Nigeria’s digital economy could benefit significantly from deeper engagement with Nigerians living and working abroad, according to the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi.
Speaking at the Nigeria Diaspora Investment & Economic Conference (NDIEC) 2026 in Canada, Abdullahi highlighted the role the Nigerian diaspora can play in strengthening the country’s technology ecosystem through expertise, investment, global networks and access to international markets.
Rather than viewing the migration of skilled Nigerians solely through the lens of brain drain, the NITDA chief advocated for a shift towards “brain circulation” allowing Nigerians abroad to maintain their international careers while continuing to contribute skills, knowledge and connections to Nigeria.
The approach could create new channels for knowledge transfer and collaboration between Nigeria and the global technology ecosystem. Diaspora professionals with experience in international markets, emerging technologies and global businesses can potentially help Nigerian startups and technology companies access expertise, partnerships and new markets.
Abdullahi also called for a shift from dependence on diaspora remittances towards more strategic diaspora investment, particularly in technology and innovation.
The message reflects a broader question for Nigeria’s digital ambitions: how can the country turn its globally distributed talent base into an economic advantage?
For NITDA, Nigeria’s ideas, ingenuity, resilience and international connections represent valuable resources that can help strengthen the country’s position in the global digital economy.
If stronger institutional links can be built between Nigerian innovators at home and professionals abroad, the diaspora could become more than a source of remittances — it could become an important bridge for capital, expertise, technology and international market access.
