By Iyiola Olalere
Thirty-two outstanding Nigerians in the diaspora, organisations, and distinguished individuals have been honoured at the 2026 National Diaspora Merit Awards, organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
The personalities were honoured in recognition of their exceptional contributions to national development and their remarkable achievements across diverse sectors globally.
The awards ceremony, held as part of the 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration in Abuja, brought together government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners, and Nigerians in the diaspora to celebrate excellence, patriotism, and service to the nation, this was disclosed in a statement by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Head, Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit
NiDCOM),
Presenting an overview of the awards, the Secretary to the Commission, Engr. (Dr) Sule Yakubu Bassi, said the National Diaspora Merit Awards were established to identify, recognise, and celebrate Nigerians in the diaspora who continue to make remarkable impacts in their professions and communities while projecting Nigeria positively on the global stage.
According to him, the 2026 award recipients were recognised for their outstanding contributions in Medicine and Healthcare, Leadership Development, Education, Science and Technology, Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Engineering, Economics, Philanthropy, Politics, Media and Entertainment, Oil and Gas, Sports, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Bassi congratulated the award recipients, describing them as worthy ambassadors whose achievements reflect the resilience, excellence, innovation, and patriotism of Nigerians across the world.
He urged the awardees to continue striving for excellence in their respective host countries while remaining committed to contributing their expertise, knowledge, and resources towards Nigeria’s development.
He also encouraged other Nigerians in the diaspora to emulate the exemplary achievements of the recipients, stressing that their success demonstrates the immense potential of Nigerians abroad.
Bassi emphasising the importance of sustained diaspora engagement, adding that no foreigner will develop Nigeria for Nigerians.
He also implored diaspora citizens to remain actively interested in the affairs of their homeland by investing their skills, experience, and resources in initiatives that will accelerate national growth and development.
Representing the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, described Nigerians in the diaspora as a formidable force in Nigeria’s growth and national stability.
She commended the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and her team for consistently recognising and celebrating the invaluable contributions of Nigerians living abroad.
She congratulated the award recipients for their bravery, patriotism, and unwavering commitment to national development, while applauding their selflessness and dedication, particularly in advancing the theme of 2026 National Diaspora Day of restoring and revitalising Nigeria’s healthcare system.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the recognition of distinguished Nigerians and organisations for their outstanding contributions to national development across engineering, education, healthcare, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, technology, finance, leadership development, arts and tourism, and humanitarian service.
In recognition of their outstanding commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare sector through the Diaspora Health Initiative (DHII), several diaspora medical associations were also honoured.
They include the Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists (CANPAD), Concerned Medics Foundation (CMF), Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain (MANSAG), Nigerian Association of Medical Doctors Australia, Nigerian Doctors Forum–South Africa (NDF-SA), Nigerian Medical Association Germany (NMA-G), and DOWA.
The ceremony also featured posthumous awards presented in honour of Prof. Bola Awotedu, Dr. Uzoma Nwaubani, and Ms. Oghenetega Claire Inoni, in recognition of their enduring legacies and invaluable contributions to Nigeria’s development.
In addition , Distinguished Service Awards were presented to the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako; Hadiza Bala Usman; Mr. Haruna Kuje Anzaku; Mr. Lawal Akibu; Dr. Yakubu Gana and Prof. Is-haq Oloyede for their exemplary service, dedication, and contributions to nation-building.
The 2026 National Diaspora Merit Awards reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to recognising excellence, celebrating patriotism, and strengthening partnerships with Nigerians in the diaspora whose knowledge, investments, innovations, and humanitarian efforts continue to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s socio-economic development. FLOWERBUDNEWS