Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
The All Progressives Congress (APC) South-West youth leadership has opened registration for a virtual diaspora dialogue designed to connect Nigerians living abroad with development opportunities, professional knowledge exchange and mentoring initiatives.
The inaugural South-West Youth Diaspora Dialogue and Development Forum is scheduled to take place virtually on October 24, 2026, bringing together Nigerians in the diaspora and other interested participants for discussions on how skills, professional experience and international networks can contribute to development in Nigeria.
The organisers say the 90-minute virtual town hall will focus on practical ways of moving diaspora engagement beyond discussion and towards structured contributions to Nigeria’s development.
APC Youth Leadership Launches Diaspora Forum
The initiative is being convened by Adesuyi Daramola, the APC South-West Youth Leader, with Ambassador Jesugbamigbe Daniel Fadipe, Coordinator of Diaspora Engagement in the office of the APC South-West Youth Leader, coordinating the programme.
The organisers have described the event as an effort to create a structured platform where Nigerians abroad can share professional experience, exchange ideas and explore areas where diaspora expertise could support development initiatives in Nigeria.
The forum is themed “Connecting Nigerians Abroad for a Stronger Nigeria: From Questions to Practical Actions.”
That theme reflects the organisers’ stated intention to move beyond general conversations about the Nigerian diaspora and focus instead on practical mechanisms through which Nigerians outside the country can contribute knowledge, skills and professional networks.
According to the programme details, registration is currently open to prospective participants.
Mentoring and Knowledge Exchange at the Centre
One of the principal areas highlighted by the organisers is mentoring.
The proposed dialogue is expected to explore ways experienced professionals and Nigerians with specialised knowledge abroad can contribute to mentoring and skills development for people in Nigeria.
The initiative also identifies knowledge exchange as another major area of focus.
For many Nigerian professionals living outside the country, international experience can provide exposure to different approaches to business, technology, education, healthcare, governance and other areas of professional development.
The forum seeks to create a channel through which some of that experience can be shared more systematically.
The organisers have also mentioned defined professional assignments and structured areas of collaboration as possible approaches to diaspora engagement.
Organisers Emphasise Practical Contributions
Rather than limiting the programme to speeches or general discussions, the organisers say the forum will examine practical pathways for diaspora participation.
These include mentoring, professional knowledge exchange, verification of opportunities and responsible participation in development initiatives.
The emphasis on structured participation is significant because diaspora engagement can take several forms, ranging from financial remittances and investment to skills transfer, professional partnerships, research collaboration and mentoring.
A more organised framework could potentially help match people with relevant expertise to institutions, businesses, organisations and individuals that need such knowledge.
However, the success of such an initiative will ultimately depend on how effectively ideas discussed during the virtual meeting are converted into measurable programmes and sustained partnerships.
Forum Open Beyond Political Affiliation
Although the initiative is being organised through the APC South-West youth structure, the organisers have said the forum is open to Nigerians irrespective of political or professional affiliation.
The organisers say the emphasis is on constructive engagement and practical contributions to national development.
That distinction is important in understanding the initiative.
The forum has a political origin because it is being convened by an APC youth leader, but its stated participation framework extends beyond party membership.
For the programme to attract a broad range of professionals and diaspora Nigerians, its ability to maintain a development-focused conversation across political and professional differences will be important.
Diaspora engagement can involve people with different political views, professional backgrounds and experiences, making inclusiveness a key consideration for any platform seeking to mobilise expertise for national development.
Why Diaspora Expertise Matters
Nigeria has a large population of citizens living and working outside the country, including professionals in sectors such as medicine, engineering, technology, finance, academia, law, business and public policy.
Many maintain connections with communities and institutions in Nigeria even while building careers abroad.
Beyond financial remittances, diaspora Nigerians can contribute through skills transfer, investment, professional networks, research partnerships and mentoring.
Existing diaspora initiatives across different political and civic organisations have also focused on strengthening connections between Nigerians abroad and development activities at home.
For example, the APC’s United States chapter describes diaspora engagement as a mechanism for connecting Nigerians abroad with national development, while political organisations outside the APC have similarly promoted diaspora participation and skills transfer.
The broader challenge is creating systems that make such contributions sustainable rather than dependent on occasional events.
From Dialogue to Practical Action
The October forum’s emphasis on moving “from questions to practical actions” points to one of the central challenges facing diaspora engagement initiatives.
A virtual meeting can create connections, generate ideas and identify areas of interest, but its longer-term value depends on what follows.
Possible outcomes could include professional mentoring relationships, knowledge-sharing programmes, partnerships between Nigerian organisations and diaspora professionals, or referrals to credible development and investment opportunities.
The organisers have specifically identified defined professional assignments and verification of opportunities among the areas to be discussed.
That approach could help reduce the gap between people willing to contribute and organisations that require particular expertise.
It could also provide a more structured way of identifying professionals whose experience is relevant to specific development needs.
Diaspora Participation and Nigeria’s Development
The planned dialogue comes at a time when conversations around diaspora participation in Nigeria’s political, economic and social development remain significant.
Nigerians living abroad contribute to the country’s economy through remittances, investment and other forms of financial support. Their potential contribution, however, extends beyond money.
Professionals abroad can provide access to international networks, technical knowledge and experiences from different institutional environments.
For younger Nigerians, mentorship can also provide access to career guidance and professional networks that may otherwise be difficult to obtain.
A structured diaspora engagement model could therefore potentially connect these resources with specific needs in Nigeria.
The challenge remains ensuring that such engagement is transparent, accountable and focused on identifiable outcomes.
Political Context of the Initiative
The forum should also be understood within the wider political context of Nigerian parties increasingly engaging citizens outside the country.
Political parties have maintained diaspora structures in different countries, while party-linked organisations have used international networks for communication, mobilisation and engagement.
The APC South-West youth initiative is therefore part of a broader environment in which Nigerian political organisations seek stronger relationships with citizens abroad.
However, the organisers’ decision to describe the event as open to Nigerians irrespective of political or professional affiliation gives the programme a wider stated development focus.
For Weng Global, the distinction between political affiliation and development participation remains important.
Participation in a development-oriented forum does not necessarily amount to political endorsement, and claims about the programme’s impact should be assessed based on its actual outcomes rather than its political origins.
What Participants Can Expect
The forum is expected to run for approximately 90 minutes.
Participants will have an opportunity to hear discussions around diaspora engagement and explore possible areas of collaboration.
The organisers have identified several areas that could form part of the conversation, including:
- Mentoring and professional guidance
- Knowledge exchange
- Structured professional assignments
- Verification of opportunities
- Responsible diaspora participation
- Collaboration on development initiatives
The exact outcomes will depend on the discussions and commitments reached during the event.
At this stage, the available reporting confirms the date, format, theme and broad objectives, but does not establish that specific development projects have already been approved as a direct result of the forum.
What Happens Next?
The immediate next step is continued registration ahead of the October 24 virtual forum.
The organisers are expected to use the period before the event to engage prospective participants and build interest among Nigerians living across different countries.
The effectiveness of the programme will become clearer after the dialogue, particularly if participants move from general discussions to identifiable mentoring relationships, professional collaborations or development initiatives.
Follow-up mechanisms will therefore be important.
If the forum generates commitments but lacks a system for monitoring implementation, its impact could remain limited to a single virtual conversation.
If, however, the organisers establish clear channels for matching expertise with development needs, the initiative could provide a useful framework for sustained diaspora engagement.
Why It Matters
The South-West youth diaspora dialogue matters because Nigeria’s relationship with its citizens abroad increasingly extends beyond remittances.
The country has a significant pool of Nigerians with professional experience in different parts of the world. Harnessing that expertise requires more than asking people to contribute; it requires mechanisms that connect their skills with credible opportunities.
Mentoring can help young Nigerians gain professional guidance. Knowledge exchange can expose institutions and businesses to international experience. Professional assignments can create practical partnerships, while verified opportunities can reduce uncertainty around participation.
The planned forum provides one platform for exploring those possibilities.
Its long-term significance, however, will depend on whether the organisers can turn the proposed dialogue into sustained engagement and measurable results.
Weng Global Perspective
The APC South-West youth leadership’s planned diaspora forum presents an opportunity to examine how Nigerians abroad can contribute to development through expertise, mentoring and professional collaboration.
While the initiative is being convened through an APC youth structure, the organisers say participation is open beyond political and professional affiliations.
The October 24 virtual meeting will therefore provide an opportunity to test whether a politically affiliated platform can facilitate a broader development conversation capable of attracting diverse Nigerian professionals abroad.
For the initiative to achieve lasting relevance, the emphasis will need to remain on practical outcomes.
Connecting Nigerians abroad with opportunities to mentor, share knowledge and contribute professional expertise can be valuable. But the real measure of success will be whether those connections produce sustained partnerships and tangible benefits for people and institutions in Nigeria.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
The Guardian
All Progressives Congress USA Chapter
