President Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerian medical professionals living abroad to return home and support efforts to improve healthcare delivery across the country.
The appeal was contained in a State House statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, after Tinubu received a delegation of the Nigerian Diaspora Medical Associations Worldwide at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during the 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration.
The President told the visiting doctors that Nigeria needs the experience, knowledge and patriotism of its skilled professionals overseas to strengthen healthcare services and widen access to quality medical care under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“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.
“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 reflected on his return to Nigeria after working with Deloitte and Touche and Mobil, saying the decision allowed him to contribute to national development.
He said his administration is placing healthcare at the centre of national growth through investments in medical education, research, digital health facilities, improved welfare for health workers and policies aimed at reducing the migration of skilled professionals.
“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.”
Tinubu praised members of the association for conducting medical outreach programmes across the North-East, North-West, South-East, South-West and other parts of the country, saying their services had provided specialist treatment, surgeries, consultations, health education and life-saving care to thousands of Nigerians.
He also urged them to encourage more Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad to reconnect with the country through partnerships, investment, knowledge sharing and permanent return where possible.
Earlier, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the visiting professionals were committed to supporting the government’s healthcare agenda by contributing their skills and experience to national development.
“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, she said.”
Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the response from diaspora medical professionals showed growing support for the government’s health agenda.
“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.”
Salako said the Federal Ministry of Health would make collaboration with Nigerian health professionals in the diaspora an annual programme.