Raji to Spotlight Diaspora, Knowledge and Global Partnerships at LASU Convocation Lecture

As Lagos State University (LASU) hosts its Combined 29th and 30th Convocation Lecture today, Tuesday, August 18, 2026, the Member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tasir Olawale Raji, MHR, is expected to lead a thought-provoking conversation on the strategic role of the Nigerian Diaspora in national development.

The lecture, themed “From LASU to the World: Harnessing the Nigerian Diaspora as the 7th Region of National Development,” is expected to draw attention to the enormous human, intellectual, professional and economic resources possessed by Nigerians living and working across the globe.

Rep. Raji is expected to make the case for a broader understanding of the Nigerian Diaspora, moving beyond the traditional focus on financial remittances to recognise Nigerians abroad as critical partners in knowledge transfer, technology, research, investment, innovation, professional expertise and global networking.

The engagement will also examine practical ways Nigerian universities can deepen their relationships with the Diaspora through research partnerships, mentorship programmes, international collaborations, technology transfer, entrepreneurship and stronger global alumni networks.

A key message from the lecture is expected to be that Nigerians who travel abroad should not become disconnected from the development aspirations of their home country. Rather, their exposure to global knowledge, technology and opportunities can become an important asset for national transformation.

For LASU graduates, the message is particularly significant: going from LASU to the world should not mean leaving Nigeria behind; it should mean taking Nigeria’s potential to the world and bringing global knowledge, networks and opportunities back home.

The lecture is also expected to highlight the importance of developing a more deliberate national framework for engaging Nigerians in the Diaspora in sectors such as healthcare, education, science and technology, investment, creative industries and entrepreneurship.

With artificial intelligence, global mobility and borderless knowledge rapidly transforming the global economy, the initiative presents an opportunity to rethink Nigeria’s Diaspora policy and strengthen the connection between the country’s domestic institutions and its citizens across the world.

The proposed approach seeks to build a Nigeria where geographical distance does not translate into developmental disconnection, but instead becomes a bridge for exchanging ideas, expertise, investments and opportunities.

The Combined 29th and 30th Convocation Lecture therefore promises to be more than an academic engagement. It is expected to provide a platform for reimagining the relationship between Nigeria and its Diaspora while encouraging LASU graduates and Nigerians worldwide to become active partners in building a more innovative, prosperous and globally connected nation.

Kaka Babatunde, Senior Legislative Aide on Media and Youth Affairs, Epe Federal Constituency.