The Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has called on Nigerians in the Diaspora to engage in strategic partnerships to enhance digital technology in Nigeria.
She made this appeal during a visit to the NiDCOM Headquarters in Abuja by Prof. Adedeji Badiru, a retired Systems Engineer from the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology.
Dabiri-Erewa praised Prof. Badiru’s impressive career, noting it as a prime example of the remarkable contributions Nigerians abroad are making across various fields. “You, Prof., represent the very best of Nigeria,” she remarked.
The NiDCOM Chairman emphasized the need for more Information and Communication Technology (ICT) experts like Prof. Badiru, especially as Nigeria advances in systems engineering. She highlighted the potential benefits of his expertise in data analytics for building an efficient data mapping system at NiDCOM and urged him to mentor young Nigerians.
In response, Prof. Badiru expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to engage with NiDCOM and shared his willingness to contribute more frequently to Nigeria following his retirement. He also reflected on his previous efforts to support education in Nigeria, including donating technical books and facilitating partnerships between the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology and the Airforce Institute of Technology in Kaduna, Nigeria.
Prof. Badiru, a systems engineering pioneer with roots in Lagos, spent over 45 years in the United States. He is credited with founding the Systems Engineering department at the University of Lagos, earning him the title “Father of Systems Engineering” in Nigeria. He expressed his readiness to collaborate with NiDCOM in knowledge-sharing initiatives aimed at furthering Nigeria’s technological advancement.
