Nigeria, Türkiye Ink Game-Changing Diaspora Pact During Tinubu’s Visit

By Linda Ike

Nigeria and Türkiye have sealed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to supercharge diaspora ties, marking the first such bilateral deal for Nigeria’s NiDCOM in its six-year history.

Signed in Ankara on February 2, 2026, during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit, the agreement was inked by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, and Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

NiDCOM Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa hailed it as a milestone under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, enabling knowledge sharing, joint programs, and best practices on diaspora engagement.

Key focus areas include boosting diaspora input in policy, investment promotion, education, sports, culture, science, technology, and welfare services for citizens abroad while encouraging economic partnerships.

Abdulhadi Turus, Head of Türkiye’s Presidency for Turks Abroad (YTB), praised the pact’s potential to unite Nigerian and Turkish diaspora communities globally, noting thousands of Nigerian students benefiting from Türkiye Scholarships since 1992.

Dabiri-Erewa also engaged Ankara’s Nigerian community alongside key officials, addressing passport renewals, post-study visas, and business ease, urging them to drive national development as proud ambassadors.

This MoU heralds a bold new era in Nigeria-Türkiye relations, unlocking diaspora potential for shared prosperity.