More than 5,000 Nigerian women are currently stranded in Iraq after being recruited as caregivers under false pretences, the head of Nigeria's Diaspora Commission said on January 22, a local Business Day newspaper reported.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman and CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), revealed the situation whilst addressing a regional investment seminar in Lagos, stunning both local and international attendees.

Nigeria, despite being the most populous country in Africa, has had a massive brain drain in recent years, with local women and men leaving for opportunities abroad.

"As I speak with you today, there are about 5,000 women stranded in Iraq," Dabiri-Erewa told delegates.

She cited a recent case where a woman, sent to Iraq by her husband to work as a caregiver, died under mysterious circumstances, Iraqi authorities were also unaware of the women’s death.

The Nigerian diplomatic mission is now assisting with repatriating the body and conducting an autopsy, she added.

Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has initiated investigations into rogue labour recruiters involved in these trafficking schemes.

Fatima Waziri-Azi, NAPTIP's Director-General, stressed the urgent need for public awareness to prevent further exploitation. She urged Nigerians to critically evaluate overseas job offers and seek credible information before making decisions.

The revelation came during a workshop aimed at promoting diaspora investment in southwest Nigeria, organised jointly by NIDCOM and G-Consulting International Services Limited.

Dabiri-Erewa urged Nigerians to explore domestic opportunities rather than seeking employment abroad through irregular channels.

She noted a concurrent trend of African Americans tracing their Nigerian heritage through DNA testing, with approximately 14 people recently identifying their ancestral roots in various Nigerian ethnic groups.

G-Consulting's Group Managing Director, Godfrey Ajayi Sunday, announced plans to mobilise more than $100mn in funding to support joint ventures between local participants and diaspora investors, targeting sectors including real estate and agriculture.

The workshop, which drew participants from six southwestern states, is set to be replicated across Nigeria's other geopolitical zones as part of efforts to attract diaspora investment into the country.