The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has committed to sustained collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Students to improve welfare, consular services and institutional support for Nigerian students studying overseas, following a strategic engagement between both parties in Abuja.

The meeting brought together ministry officials and a NANS delegation led by the association's Director of Diaspora and International Students Affairs, Daniel Oyeniyi. The Minister of Foreign Affairs was represented by the ministry's Assistant Director, Ezinne Osigwe.

Oyeniyi told the ministry that many Nigerian students in the diaspora had been left without adequate institutional support, describing the gap between the ministry and overseas student communities as a pressing concern.

"I expressed my deep concern over the disconnect between the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian students in the diaspora. I also expressed my dissatisfaction with the manner in which Nigerian students abroad are often treated and pointed out that there are inadequate provisions to cater for their overall welfare," he said.

NANS proposed collaboration across multiple areas, including student welfare and protection, enhanced consular services, student data and engagement, policy advocacy, career and professional development, crisis management, academic and international partnerships, reintegration and nation building, and regular dialogue and representation.

Osigwe assured the delegation that the ministry was fully prepared to work with NANS and accepted the proposed areas of collaboration, attributing the historical disconnect to a lack of sustained engagement rather than deliberate neglect.

"The disconnect experienced in the past was not deliberate but largely resulted from the absence of sustained engagement by the leadership of Nigerian students in the diaspora. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is fully prepared to collaborate with the leadership of NANS, particularly in advancing the interests of Nigerian students in the diaspora," she said.

Oyeniyi described the outcome of the meeting as a significant step forward and reaffirmed his commitment to bridging the gap between diaspora student communities and federal authorities.

"This newly established collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs will undoubtedly bring much needed relief to Nigerian students in the diaspora as we continue to pursue initiatives and partnerships that will make studying outside the shores of Nigeria easier and more rewarding," he said.