By Peter Omopo
Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye have strengthened bilateral relations in diaspora affairs with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing cooperation and engagement between both countries.
The agreement was signed on behalf of Nigeria by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, while Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs executed the pact for the Turkish government. The signing took place during the state visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Türkiye.
The MoU followed a visit to Nigeria’s diaspora counterpart agency in Ankara, the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa. She described the agreement as a major milestone under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, noting that it is NiDCOM’s first bilateral agreement since its establishment six years ago.
According to Dabiri-Erewa, the MoU provides a structured framework for cooperation through knowledge sharing, exchange of experience, and adoption of best practices in diaspora engagement. It also promotes mutual visits, joint programmes, meetings, and conferences to deepen institutional collaboration.
She explained that the agreement identifies several priority areas for joint action, including diaspora participation in policy formulation and implementation, promotion of diaspora investment, educational, sports and cultural development, collaboration in science and technology, protection and welfare of citizens abroad, cultural and educational exchanges, and economic partnerships driven by diaspora communities.
Head of Türkiye’s Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities, Abdulhadi Turus, welcomed the partnership and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to closer collaboration with Nigeria on diaspora-related issues. He highlighted the long-standing educational ties between both countries, noting that hundreds of Nigerian students have benefited from the Türkiye Scholarships Programme since 1992, with thousands currently studying in the country.
The MoU is expected to open a new chapter in Nigeria–Türkiye relations, reinforcing both countries’ shared commitment to leveraging the potential of their diaspora communities for mutual development and global engagement.
