The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has honoured 32 outstanding Nigerians overseas, organisations and individuals with the 2026 National Diaspora Merit Awards for exceptional contributions to national development and achievements across sectors globally.
Providing an overview of the awards presented in Abuja, Secretary to the Commission, Sule Bassi, said the National Diaspora Merit Awards were established to identify, recognise and celebrate Nigerians abroad who continue to make remarkable impacts in their professions and communities while promoting Nigeria’s image on the global stage.
He explained that the 2026 recipients were recognised for outstanding contributions in medicine and healthcare, leadership development, education, science and technology, agriculture, entrepreneurship, finance, engineering, economics, philanthropy, politics, media and entertainment, oil and gas, sports, and information and communication technology (ICT).
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Bassi described the awardees as worthy ambassadors of Nigeria whose achievements reflect the resilience, innovation, excellence and patriotism of Nigerians across the world.
He urged the recipients to continue excelling in their respective countries of residence while contributing their expertise, knowledge and resources towards Nigeria’s development.
He also encouraged other Nigerians in the diaspora to emulate the awardees, stressing that their accomplishments demonstrate the immense potential of Nigerians living abroad.
Emphasising the importance of sustained diaspora engagement, Bassi noted that the responsibility of developing Nigeria rests primarily with Nigerians themselves.
He called on citizens in the diaspora to remain actively involved in the country’s affairs by investing their skills, experience and resources in initiatives that will accelerate national growth.
Representing the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima, described Nigerians in the diaspora as a formidable force in the country’s growth and stability.
She commended the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and her team for consistently recognising and celebrating the invaluable contributions of Nigerians abroad.
Congratulating the award recipients, Shettima praised their patriotism, courage and unwavering commitment to national development, particularly their support for the 2026 National Diaspora Day theme of restoring and revitalising Nigeria’s healthcare system.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the recognition of distinguished Nigerians and organisations for their contributions to engineering, education, healthcare, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, technology, finance, leadership development, arts and tourism, and humanitarian service.
Several diaspora medical associations were also honoured for their commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare sector through the Diaspora Health Initiative (DHII). The associations included the Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists (CANPAD), Concerned Medics Foundation (CMF), Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain (MANSAG), Nigerian Association of Medical Doctors Australia, Nigerian Doctors Forum–South Africa (NDF-SA), Nigerian Medical Association Germany (NMA-G), and DOWA.
The ceremony also featured posthumous awards in honour of Prof. Bola Awotedu, Dr Uzoma Nwaubani and Ms Oghenetega Claire Inoni in recognition of their lasting contributions to Nigeria’s development.
In addition, Distinguished Service Awards were presented to the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako; Hadiza Bala Usman; Haruna Kuje Anzaku; Lawal Akibu; Dr Yakubu Gana; and Prof. Is-haq Oloyede for their exemplary service and commitment to nation-building.
The 2026 National Diaspora Merit Awards reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to recognising excellence, celebrating patriotism and strengthening partnerships with Nigerians in the diaspora whose investments, innovations, expertise and humanitarian efforts continue to make significant contributions to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
The awards, presented during the 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration in Abuja, brought together senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners and Nigerians in the diaspora to celebrate excellence, patriotism and service to the nation
