Addressing a global delegation of Nigerian Diaspora Medical Associations during the 2026 National Diaspora Day, President Bola Tinubu urged overseas healthcare workers to return home and support the ongoing overhaul of Nigeria’s health sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a strategic bid to reverse the nation’s medical brain drain and elevate local clinical capacity, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu urged Nigerian healthcare professionals practicing abroad to return home and lend their expertise to the nationwide transformation of the health sector.
Speaking on Friday, July 24, 2026, at the State House in Abuja while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Diaspora Medical Associations Worldwide—led by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa—President Tinubu underscored that building a resilient, world-class healthcare delivery system requires the advanced knowledge, technical innovation, and patriotism of Nigerian experts practicing across the globe.
The high-level audience took place as part of the official activities commemorating the 2026 National Diaspora Day Celebration under the theme “Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development”.
Drawing parallels from his own professional journey in the United States with Deloitte and Mobil before returning to contribute to nation-building, President Tinubu assured the visiting delegates that the Federal Government is implementing comprehensive policy reforms to create an enabling operational environment at home.
He emphasized that the Renewed Hope Agenda places public health at the core of national development, driving expanded investments in primary healthcare infrastructure, digital health networks, medical research, clinical education, and improved practitioner welfare to retain domestic talent while attracting diaspora capital and expertise.
The President commended the delegation for their recent voluntary medical outreaches across the North-East, North-West, South-East, and South-West regions—which provided free specialist surgeries, consultations, and emergency interventions to thousands of citizens—and called on them to serve as global ambassadors by encouraging more colleagues to establish local partnerships, investments, and permanent returns.
NIDCOM CEO Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa affirmed that overseas Nigerian medical personnel are eager to deploy their skills toward the national healthcare master plan, noting that President Tinubu’s leadership has reignited interest among diaspora communities to contribute directly to domestic development.
Reaffirming this position, Minister of State for Health Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako stated that the administration’s policy framework treats health as a fundamental right, adding that the Ministry of Health has formalized collaboration with diaspora health associations into an annual strategic calendar item.
The event was attended by senior government officials—including Minister of Information and National Orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications Chief Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Health Dr. Salma Ibrahim Anas, and Senior Special Assistant on Women’s Health Dr. Adanna Steinacker—alongside prominent diaspora medical leaders, who collectively pledged sustained engagement to fortify Nigeria’s health ecosystem.
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