The Nigerian Centre, a Washington-based national civic organisation, has opened applications for its inaugural Policy Advisory Council, seeking to formalise the influence of Nigerian Americans and the broader African diaspora in U.S. policy circles.
The nonpartisan body will draw members from across the United States, targeting policy experts, academics, researchers, corporate executives and emerging leaders with professional backgrounds in public policy, government affairs, law, international relations, Healthcare, education, technology and nonprofit leadership. Selected members will serve two-year terms and participate in quarterly working groups aligned with eight priority areas: immigration justice, diaspora affairs, civic engagement, economic opportunity and entrepreneurship, education and workforce development, health equity, U.S.–Nigeria relations and international development.
The initiative responds to a structural gap. Black immigrants contribute significantly to sectors including healthcare, technology, entrepreneurship and public service, yet have lacked a centralised mechanism to translate those operational gains into systematic policy influence. The council is designed to provide research-backed recommendations that advance civic participation, expand economic opportunity, champion immigration advocacy and deepen diplomatic and commercial ties between the United States and Africa.
According to the organisation, the council’s mandate extends beyond the Nigerian American community to address pressing issues affecting Black immigrant communities more broadly. Its formation comes at a moment when diaspora engagement is increasingly recognised as a driver of bilateral relations and domestic policy outcomes.
Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis through the Nigerian Centre in Washington, D.C. The organisation has not specified a closing date in its public communications, though earlier notices referenced a mid-to-late August window. Interested candidates are directed to apply through the Centre’s official channels.
The move reflects a growing trend of diaspora-led institutions seeking formal seats at policy tables in Washington, moving beyond remittance-driven engagement toward sustained legislative and regulatory advocacy. As the council takes shape, its effectiveness will likely be measured by its ability to convene cross-sector expertise and deliver actionable policy frameworks that resonate both on Capitol Hill and within the communities it represents.
