‘Nigeria Needs You’, President Tinubu Tells Diaspora Health Professionals
...Unveils Five-Point Plan to Strengthen Healthcare Through Overseas Medical Expertise
President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerian health professionals in the diaspora to contribute their expertise towards strengthening the country’s healthcare system, declaring that their knowledge, experience, and global networks are critical to national development.
The President made the call on Friday at the 2026 National Diaspora Day Celebration organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in Abuja.
In his address, Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, described the Nigerian diaspora as one of the nation’s greatest assets, noting that Nigerian doctors, nurses, researchers, and other healthcare professionals have distinguished themselves across the world while maintaining strong ties with their homeland.
“Nigeria, your country, needs you,” the President said. “Whether you are a surgeon in London, a researcher in Boston, a laboratory scientist in China or a nurse in Johannesburg, your skills are vital to building a resilient, inclusive and world-class healthcare system in Nigeria.”
He stated that the 2026 National Diaspora Day theme, “Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development,” aligns with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reflects its commitment to leveraging the expertise of Nigerians abroad to improve healthcare delivery.
Tinubu acknowledged the challenges facing Nigeria’s health sector, including inadequate infrastructure, shortages of skilled medical personnel, gaps in research and innovation, and limited access to specialised healthcare.
According to him, those challenges can be addressed through stronger collaboration between local institutions and Nigerian professionals in the diaspora.
To achieve this, the President unveiled a five-point plan aimed at deepening diaspora engagement in the health sector.
The initiatives include expanding diaspora medical missions to underserved communities across Nigeria, establishing knowledge-transfer partnerships with universities and teaching hospitals, leveraging telemedicine platforms to connect diaspora specialists with patients and healthcare workers at home, encouraging diaspora-led investments in hospitals, pharmaceutical industries and research centres, and strengthening NiDCOM to enhance coordination of diaspora engagements.
Tinubu also pledged to institutionalise the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative by creating a platform to coordinate diaspora contributions, provide incentives for professionals willing to return to practise or invest in Nigeria, and ensure transparency and measurable outcomes.
He commended NiDCOM, under the leadership of its Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for fostering stronger engagement between Nigeria and its citizens abroad.
“The Commission has been a bridge connecting our nation to its sons and daughters abroad, ensuring that your expertise, investments, and goodwill find meaningful pathways into national development,” he affirmed.
The President further lauded the Commission’s flagship programmes, including the National Diaspora Day Celebration, the National Diaspora Merit Awards, the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit, the Diaspora Data Mapping Initiative, youth empowerment programmes and the Door of Return initiative, describing them as important platforms for promoting inclusive national development and enhancing Nigeria’s global image.
He noted that diaspora engagement remains one of the pillars of the Federal Government’s 4D foreign policy, alongside democracy, development and demography.
Congratulating recipients of the 2026 National Diaspora Merit Awards, Tinubu urged them to remain committed to excellence and continue making Nigeria proud in their various fields and countries of residence.
“The reward of good work is more work,” he said.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to harnessing the brilliance and expertise of Nigerians in the diaspora for national development, expressing confidence that stronger collaboration would help build a healthier, stronger, and more prosperous nation.
