President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Nigerian medical doctors and other healthcare professionals in the diaspora to return home and contribute their expertise to the ongoing transformation of the nation’s healthcare sector.
He appealed while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Diaspora Medical Associations Worldwide, led by the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, during the 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration at the State House in Abuja.
Tinubu said Nigeria needs the knowledge, innovation, experience and patriotism of its highly skilled professionals abroad to build a resilient, world-class healthcare system capable of meeting the needs of its citizens.
“It is a great joy to see that you are coming back with the singular motivation of helping your country meet the healthcare needs of our people,” the President said, commending the visiting doctors for their humanitarian commitment through medical outreach programs.
Reflecting on his own career, Tinubu recalled returning to Nigeria after working with Deloitte and Touche and Mobil, saying his decision was driven by a desire to contribute to national development.
“There is nowhere like home,” he said, urging the professionals to join the country’s development efforts.
The President reaffirmed that healthcare remains a central pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that his administration is implementing reforms to strengthen primary healthcare, expand access to quality medical services and foster greater collaboration with Nigerian professionals in the diaspora.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, President Tinubu said the reforms include sustained investments in medical education, research, digital health infrastructure, improved welfare for health workers and policies aimed at reversing the brain drain.
He also praised the diaspora doctors for conducting free medical outreaches across the North-East, North-West, South-East, South-West and other parts of the country, providing specialist consultations, surgeries, health education and life-saving interventions to thousands of Nigerians.
Tinubu urged the medical professionals to serve as ambassadors of Nigeria’s renewed optimism by encouraging more Nigerians abroad to reconnect with the country through partnerships, investments, knowledge exchange and permanent return where possible.
Earlier, NiDCOM Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the visiting healthcare professionals were committed to supporting the Federal Government’s healthcare delivery agenda by deploying their expertise to improve medical services in the country.
She noted that although many Nigerians had built successful careers abroad, they remained committed to giving back to their homeland and contributing to the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, also commended the diaspora medical professionals, describing their commitment as evidence of growing confidence in the administration’s healthcare reforms.
He said many Nigerian health professionals abroad were eager and well-prepared to support the country’s healthcare system through partnerships and knowledge transfer.
The delegation included Dr. Jide Menakaya, Dr. Kunle Akanbi, Dr. Uche Menakaya, Dr. Itua Iriogbe, Afekhide Omoti, Dr. Cliff Ike, Dr. Gertie Anyanwoke, 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.
