Nigeria’s Diaspora Diplomacy and Remittance Flows: Evidence from the South East Zone

This study investigates the role of Nigeria's diaspora communities in shaping the country's diplomatic identity and economic landscape, with specific focus on remittance flows originating from Igbo diaspora populations in Europe and North America and their effects on development in the South East geopolitical zone. Nigeria consistently ranks among the top recipients of diaspora remittances globally, with official estimates exceeding twenty billion United States dollars annually. Despite this, the strategic integration of diaspora networks into formal foreign policy architecture remains underdeveloped. Drawing on the concept of diaspora diplomacy and transnationalism theory, this research examines how Igbo diaspora associations have engaged with host governments, Nigerian consular services, and local development initiatives between 2020 and 2024. A qualitative methodology is adopted, incorporating interviews with diaspora association leaders and document analysis of remittance reports, policy statements, and bilateral agreements. The study focuses on the states of Enugu, Anambra, and Imo as primary receiving communities. It is expected that findings will demonstrate strong informal diaspora engagement with homeland development, alongside weak formal institutional linkages that limit the strategic foreign policy potential of this community. Recommendations address the need for structured diaspora engagement frameworks within Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Keywords: diaspora diplomacy, remittances, South East Nigeria, transnationalism, foreign policy.