By George Ozalla
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Nigerian medical doctors and other healthcare professionals living abroad to return home and contribute their expertise to the ongoing transformation of the country’s healthcare sector, saying their experience, innovation and commitment are critical to building a resilient and world-class health system.
The President made the appeal on Friday while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Diaspora Medical Associations Worldwide at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as part of activities marking the 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration.
The delegation was led by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi; Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako; Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Chief Sunday Dare; Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Ibrahim Anas; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Health, Dr. Adanna Steinacker.
Addressing the visiting medical professionals, President Tinubu described their decision to return and offer medical services in Nigeria as a demonstration of patriotism and commitment to humanity.
“It is a very great joy to see that you are coming back to facilitate your single motivation to help your country meet the needs of our people. Seeing this indivisible commitment to humanity is part of your singular oath and commitment in life. I thank all of you,” the President said.
He told the doctors that despite opportunities abroad, there was no place like home, recalling his own decision to return to Nigeria after working with Deloitte and Touche and Mobil before contributing to nation-building.
According to him, the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda places healthcare at the heart of national development through reforms aimed at strengthening primary healthcare, expanding access to quality medical services and encouraging stronger collaboration with Nigerian professionals in the diaspora.
President Tinubu said his administration was investing in medical education, research, digital health infrastructure, improved welfare for healthcare workers and policies designed to reverse the growing trend of brain drain.
He acknowledged the developmental challenges confronting Africa but expressed confidence that Nigeria could overcome them through collective effort.
“The best way to demonstrate to you is for me to commit myself to my agenda, the Renewed Hope, so that the hope of Nigerians of having better environment, better education, better development and prosperity can be realised,” he stated.
The President also praised members of the diaspora medical team for conducting medical outreach programmes across the North-East, North-West, South-East, South-West and other parts of the country, noting that their voluntary services provided specialist medical care, surgeries, consultations, health education and life-saving interventions to thousands of Nigerians.
He urged them to become ambassadors of Nigeria’s renewed optimism by encouraging more Nigerian medical professionals overseas to reconnect with the country through investments, partnerships, knowledge transfer and permanent return where possible.
Earlier, Hon. Dabiri-Erewa commended the visiting healthcare professionals for giving back to their country despite achieving success abroad.
She said the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission had continued to encourage and support qualified Nigerians overseas to participate actively in the implementation of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to her, the visiting doctors were motivated by a desire to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system and were inspired by the administration’s commitment to reforms in the sector.
She noted that while many Nigerians continue to seek opportunities abroad, many are equally returning home with valuable knowledge, experience and expertise to support national development.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Salako, described the commitment shown by the diaspora medical professionals as further evidence that the Renewed Hope Agenda was gaining the confidence of Nigerians both at home and abroad.
He said healthcare professionals across the diaspora had consistently expressed their readiness to support the country’s health sector and had demonstrated remarkable enthusiasm through regular engagements with the Federal Ministry of Health.
The minister announced that collaboration between the ministry and Nigerian healthcare professionals in the diaspora would now become an annual programme in the ministry’s calendar to strengthen partnerships and sustain the contributions of diaspora experts to the nation’s healthcare system.
Members of the delegation included Dr. Jide Menakaya, Dr. Kunle Akanbi, Dr. Uche Menakaya, Dr. Itua Iriogbe, Professor Afekhide Ernest Omoti, Dr. Cliff Ike, Dr. Gertie Anyanwoke, Professor Rotimi Jaiyesimi, Dr. Hamid Balogun, Dr. Sadiya Gumi, Dr. Benjamin Anyanwu, Dr. Emilia Iwu, Chike Nweke, Wendy Olayinka, Dr. Timileyin Oluseye, Dr. Charles Adekunle and Tayo Erogbogbo.
The audience with the President was one of the highlights of the 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration, which brought together Nigerian professionals from across the world to explore ways of contributing their expertise to national development, particularly in the healthcare sector.
