President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerian medical doctors and other healthcare professionals in the diaspora to return home and lend their expertise to the ongoing transformation of the nation’s healthcare sector.
Tinubu made the call when he received a delegation of Nigerian Diaspora Medical Associations Worldwide and the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, as part of the 2026 National Diaspora Day Celebration at the State House, Abuja.
The President 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.
“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,”‘ 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.”
Tinubu recounted how he came to Nigeria after his experiences with Deloitte and Touche and working with Mobil (company) and eventually came to Nigeria to contribute his quota to nation building.
He reaffirmed that the Renewed Hope Agenda places healthcare at the centre of national development, stressing 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 said this would be achieved through sustained investments in medical education, research, digital health infrastructure, improved welfare and policies to reverse the trend of brain drain,” Tinubu was quoted as saying in a statement by his media aide, Sunday Dare.
“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. And I have interacted with many of you, my friends who are still out there to try to attract them home.
“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.
“And that your hope that this part of the continent will change for good, for better, for an improved hospitable environment, so that one day your children will see the foundation of this country as belonging to them and the future belonging to them is what we are working hard for.”
The President commended the doctors for their unwavering commitment to humanity through their recent medical outreach programmes 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, which brought specialist medical care, surgeries, consultations, health education and life-saving interventions to thousands of Nigerians, reflected the compassion, patriotism and excellence for which Nigerians are renowned globally.
Tinubu, therefore, urged the visiting 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.
Earlier, Dabiri-Erewa, expressed the commitment of the visiting healthcare professionals to deploy their expertise and contribute their quota to the renewed hope national healthcare deliver masterplan as demonstrated in different parts of the country during their recent medical outreaches.
“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,” the NiDCOM boss said.
“Mr. President, it is your leadership qualities that made them agree to come collectively and make this impact in the health sector. Mr. President, some of our people are leaving, but they’re also coming back with knowledge, and expertise to make Nigeria a better place.
“So, what is your role in making Nigeria a better place? What is your role in the Renewed Hope Agenda? We are glad you are here, so welcome home,” Abike to the visitors.”
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Health Dr. Salako, said the commitment of the diaspora medical professionals had further validated the power and the reach of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the health sector.
“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.
“Since I became the minister of state for health, I have had interface with virtually everybody physically online. And I can tell you, excellency, these are very motivated, very ready, very prepared Nigerians who want to give back to Nigeria,” he added.
The delegation included Dr. Jide Menakaya, Dr. Kunle Akanbi, Dr. Uche Menakaya, Dr. Itua Iriogbe, Afekhide Omoti, Dr. Cliff Ike, Dr. Gertie Anyanwoke.
Others are 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.
Discover more from NAIRAVOICE.COM.NG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
