FG Inaugurates Interface Platform to Harness Diasporeans Talents, Skills
The Federal Government has inaugurated a platform to forge connections between diasporans and local institutions, aimed at bolstering the Nigerian economy.
On Monday, the government introduced an initiative designed to harness the skills of Nigerians residing abroad to advance national development objectives in education, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEM-M).
This initiative, named the Diaspora BRIDGE Platform, is a digital innovation crafted to link Nigerian professionals living overseas with local higher education institutions for collaboration in research, teaching, innovation, and capacity building.
Diaspora BRIDGE is an integral part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, allowing diaspora professionals to register, upload their credentials, and specify their fields of interest. Conversely, Nigerian institutions can perform self-assessments, pinpoint research and teaching deficiencies, and request targeted collaborations to meet these needs.
Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, who unveiled the platform at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja, described it as “a symbol of renewed trust, a framework for revitalized partnership, and a strategic pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The platform includes features such as virtual seminar hosting, e-learning modules, collaboration tracking, and a searchable directory of experts, as well as supports project lifecycle monitoring, from proposals to execution, through integration with TERAS.
In his remarks, Shettima, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, stated: “The BRIDGE is not merely another government program; it is a deliberate effort to reconnect Nigeria’s most valuable asset, its people, regardless of their location worldwide. We are redesigning the architecture of collaboration, opening doors, and telling the diaspora, ‘You belong, you matter, and you are needed.’”
According to the Vice President, the platform will help reverse years of fragmented engagement between diaspora professionals and home institutions caused by distance, bureaucracy, and a lack of trust.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, lauded the platform as a bold and transformative step to restore Nigeria’s intellectual capital and global partnerships.
“As someone who trained in Nigeria and excelled abroad, I understand the importance of giving back. BRIDGE is our solution to converting brain drain into brain gain, connecting those who left with the institutions they once called home,” he said.
Alausa emphasized that BRIDGE would facilitate structured collaboration through teaching, mentorship, joint research, policy innovation, and project partnerships within a flexible digital environment. He revealed that the platform would also integrate with TETFund’s TERAS to ensure transparency and seamless project monitoring.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the President on Diaspora Engagement, Dr. Bayo Adedewe, who provided an overview of the program, stated that BRIDGE was rooted in President Tinubu’s vision to institutionalize diaspora contributions.
“The idea is to tap into the immense potential of our professionals abroad and create a system that ensures their contributions are structured, impactful, and aligned with national priorities,” he explained.
In her remarks, the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, praised the Ministry of Education for what she described as a game-changer that will redefine how the diaspora contributes to nation-building.
She said, “This initiative is not merely a digital hub; it’s a national bridge. We’ve spoken with the diaspora for years, but BRIDGE now provides them with a platform to engage meaningfully.
“We salute your sacrifices and urge you to share your knowledge, mentor our learners, organize workshops, and offer scholarships. Together, we will propel Nigeria forward.”
Dabiri-Erewa revealed that some Nigerian diaspora professionals have already begun donating equipment and medical resources to support local institutions. “This is our moment. Let us all seize it.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, in his goodwill message, described the platform as a necessary ideological shift that will not only strengthen the education sector but also alleviate the pressure for migration.
“This platform offers remote learning and collaboration opportunities that can keep our talents connected without necessarily relocating,” he said.
On his part, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, praised the initiative as a step toward deepening trust and shared responsibility between diaspora and local stakeholders.
“This is more than a digital platform. It’s about building national capacity by combining the power of both diasporas and locals,” Pate stated.
Also speaking, the Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, stated that the program is timely and strategic in a world where innovation moves rapidly. “Nigeria cannot afford to let brilliant minds remain disconnected. BRIDGE aligns with our ministry’s mission to enhance national research capabilities,” he said.
Representing the governors, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State said BRIDGE is “an urgent call to reconnect our diaspora with our local institutions.” He underscored the importance of preparing Nigerian graduates to not only compete globally but to become local innovators and architects of our future.
