recognize and embrace the task it is peculiarly designed by history and by providence to perform.” The Nigerian diaspora’s mission, now more than ever, is to build bridges of understanding, opportunity and peace.

Signed:
Nuhu Makama
Coalition for Peace, Justice and National Stability (CPJNS)
Abuja | October 14, 2025