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[Dr. Juwon Fayomi @JuwonFayomi]

NIGERIA NEEDS A PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER FOR STUDENTS AND YOUTHS IN THE DIASPORA.

By Dr. Juwon Fayomi

Leadership offers many lessons, but perhaps its greatest privilege is the opportunity to listen. As I conclude my tenure as Global President of Nigerian Students in Diaspora, I leave with a deep appreciation for the resilience, brilliance, and patriotism of thousands of young Nigerians pursuing education and careers across the globe. I also leave with one unmistakable conviction: Nigeria is yet to fully harness one of its greatest strategic assets, its students and young professionals in the diaspora.

Every year, thousands of Nigerians leave the country to study in universities, undertake research, acquire specialised skills, or build careers in medicine, engineering, technology, academia, business, and other professions. Far from abandoning Nigeria, many remain deeply connected to home. They establish Nigerian student associations, organise cultural events, support new arrivals, mentor younger students, build international research collaborations, promote Nigeria's image abroad, and actively seek opportunities to contribute to national development.

In many respects, they serve as Nigeria's unofficial ambassadors.

Yet, despite their growing numbers and strategic importance, Nigerian students and youths abroad remain one of the least represented constituencies in national policymaking. There is no dedicated office within the Presidency through which they can consistently engage government, share their experiences, or contribute ideas that could strengthen national development.

This gap deserves urgent attention.

Nigeria has made commendable progress in diaspora engagement. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has worked tirelessly to strengthen relations with Nigerians overseas, protect their interests, encourage investment, and promote diaspora participation in national development. Likewise, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, and Nigerian diplomatic missions continue to perform important responsibilities within their respective mandates.

However, none of these institutions has a primary responsibility to focus specifically on Nigerian students and young professionals abroad.

This distinction matters.

Students and young professionals constitute a unique segment of the diaspora. Their needs differ significantly from those of established professionals, investors, or long-term migrants. They require support relating to education, research collaboration, career development, innovation, leadership, mental wellbeing, and transition into global labour markets. More importantly, they represent the future intellectual and professional leadership of Nigeria.

Despite this, many government initiatives targeting young people rarely extend meaningfully to Nigerians studying overseas.

A practical example is the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). The initiative represents a landmark investment in expanding access to higher education within Nigeria. Yet Nigerian students enrolled in recognised institutions abroad are currently outside its scope. Whether or not the programme is eventually expanded internationally is a separate policy discussion. The more fundamental issue is that there is currently no dedicated institutional mechanism responsible for consistently engaging Nigerian students abroad, understanding their realities, and presenting evidence-based recommendations to government.

Similarly, many youth empowerment programmes understandably focus on domestic participants, leaving limited opportunities for diaspora youth engagement despite the expertise, international exposure, and networks that young Nigerians abroad possess.

This is why Nigeria should consider establishing the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Nigerian Students and Youths in the Diaspora.

Such an office would not duplicate the responsibilities of NiDCOM or any ministry.