by African Heritage Magazine Sports Desk
I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Nigeria’s phenomenal women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, on clinching their fifth consecutive Women’s AfroBasket title, and seventh overall championship. This historic victory is more than a sporting achievement, it is a testament to the power of dedication, talent, and strategic teamwork drawn from both within Nigeria and the global Nigerian Diaspora. Just like our victorious Super Falcons, many members of the D’Tigress squad were born, trained, or shaped by the Diaspora. Their remarkable performance once again highlights the untapped potential of Nigerians in the Diaspora when engaged intentionally in national development, whether on the field of play or in the policy rooms of governance.
Beyond sports, the Nigerian Diaspora continues to prove itself as far more than a remittance engine. We are a powerhouse of ideas, innovation, and transformative energy. From crafting policy blueprints, driving international diplomacy, and mobilizing global capital, to spearheading initiatives for homeland development, as recently demonstrated during the Nigeria Diaspora Day 2025 as our community exemplifies what becomes possible when global expertise is harmonized with local wisdom.
The victories of both the Super Falcons and now D’Tigress, fueled in part by Diaspora talent, offer a powerful metaphor for Nigeria’s broader possibilities. Whether in sports, business, or politics, when Nigeria fields her First Eleven, those most competent, most prepared, and best positioned to deliver regardless of geography, success is almost always assured. Let this stand as a national lesson: our development must be driven by merit, inclusion, and the strategic mobilization of all Nigerians home and abroad. The Nigerian Diaspora is ready, capable, and deeply committed to the national cause. What we need is the vision, political will, and the institutional structures to engage them meaningfully.
To the many Diaspora change agents contributing across sectors, I say: thank you. Your professionalism, resilience, and unwavering belief in Nigeria’s future make you one of our nation’s greatest assets. Together, let us continue to build the Nigeria we all know is possible.
Hon. (Dr.) Kenneth Chibuogwu Gbandi (Diaspora Chair, African Democratic Congress) ADC, Former Continental Chairman (Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Europe) NIDOE,
ADC Senatorial Candidate, 2023
For comments and submissions, contact: info@africanheritagemagazine.de @ African Heritage Magazine Sports Desk
