A subtle significant message emerged from the 2026 AfroEuropa Gala & Awards Night in London, where the Chairperson/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, called on Nigerians at home and abroad to work together as the Tinubu administration pursues what she described as its renewed agenda.
The fifth edition of the AfroEuropa Gala & Awards Night was held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at The City Pavilion in Romford, London, under the theme “Fostering a United & Flourishing Community for Future Generations.”
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a goodwill message delivered to guests and award recipients, emphasised the importance of solidarity, inclusion and collective responsibility among Nigerians across the world.
She praised Nigerians in the diaspora for serving as ambassadors of the country through their conduct, contributions and efforts to preserve Nigerian culture abroad.
“Whatever you do, how you comport yourselves will reflect on how the country you live in, or how the world sees Nigerians,” she said, while commending members of the diaspora for celebrating Nigerian culture and creativity and bringing people from different walks of life together.
The NiDCOM boss also congratulated the recipients of the AfroEuropa awards and pointed them towards the Nigerian government’s annual Diaspora Day celebrations and the National Diaspora Merit Awards, which recognise outstanding contributions by Nigerians living outside the country.
She described NiDCOM as the “embassy” of Nigerians in the diaspora in Nigeria, saying the commission remained committed to engaging, empowering and interacting with Nigerians abroad so they could participate in programmes and policies concerning the country.
A notable reference came when Dabiri-Erewa spoke about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and its “Renewed Hope”
“As Mr. President embarks on his renewed agenda, you know, which involves, of course, you, the diaspora, we need to work together, Nigerians at home and Nigerians in the diaspora, to ensure that we build the best country in the world,” she said.
Her remarks placed the Nigerian diaspora firmly within the administration’s development agenda, particularly as the government continues to emphasise the role of Nigerians abroad in national development.
Dabiri-Erewa’s comments also come against the backdrop of growing efforts by the Nigerian government to strengthen diaspora engagement, investment and participation in national development.
Rather than viewing Nigerians abroad as disconnected from the country, she urged them to maintain their relationship with Nigeria, invoking the familiar saying: “No matter how far a river flows, it cannot cut off from its source.”
The message resonated with the central purpose of the AfroEuropa platform, which was established to celebrate diversity, promote social cohesion and create opportunities for Nigerians and other communities in Europe to connect and contribute positively to society.
The 2026 gala brought together community leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, diplomats and other distinguished guests for an evening combining cultural celebration, networking and recognition of individuals making contributions to their communities.
AfroEuropa, organised by Charming Production Limited, publishers of Charming Magazine, has grown into an annual platform for celebrating Nigerians and other Africans in the diaspora while promoting peaceful coexistence, cultural appreciation and community development.
Dabiri-Erewa’s appearance therefore added a strong Nigeria-Diaspora dimension to the fifth-anniversary celebration, with her message centred on the idea that physical distance should not sever Nigerians’ connection to their homeland or their responsibility to contribute to its future.