Project – Diaspora Diplomacy and Nigeria’s International Image: An Assessment of the Contributions of the Nigerian Diaspora to National Development

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

International relations in the contemporary era extend beyond conventional state-to-state diplomacy to include interactions involving non-state actors, transnational communities, civil society organisations, businesses and citizens living outside their countries of origin. One of the increasingly important actors in this environment is the diaspora, which refers broadly to populations residing outside their country of origin while maintaining social, cultural, economic or political connections with the homeland. Diaspora communities can influence the image and interests of their countries of origin through economic activities, cultural exchanges, professional networks, political advocacy and public engagement. For Nigeria, the diaspora represents a significant pool of human, financial and intellectual resources that can be mobilised for national development and international engagement. The Nigerian National Diaspora Policy recognises Nigerians abroad as an important national asset and identifies trade, investment, entrepreneurship, job creation, skills transfer and cultural activities among areas through which the diaspora can contribute to national development (Nigerians in Diaspora Commission [NiDCOM], n.d.). This broadening of diplomatic participation has made diaspora engagement increasingly relevant to Nigeria’s foreign relations and international image.

Nigeria has historically maintained an active role in African and international affairs, with its foreign policy traditionally emphasising African unity, regional stability, decolonisation, peacekeeping and the protection of African interests. Falola (2022) notes that Nigeria’s diplomatic history has been strongly influenced by an Afrocentric orientation and its involvement in African and international institutions. However, contemporary diplomacy increasingly requires countries to engage not only governments but also foreign publics and transnational communities. In this context, the Nigerian diaspora can function as an informal extension of the country’s international presence because Nigerians living abroad interact regularly with foreign governments, businesses, universities, professional organisations, media institutions and local communities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ current 4D foreign-policy framework explicitly identifies Diaspora as one of its four pillars, alongside Demography, Development and Democracy, signalling the growing institutional importance attached to Nigerians abroad in Nigeria’s external relations (Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs [MFA], n.d.). Thus, diaspora diplomacy represents an emerging dimension of Nigeria’s broader diplomatic strategy.

Diaspora diplomacy may be understood as the deliberate engagement of citizens and communities living abroad as instruments or partners in advancing the interests, relationships and international objectives of their countries of origin. Such engagement can involve government-supported diaspora institutions, diaspora organisations, professional networks, cultural associations, advocacy activities and interactions between diaspora communities and host-country institutions. A recent study by Ameen, Arowona and Abdulquadir (2024) found that the increasing integration of Nigerian expatriates into host societies has implications for Nigeria’s foreign-policy agenda and argued that stronger institutional engagement could improve the use of Nigerian expertise and networks abroad. Similarly, a 2023 analysis of Nigeria’s foreign-policy and diaspora engagement argues that diaspora communities can constitute strategic assets for foreign-policy objectives because their cultural, economic, social and political connections may enhance Nigeria’s relationships with foreign publics and governments. These perspectives indicate that diaspora diplomacy is not limited to protecting Nigerians abroad; it can also involve mobilising their networks and influence to advance Nigeria’s international interests (Ameen et al., 2024).

The economic contribution of the Nigerian diaspora is one of the most visible dimensions of diaspora engagement and has implications for national development. Nigerians living abroad send substantial financial resources to households and communities in Nigeria, while some invest directly in businesses, real estate, education, health and other productive activities. The World Bank (2024) defines remittances as financial transfers from migrants to their countries of origin and recognises their importance to households and development in migrant-origin countries. Nigeria’s National Diaspora Policy similarly identifies remittances, foreign direct investment, entrepreneurship and job creation as important areas of diaspora contribution. Beyond financial transfers, Akanle and Ola-Lawson (2022) demonstrate that diaspora networks can influence investment decisions and facilitate business, innovation and entrepreneurship activities in Nigeria. These economic connections can contribute to national development while simultaneously strengthening the relationship between Nigerians abroad and the Nigerian state.

The contribution of the diaspora to national development also extends beyond financial remittances to knowledge, professional expertise, technology and intellectual resources. Diaspora professionals working in advanced economies may acquire specialised knowledge, technical skills, managerial experience and professional networks that can potentially be transferred to Nigeria through return migration, research collaboration, training, investment and virtual engagement. Kosokoe (2024) argues that intellectual remittances deserve greater attention because they can contribute to institution building and address deficiencies that financial resources alone may not resolve. Similarly, the National Diaspora Policy identifies knowledge and technology transfer, temporary and permanent transfer of critical skills, collaborative research and engagement of diaspora experts as important policy objectives. International migration research has also identified diaspora investment and skills transfer as potential forms of “brain gain” for countries of origin (Akanle & Ola-Lawson, 2022). Consequently, the developmental significance of the Nigerian diaspora should be understood in terms of both financial and non-financial contributions.

Diaspora communities can also influence a country’s international image through cultural representation, professional achievements, advocacy and everyday interactions with host societies. The international image of a country is shaped by how foreign publics perceive its people, culture, institutions, values, economy and conduct in international affairs. Nye’s (2004) concept of soft power emphasises the ability of states to attract and influence others through culture, values, policies and relationships rather than coercion alone. Within this framework, successful and respected diaspora communities can contribute positively to perceptions of their country of origin through professional accomplishments, cultural activities, educational exchanges and community engagement. Nigeria’s National Diaspora Policy explicitly describes Nigerians abroad as cultural ambassadors and identifies their cultural activities as a potential force for projecting a positive external image of Nigeria (NiDCOM, n.d.). At the same time, negative experiences involving Nigerians abroad, including discrimination, criminal allegations or diplomatic disputes, can create challenges for the country’s image and require appropriate institutional responses.

The diplomatic role of the Nigerian diaspora has become particularly visible in situations involving the protection and representation of Nigerians abroad. The establishment of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission provides an institutional framework for coordinating diaspora affairs, promoting diaspora contributions and responding to issues affecting Nigerians overseas. For example, Yelwa and John (2026), examining Nigeria’s response to xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa between 2015 and 2019, found that NiDCOM played an advocacy and representational role but faced constraints relating to its mandate, inter-agency coordination and institutional capacity. Such cases demonstrate that diaspora diplomacy can involve crisis response, advocacy, engagement with host governments and representation of citizens’ interests. Ameen et al. (2024) similarly found that challenges faced by Nigerian expatriates in host countries can affect Nigeria’s foreign-policy agenda, reinforcing the need for effective institutional mechanisms for diaspora engagement. Therefore, the contribution of Nigerians abroad to Nigeria’s international image and national interests depends partly on the extent to which government institutions and diaspora organisations can coordinate their activities.

Despite the growing recognition of the Nigerian diaspora as an economic, social, intellectual and diplomatic resource, questions remain concerning the extent to which diaspora contributions are effectively converted into improvements in Nigeria’s international image and national development. The National Diaspora Policy itself identifies challenges including inadequate diaspora data, coordination problems, high remittance costs, weak mechanisms for technology and knowledge transfer, and difficulties in mobilising diaspora resources for targeted investment. Akanle and Ola-Lawson (2022) also demonstrate that diaspora investment networks require appropriate relationships and structures to function effectively, while Kosokoe (2024) emphasises that intellectual remittances have been relatively neglected compared with financial remittances. More recent research on diaspora diplomacy likewise points to institutional weaknesses and poor coordination as constraints on the strategic use of diaspora engagement (Yelwa & John, 2026). These issues create a need for empirical assessment of how Nigerians in the diaspora contribute to national development and Nigeria’s international image through economic investment, knowledge and skills transfer, cultural diplomacy and international advocacy.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Nigeria possesses a large and globally distributed diaspora whose contributions extend beyond financial remittances to include professional expertise, investment, entrepreneurship, cultural representation and international networks. Nevertheless, the existence of a substantial diaspora population does not automatically guarantee that its resources will be effectively harnessed for national development or foreign-policy objectives. Nigeria’s National Diaspora Policy identifies inadequate data, weak coordination, high transaction costs, insufficient mechanisms for knowledge and technology transfer, and difficulties in mobilising diaspora resources for targeted investment as continuing challenges (NiDCOM, n.d.). Akanle and Ola-Lawson (2022) similarly demonstrate that diaspora networks are important to investment and entrepreneurship but require appropriate structures and relationships. The problem, therefore, concerns the gap between the potential resources possessed by Nigerians abroad and the extent to which those resources are systematically mobilised for Nigeria’s developmental and international objectives.

A second problem concerns the extent to which the economic contributions of Nigerians in the diaspora translate into sustainable national development. Remittances provide significant financial support to households and communities, but financial transfers alone may not necessarily produce broader structural development if they are not connected to productive investment, entrepreneurship, job creation and human-capital development. The World Bank (2024) recognises the importance of remittances to migrant-origin countries, while Nigeria’s National Diaspora Policy explicitly seeks to encourage diaspora investment, trade, entrepreneurship and job creation. Akanle and Ola-Lawson (2022) further show that diaspora networks can influence investment and entrepreneurial activities in Nigeria. However, Kosokoe (2024) argues that attention must extend beyond financial remittances to intellectual remittances because knowledge, skills and institutional expertise may also be important for long-term national development. This creates a need to assess the contribution of diaspora investment, remittances, entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer to Nigeria’s national development.

Another problem concerns Nigeria’s international image and the extent to which Nigerians living abroad contribute to or challenge the country’s external reputation. Diaspora members interact daily with foreign publics, institutions, businesses, governments and media organisations and can consequently influence perceptions of Nigeria through their professional, cultural, political and social activities. The National Diaspora Policy recognises Nigerians abroad as cultural ambassadors and identifies their potential contribution to Nigeria’s external image, while Nye’s (2004) soft-power framework highlights the importance of attraction, culture and interpersonal relationships in international influence. However, negative incidents involving Nigerians abroad may also attract international attention and create diplomatic challenges. Yelwa and John (2026), for example, found that Nigeria’s response to xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa demonstrated the diplomatic and representational importance of diaspora issues while also revealing institutional constraints. The problem is therefore to establish how cultural diplomacy, international advocacy and diaspora representation contribute to Nigeria’s international image.

Finally, there is an empirical and policy gap concerning the integrated assessment of diaspora diplomacy and national development in Nigeria. Existing studies have separately examined diaspora investment, remittances, intellectual contributions, expatriate integration and specific diplomatic interventions, but there remains a need to bring these dimensions together in an assessment of the Nigerian diaspora’s contribution to both national development and the country’s international image. Ameen et al. (2024) focus on Nigerian expatriates’ integration and implications for foreign policy, while Kosokoe (2024) examines financial and intellectual remittances, and Akanle and Ola-Lawson (2022) focus on diaspora networks and investment. The 2023 analysis of Nigeria’s foreign policy and diaspora engagement further identifies the diaspora as a potential strategic asset for foreign-policy objectives, but notes the importance of deliberate government-diaspora collaboration. Consequently, this study seeks to assess diaspora diplomacy in terms of economic investment and remittances, knowledge and skills transfer, cultural diplomacy, and international advocacy/representation, and to determine their contributions to Nigeria’s national development and international image.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The general objective of this study is to assess the contributions of the Nigerian diaspora to national development and Nigeria’s international image through diaspora diplomacy.

The specific objectives are to:

1. examine the contribution of diaspora remittances and investment to national development in Nigeria;
2. assess the contribution of knowledge and skills transfer by Nigerians in the diaspora to national development;
3. determine the contribution of cultural diplomacy and diaspora cultural activities to Nigeria’s international image; and
4. examine the contribution of international advocacy and representation by Nigerians in the diaspora to Nigeria’s international image and national interests.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions will guide the study:

1. To what extent do diaspora remittances and investment contribute to national development in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does knowledge and skills transfer by Nigerians in the diaspora contribute to national development?
3. To what extent do cultural diplomacy and diaspora cultural activities contribute to Nigeria’s international image?
4. To what extent do international advocacy and representation by Nigerians in the diaspora contribute to Nigeria’s international image and national interests?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

The following null hypothesis will be tested at the 0.05 level of significance:

H₀: There is no significant relationship between diaspora diplomacy and Nigeria’s national development and international image.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study will be significant to the Federal Government of Nigeria because it will provide evidence concerning the potential contribution of Nigerians living abroad to national development and foreign-policy objectives. The findings may assist policymakers in strengthening institutional arrangements for diaspora engagement, investment mobilisation, knowledge transfer and international advocacy.

The study will also be useful to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM). The Commission has a statutory and policy-related role in coordinating diaspora affairs and promoting the participation of Nigerians abroad in national development. The findings may assist the Commission in identifying areas where diaspora engagement can be strengthened and better coordinated.

The study will be relevant to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad. Diaspora communities can interact with host-country institutions and foreign publics and may therefore complement conventional diplomatic efforts. The findings may provide useful information on how diaspora advocacy, cultural engagement and representation can support Nigeria’s external relations.

The study will benefit Nigerians in the diaspora and diaspora organisations by highlighting their potential contributions beyond remittances. It will draw attention to the importance of investment, professional expertise, cultural exchange, advocacy, technology transfer and international networking as possible channels of national development and international image-building.

The study will also be important to private-sector organisations, investors and development agencies because diaspora networks may facilitate business partnerships, investment, entrepreneurship, innovation and professional exchanges between Nigeria and other countries. Evidence from Akanle and Ola-Lawson (2022) demonstrates the relevance of diaspora networks to investment and business activities.

Furthermore, the study will contribute to academic literature in international relations, diplomacy, migration studies, development studies and political science. It will bring together economic, intellectual, cultural and diplomatic dimensions of diaspora engagement rather than treating diaspora contributions exclusively in terms of remittances.

Finally, the study may serve as a reference for future researchers investigating diaspora diplomacy, soft power, international image, migration and national development in Nigeria and other developing countries.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study focuses on Diaspora Diplomacy and Nigeria’s International Image: An Assessment of the Contributions of the Nigerian Diaspora to National Development.

Conceptually, diaspora diplomacy will be examined through four dimensions: diaspora remittances and investment, knowledge and skills transfer, cultural diplomacy and diaspora cultural activities, and international advocacy and representation. The study considers these dimensions in relation to national development and Nigeria’s international image.

The study covers Nigerians living outside the country who maintain economic, professional, cultural, social or institutional connections with Nigeria, as well as relevant Nigerian institutions responsible for diaspora affairs. The study is primarily concerned with the contributions and engagement of the Nigerian diaspora rather than the migration experiences of Nigerians who have permanently severed links with Nigeria.

The study does not attempt to measure every aspect of Nigeria’s foreign policy or international reputation. Rather, it focuses specifically on the role of diaspora diplomacy and the contributions of Nigerians abroad to national development and Nigeria’s external image.

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

Diaspora: Nigerians who live outside Nigeria but maintain meaningful social, cultural, economic, professional or other forms of connection with the country and may contribute to its development.

Diaspora Diplomacy: The deliberate engagement of a country’s diaspora as participants, partners or channels for advancing national interests, foreign-policy objectives, international relationships and national development.

International Image: The perceptions and representations of Nigeria held by foreign publics, institutions and international actors concerning the country’s people, culture, values, institutions, economy and conduct in international affairs.

National Development: The improvement of a country’s economic, social, human, technological, institutional and infrastructural conditions and the expansion of opportunities that contribute to the well-being of its population.

Diaspora Remittances: Financial resources transferred by Nigerians living abroad to individuals, households, communities, organisations or productive activities in Nigeria.

Diaspora Investment: Financial or entrepreneurial resources committed by Nigerians living abroad to businesses, infrastructure, real estate or other productive activities in Nigeria.

Knowledge Transfer: The movement or sharing of professional knowledge, expertise, research findings, technical information and institutional experience from Nigerians abroad to individuals and organisations in Nigeria.

Skills Transfer: The transmission or application of specialised professional and technical competencies acquired by Nigerians abroad to Nigerian institutions, businesses, universities, government agencies or other organisations.

Cultural Diplomacy: The use of cultural activities, exchanges, values, arts, education, traditions and cultural relationships to promote understanding and favourable relations between Nigeria and foreign publics.

International Advocacy: Efforts by Nigerians abroad or diaspora organisations to communicate, promote or defend Nigeria’s interests, policies, citizens or causes within host countries and international institutions.

Diaspora Representation: The activities through which Nigerians abroad or recognised diaspora organisations communicate the interests, concerns, achievements or perspectives of Nigerians to foreign governments, institutions and publics.

1.9 Organisation of the Study

The study is organised into five chapters.

Chapter One presents the introduction, background to the study, statement of the problem, objectives of the study, research questions, research hypothesis, significance of the study, scope of the study and operational definition of terms.

Chapter Two reviews relevant literature on diaspora diplomacy, Nigeria’s international image and the contributions of Nigerians in the diaspora to national development. The chapter will contain the conceptual review, theoretical review, empirical review, research gap and summary of the reviewed literature.

Chapter Three presents the research methodology. It will discuss the research design, population of the study, sample size, sampling technique, research instrument, validity and reliability of the instrument, method of data collection and method of data analysis.

Chapter Four presents the analysis and interpretation of data obtained from respondents. It will provide answers to the research questions and test the research hypothesis at the 0.05 level of significance.

Chapter Five presents the summary of findings, conclusion and recommendations. It will also provide suggestions for further research.

Project – Diaspora Diplomacy and Nigeria’s International Image: An Assessment of the Contributions of the Nigerian Diaspora to National Development