President Bola Tinubu on Friday called on Nigerian medical doctors and healthcare professionals in the diaspora to return home and contribute their expertise to the ongoing transformation of the nation's healthcare sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He made the appeal while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Diaspora Medical Associations Worldwide at the State House, Abuja, as part of the 2026 National Diaspora Day Celebration.
President Commends Diaspora Doctors' Commitment
President Tinubu acknowledged that Nigeria needs the knowledge, innovation, experience, and patriotism of its highly skilled professionals abroad to build a resilient and world-class healthcare system for all citizens. He stated, "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, the medical outreaches; seeing indivisible commitment to humanity is part of your singular oath and commitment in life. I thank all of you."
The president shared his personal journey, recounting how he returned to Nigeria after working with Deloitte and Touche and Mobil to contribute to nation-building. He said, "I have been through that journey, I'm home now and I can tell you there's nowhere like home. Some people built the society where you are; they have their hands on their plough, their focus was to develop their nation and their continent."
Renewed Hope Agenda Prioritizes Healthcare
Tinubu reaffirmed that the Renewed Hope Agenda places healthcare at the center of national development, emphasizing that the federal government is implementing far-reaching reforms to strengthen primary healthcare, expand access to quality medical services, and encourage greater collaboration with Nigerian professionals in the diaspora. He noted that these goals would be achieved through sustained investments in medical education, research, digital health infrastructure, improved welfare, and policies to reverse the trend of brain drain.
He added, "So many of you have seen the hazard of the other side of the world. You have experienced the challenges and you have come back home to feel it and seal it. Poverty and lack of development is a challenge to Africa but what do you see as a Nigerian? This is the heart of Africa." The president urged the doctors to serve as ambassadors of the country's renewed optimism by encouraging more Nigerian medical professionals abroad to reconnect with home through partnerships, investments, knowledge exchange, and permanent return where possible.
Medical Outreach Programs Across Nigeria
President Tinubu commended the doctors for their unwavering commitment to humanity through recent medical outreach programs conducted across different parts of the country, including the North-East, North-West, South-East, South-West, and other regions. He noted that their voluntary services brought specialist medical care, surgeries, consultations, health education, and life-saving interventions to thousands of Nigerians, reflecting the compassion, patriotism, and excellence for which Nigerians are renowned globally.
The delegation was led by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who expressed the commitment of the visiting healthcare professionals to deploy their expertise and contribute to the Renewed Hope national healthcare delivery masterplan. She said, "Your Excellency, the visitors said having been trained in Nigeria and because they are Nigerians and succeeded abroad but they want to come back home and do something and that is why we have the diaspora commission encouraging them and working with them to ensure that they play a part in your Renewed Hope Agenda."
Government Officials Attend the Event
The event was attended by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Malagi; Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Salako; Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare; Special Adviser to the President on Health, Salma Anas; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women's Health, Adanna Steinacker. Also present were members of the delegation including Dr Jide Menakaya, Kunle Akanbi, Uche Menakaya, Itua Iriogbe, Professor Afekhide Ernest Omoti, Cliff Ike, Gertie Anyanwoke, Professor Rotimi Jaiyesimi, Hamid Balogun, Sadiya Gumi, Benjamin Anyanwu, Emilia Iwu, Chike Nweke, Wendy Olayinka, Timileyin Oluseye, Charles Adekunle, and Tayo Erogbogbo.
Minister of State for Health Commends Diaspora Collaboration
Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, said the commitment of diaspora medical professionals further validates the power and reach of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the health sector. He stated, "What we are seeing today further demonstrates that you are not only renewing the hope of Nigerians in Nigeria but, even Nigerians outside Nigeria are filling the agenda. And so, when your excellency declared in that renewed hope agenda document that the health of every Nigerian will be treated as a matter of urgent rights, our brothers and sisters abroad keyed into it." Dr Salako added that the Ministry of Health will henceforth make collaboration with diaspora health professionals a yearly event in their calendar.
