US-based Nigerian prof bags NiDCOM diaspora merit award

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has named Professor Hakeem Tijani, a Nigerian academic based in the United States, as a recipient of the National Diaspora Merit Award (NDMA) 2026 in recognition of his contributions to education.

This was detailed in a release shared with PUNCH Online on Saturday and titled, “NiDCOM confers National Diaspora Merit Award on US-based Nigerian professor.”

The commission conveyed the decision in a letter dated May 22, 2026, signed by its Secretary, Sule Bassi, on behalf of the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

According to the letter, the Federal Government designated July 25 as National Diaspora Day to recognise the contributions of more than 20 million Nigerians living abroad to the country’s development.

The commission described the annual event as a platform for networking, advocacy and celebration of Nigerians in the diaspora.

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Explaining the basis for the award, the letter 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 said Tijani was selected as a deserving recipient in recognition of his contributions to education.

Inviting him to the ceremony, the letter stated: “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 also advised intending participants to register for the events through its official website.

Tosin Oyediran

Tosin Oyediran is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over eight years of professional experience in reporting and storytelling. He is known for conducting incisive interviews and producing compelling human-angle stories that bring clarity and depth to the news. Tosin covers a broad range of beats including politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment, with a strong focus on people-centred reporting. His work reflects firsthand newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a commitment to accurate, engaging, and trustworthy journalism.