The Unveiling and Rebranding Nigeria Initiative (URNI) and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) announced their collaboration on Sunday to embark on a campaign to mobilise its estimated 17 million citizens living abroad, in a bid to reshape the country’s international image and accelerate national development through diaspora engagement. This collaboration will mark what officials describe as a transformative partnership aimed at projecting Nigeria’s positive attributes on the global stage.
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The initiative comes at a time when Nigeria seeks to leverage its significant diaspora population—one of Africa’s largest—for economic development, cultural diplomacy, and international reputation management.
URNI has been building international partnerships to support its mission, including recent collaborations with diaspora-based organisations such as the Friends of Nigeria (FON) in Europe, co-chaired by John Okoro in France. These alliances are designed to strengthen cultural exchange and channel diaspora resources toward Nigeria’s developmental priorities.
Retired Brigadier-General Buba Shajiaba, URNI’s Board of Trustees Chairman, stated the organisation’s commitment to “reshaping narratives about Nigeria through cultural diplomacy, youth engagement and diaspora mobilisation.”
NIDCOM Secretary Dr. Sule Bassi highlighted the untapped potential within Nigeria’s diaspora community, particularly in areas of investment, innovation, and diplomatic engagement. He called for closer alignment between URNI’s programmes and NIDCOM’s established initiatives to maximise synergy and impact.
“Nigeria’s diaspora community has vast potential in investment, innovation and diplomacy,” Bassi stated, describing the partnership as crucial for building international confidence in the country.
As part of the collaboration launch, URNI presented its inaugural publication, “Faces of Patriotism,” which spotlights exemplary Nigerians making positive contributions both domestically and internationally. The organisation also unveiled its comprehensive strategic roadmap for national rebranding efforts.
Shajiaba praised NIDCOM Chairman Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for her leadership in advancing the welfare and empowerment of Nigerians abroad, noting that the Commission’s work in diaspora investment, advocacy, and policy development aligns closely with URNI’s vision of building a globally respected Nigeria.
URNI, established in 2007 as a grassroots organisation focused on fostering national pride, views this partnership as essential to uniting Nigerians worldwide around shared development goals. The collaboration is expected to create new pathways for diaspora contribution to national progress while simultaneously improving Nigeria’s international standing.
Both organisations have committed to showcasing Nigeria’s strengths and talents on the global stage, with officials expressing confidence that the combined effort will generate meaningful results in national rebranding and development initiatives.
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