Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu says his administration will continue to strengthen engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora, describing them as strategic partners whose expertise, investments and global networks are driving national development, particularly in the healthcare sector.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the opening ceremony of the 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration in Abuja, the President said Nigerian professionals abroad have earned global recognition in medicine, science and technology while remaining committed to the country’s development.
Speaking on the theme, “Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development,” Tinubu commended the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for coordinating the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative, which mobilised Nigerian medical professionals from around the world to provide specialised healthcare services and training across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
He said the Federal Government would institutionalise the initiative, expand medical missions, strengthen partnerships between diaspora experts and local health institutions, promote telemedicine and encourage diaspora investment in hospitals and research centres.
“Whether you are a surgeon in London, a researcher in Boston, a laboratory scientist in China or a nurse in Japan, your skills are vital to building a resilient and world-class healthcare system in Nigeria,” the President said.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Hon. Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the Commission has moved “from policy to impact” since its establishment in 2019, with diaspora engagement now firmly embedded in national development.
She highlighted the success of the Nigeria Diaspora Health Initiative, which has facilitated medical missions, telemedicine, specialist training and equipment donations in more than 20 states, while noting that diaspora remittances rose from 17 billion dollars in 2019 to over 21 billion dollars in 2025.
“The diaspora are no longer just about remittances. They are building hospitals, conducting medical missions, investing in technology and agriculture, and projecting Nigeria positively across the world,” she said.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said diaspora specialists from several countries had spent the previous two weeks performing complex surgeries, delivering advanced clinical services and training Nigerian health workers free of charge under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
He added that the Federal Government would sustain the programme through improved collaboration with NiDCOM and the implementation of the Health Workforce Migration Policy.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, described Nigerians in the diaspora as one of the country’s greatest strategic assets, noting that their annual remittances of about 21.8 billion dollars exceed Nigeria’s official development assistance.
He urged Nigerians abroad to remain united and continue contributing their knowledge, investments and expertise to national development.
The two-day event will also feature the National Diaspora Merit Awards.
