Nigeria has placed its citizens squarely at the centre of foreign policy, with the Federal Government viewing the nation's vast population and global diaspora as crucial development drivers. Sola Enikanolaiye, minister of state for foreign affairs, made this clear at the National Diaspora Day 2026 and Merit Award Dinner held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Enikanolaiye told the gathering of diaspora leaders, diplomats and government officials that demography now forms the backbone of Nigeria's reformulated 4-Ds foreign policy framework. The four pillars—demography, development, democracy and diaspora—prioritise ensuring that external relations deliver concrete benefits to ordinary Nigerians.
He stressed that every diplomatic move must produce measurable socio-economic gains for citizens. The government has redesigned its foreign policy to focus primarily on Nigerian welfare, he said.
The National Diaspora Day celebration, according to the minister, signals government determination to tap into the expertise, capital and global connections of Nigerians abroad. This fresh approach challenges the long-held view that migration drains the nation of talent.
Migration should be seen as a channel for talent circulation and knowledge exchange, Enikanolaiye argued. He praised diaspora members for supporting both their host nations and Nigeria through investments and skills transfer.
On remittance flows, the minister noted that official estimates of $21.8 billion yearly and $6 million monthly don't capture the full picture. Substantial sums travel through informal pathways, he explained.
Better systems are needed to direct diaspora money into productive economic sectors, Enikanolaiye said. This would unlock the full development potential of these funds.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry treats Nigerians overseas as strategic diplomacy partners, not simply consular matters, he noted. Their contributions extend far beyond cash transfers into innovation, technology sharing and international partnerships that boost Nigeria's global influence.
Enikanolaiye linked the country's economic reforms directly to the demography pillar of foreign policy. Government efforts to improve the business climate and expand economic capacity aim to benefit from diaspora skills and investment.
The minister expressed confidence that recent reforms are stabilising the economy. These changes should steadily improve living standards under the Renewed Hope Agenda, he added.
He urged diaspora Nigerians to remain united regardless of ethnic or regional backgrounds. They represent the true face of the nation abroad, he said.
The international community should not judge all Nigerians by the actions of a handful, Enikanolaiye appealed. Drawing on his diplomatic posts in Canada and the United Kingdom, he pledged the ministry would strengthen ties with Nigerian communities globally.
