Nigeria, Aug. 4 -- On a humid Monday morning in Abuja, the air buzzed with anticipation as Vice-President Kashim Shettima hailed "a deliberate and commendable effort to align global expertise with national priorities." The launch of Diaspora BRIDGE - Bridging Research, Innovation, Development & Global Engagement - was more than a ceremonial gesture. It marked a historic shift in Nigeria's attempt to reconnect with its global citizens, not through sentiment or speeches, but through structure, strategy, and measurable impact. The BRIDGE initiative, championed by the Federal Ministry of Education under Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, aims to achieve what countless conferences, diaspora town halls, and memoranda have failed to do - create a genuine, f...