The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has praised the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) for its sustained collaboration with Nigeria in promoting safe and orderly migration.
She gave the commendation during a courtesy visit by the Head of ICMPD Mission in Nigeria, Ms. Isabelle Wolfsgruber, to NiDCOM headquarters in Abuja.
Dabiri-Erewa described ICMPD as a vital partner since the Commission’s inception, particularly in areas of migration governance and diaspora engagement. She highlighted the urgency of their joint efforts, noting that over 6,000 Nigerians have been repatriated this year alone due to irregular migration despite repeated warnings.
“These figures reflect why we must intensify our campaign against irregular migration and invest more in providing sustainable alternatives,” she said.
She emphasized the need for structured planning, inclusive diaspora policies, and strengthened international collaboration to address the root causes of unsafe migration. Dabiri-Erewa also presented ICMPD with a copy of the Commission’s Voluntary Assets and Skills Placement for Returnees (VASP-R) policy, currently under review to broaden its impact.
In response, Ms. Wolfsgruber lauded NiDCOM’s proactive stance on diaspora affairs and reaffirmed ICMPD’s commitment to supporting migration governance in Nigeria.
She commended Nigeria’s diaspora for their immense contributions—not just financially through remittances but also through their knowledge, skills, and networks.
“You highlighted at the last diaspora summit that remittances are more than financial—they are intellectual and structural. That’s the real engine of development,” Wolfsgruber said.
She assured that ICMPD will continue engaging donors and partners to align with NiDCOM’s strategic objectives, noting that “this is not just about funding, but about building a system that works.”
