Diaspora Engagement and National Development in Nigeria: A Multidimensional Analysis

Nigeria has a relatively high diaspora population globally. This population possesses diverse, significant, and valuable resources and transnational networks that are not only strategic and relevant to, but also constitute considerable potential for, national development. These resources can be effectively harnessed for sustainable national development through appropriate engagement mechanisms. Consequently, this study interrogates the relationship between diaspora engagement and national development in Nigeria from a multidimensional perspective. The study was guided by two research questions and employed a qualitative research design, relying on secondary sources of data and the application of thematic content analysis as its method of analysis. The study adopted a dual theoretical framework comprising Diaspora Engagement Theory and Transnationalism Theory. The findings of the study revealed that although the Nigerian diaspora has made appreciable contributions to national development, these contributions remain fragmented and uncoordinated due to certain systemic and structural challenges. In order to convert Nigeria’s untapped and underutilised diaspora potential into concrete development outcomes, the study recommends, among others, strengthening Nigeria’s diaspora governance architecture, including the formalisation and institutionalisation of Public-Private-Diaspora Partnerships (PPDPs) in Nigeria.