How Nigerians in the U.S. Support Families Back Home
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and one of the most populous countries in the world. It is home to about 239 million people, over two times the population of Congo, which at about 116 million people, stands as the second most populous country in Africa.
Unsurprisingly, Nigeria has large diaspora communities across the world, mainly comprising students and professionals who remain committed to supporting their families back home. For many, support translates to remittances, which are increasingly a critical lifeline for households in Nigeria.
This article highlights the significance of the Nigerian population in the U.S. and explores contexts around family support and remittance flow from the U.S. to Nigeria.
The Size and Importance of the Nigerian Diaspora in the US
The U.S. has largely been described as the Land of Opportunity, and this holds true in most scenarios as it attracts immigrants from all over the world, including Nigerians.
Interestingly, the U.S., home to over 638,000 Nigerians in 2026, holds the largest population of Nigerians abroad.
Most of the Nigerian population in the U.S. are in academia, healthcare, IT, business, management, and arts.
With a substantial portion of the Nigerian-Americans working and sending money back home, it comes as no surprise that the U.S. is the highest remittance-sending country to Nigeria.
Financial Support: Sending Money Home
The significance of the remittances from Nigerians in the U.S. is visible across various socio-economic levels of the nation. This is especially the case in rural areas, where money from Nigerians abroad is keeping households out of poverty.
The Nigerian Financial Services Market Report 2023 indicates that only 2.4% of Nigerians earn above N200,000 (~$140) per month. The vast majority, 85.4%, earn less than or up to N100,000 (~$70) per month, and the official minimum wage currently stands at N70,000 (~$49) per month.
As a Nigerian living in America, it is likely that you have a monthly, quarterly, or even an emergency-based budget for sending money back home. And most importantly, you have a reliable remittance service provider for sending money to Nigeria safely and affordably.
Every cent counts when you send funds to your family back home via a remittance service that offers favorable exchange rates and low fees. Thus, ensuring that your family gets the most value for every cent, no matter the amount sent.
Supporting Education and Healthcare
A substantial portion of remittances sent to Nigeria goes towards education and healthcare, with families using them to settle bills, pay school fees, and purchase school supplies.
Recognizing the market for remittances directly going towards education, major banks in Nigeria offer remittance services that specifically target back-to-school seasons, helping Nigerians help their families back home pay school fees quickly and effortlessly. These funds also extend to helping family members cover their university education and even professional exams.
Keen on the overall well-being of family members, Nigerians in the U.S. also spend money ensuring that their family members get the best healthcare, by covering the cost of medication and surgeries.
At the macro level, the extensive support provided by Nigerians in diaspora drastically reduces the pressure of local demands on public services.
Non-Financial Support: Beyond Money
The strong tie between Nigerians at home and Nigerians abroad is not strictly financial. Beyond financial remittance, there are also strong indicators of social remittances, which may include ideas, skills, and emotional support.
This sort of support often goes beyond families to also directly benefit more friends and communities back home.
Nigerians in diaspora are often inclined to help folks within their networks to find opportunities that can better their lives. That much is evidenced by the fact that Nigerians at home are increasingly exploring the global remote work space, as their folks abroad share remote work opportunities that ordinarily wouldn’t have crossed their radar.
Challenges Faced by Nigerians Supporting Families Back Home
For as much as Nigerians in diaspora are happy or willing to support their loved ones back home, the efforts aren’t always without some challenges.
As their needs grow and the cost of living increases, they may find themselves trying to find a balance between their well-being and supporting their families.
In some cases, the outcomes are not as intended, leading to financial strain, emotional stress, and even fallout with family members.
Such scenarios are exacerbated when family members fail to see or acknowledge the difficulties they are facing and demand continuous or even more support than usual.
This necessitates some equal degree of care and responsibility between those at home and abroad. While those abroad might be providing the most support most of the time, those at home should also be willing to acknowledge the potential changes in their situation and be able to adjust to a reduced flow of support, or even take the mantle of offering some support until the situation stabilizes.
Conclusion: Why Diaspora Support Remains Vital
From all indications, support from Nigerians in the U.S. is vital to the stability and survival of many families in Nigeria, especially those living in poverty or close to poverty.
The scale of impact goes beyond immediate family relief to broader public impacts that boost the overall economy of Nigeria.
The resilience and sense of responsibility within the diaspora are also matters of national progress, which should be promoted at all costs.
Just as major financial institutions are devising strategies to expand Nigeria’s remittance market, there should also be broader efforts to develop policies and implement systems that make diaspora support easier and more sustainable.
With more Nigerians moving abroad and building international communities that aim to give back, both as individuals and as a group, we can expect diaspora-family ties to be far stronger than ever.
