By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has selected Professor Hakeem Ibikunle Tijani, a Nigerian academic based in the United States, for the 2026 National Diaspora Merit Award (NDMA) in recognition of his contributions to the education sector.
The commission announced the honour in a statement issued on Saturday. It also confirmed that the decision was communicated in a letter dated May 22, 2026. The letter was signed by NiDCOM Secretary Sule Bassi on behalf of the Commission’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
According to the commission, the Federal Government set aside July 25 as National Diaspora Day to acknowledge the contributions of more than 20 million Nigerians living abroad to the country’s development.
NiDCOM said the annual event provides an avenue for networking, advocacy, and celebrating the achievements of Nigerians in the diaspora.
The letter explained the basis for the award. It stated, “This National Diaspora Merit Award (NDMA) therefore is predicated upon recognizing and celebrating Nigerians in Diaspora who have excelled in their various fields of endeavours and contributing to the overall development of Nigeria.”
The commission added that Professor Tijani was chosen because of his outstanding contributions to education.
NiDCOM also invited the professor to participate in the National Diaspora Day celebrations and the award presentation.
The invitation read: “This is an invitation to be part of the National Diaspora Day 2026 celebrations, scheduled to hold on the 24th and National Diaspora Merit Award on 25th July 2026.
“The events will be at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, by 15:00hrs (WAT) on Friday the 24th of July 2026 and the National Diaspora Merit Award by 17:00hrs (WAT) on Saturday, 25th of July, 2026 respectively.”
The commission further advised prospective participants to register for the events through its official website.
