The head of NIDCOM to the African diaspora: you are the continent’s bridge to the world

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM),

Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa has charged Africans in the diaspora to act as the continent’s bridge to the world.

“You left the continent. But you never really left,” the Commission head said in a message delivered to a gathering of engineers, founders, investors and technology leaders in the heart of Silicon Valley, calling on Africans in the diaspora to play their role as a living bridge connecting Africa to global opportunities.

A press release by NIDCOM Director, Media, Public Relations and Protocol, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said Dabiri-Erewa spoke as a special guest at the 2026 Black Engineering Week (BEW) in San Jose, California, themed: “Africans in the Diaspora as Bridge Builders,” where she challenged diaspora professionals to channel their experience, influence and resources into innovation, investment and development on the African continent.

He said, rejecting the long-standing narrative of brain drain, he described Africans in the diaspora as “brain gainers” and “brain drainers”, arguing that their contributions are simultaneously shaping technological progress across the world and opening new doors of growth for Africa.

“You live in two worlds and you refuse to choose. You connect them. This is engineering at the highest level,” he told the audience.

Dabiri-Erewa identified three areas in which the diaspora is already making its impact felt: talent, capital and credibility. He noted that while Black and African engineers remain underrepresented in Silicon Valley, they are among those building the technologies that define the future.

He noted that NIDCOM is actively working with state governments and diaspora partners on initiatives to vet Nigerian talent, promote remote working opportunities and make it easier for global companies to recruit skilled professionals from Nigeria.

On the economic front, the NIDCOM boss highlighted the vast, largely untapped potential of diaspora remittances, saying that funds sent home by diaspora Nigerians, if channeled towards investment, could become a powerful driver for industrialisation, entrepreneurship, climate technology and venture capital investments if strategically directed into productive sectors.

He also drew attention to the reputational value of Nigerians and other Africans in leadership positions in global technology companies, underlining that their visibility continues to enhance Africa’s image and inspire the next generation of innovators across the continent.

Dabiri-Erewa urged diaspora professionals to give back with intention, encouraging them to mentor emerging talent, create employment and invest in young entrepreneurs.

She has been equally direct with governments across Africa, calling on them to dismantle bureaucratic barriers and build enabling environments that make diaspora investment and participation in national development truly attractive.

He also called for stronger collaboration between Silicon Valley institutions and African universities, urging the expansion of internships, scholarships, research partnerships and innovation programs that can unlock opportunities for more than 1.4 billion Africans.

The CEO noted that the network now works thanks to technology, innovation, capital and people. Africa, he said, is poised to produce not only the world’s next billion digital users, but also the engineers who will build solutions for the future.

The event also featured the Founders Showcase, sponsored by Adobe in partnership with San Jose State University and the Black Engineers Network, which brought together engineers, investors and innovators for panel discussions, startup presentations and diaspora-focused conversations. Black Engineers Association President Folarin Erogbogbo described it as a platform designed to accelerate Black-led innovation, culminating in a founder demo showcase and judging competition where selected founders pitched their startups before a live panel of judges.

On the sidelines of the conference, Dabiri-Erewa held discussions with the Santa Clara County Supervisor, who expressed the county’s willingness to explore partnerships with Nigerian cities, particularly in the healthcare sector, as part of efforts to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two regions.