President Bola Tinubu on Friday called on Nigerian doctors and other healthcare workers living abroad to come back home. He wants them to share their skills as Nigeria works to improve its healthcare system under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The president made this call when he met a group from the Nigerian Diaspora Medical Associations Worldwide. The meeting included Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM). This took place at the State House in Abuja as part of the 2026 National Diaspora Day Celebration.
Also present were 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.
President Tinubu recognized that Nigeria needs the skills and experience of its professionals abroad. He believes they can help build a strong and effective healthcare system for everyone.
“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.”
The president shared his own story of returning to Nigeria after working with Deloitte and Touche and Mobil. He wanted to contribute to the nation’s development.
He emphasized that the Renewed Hope Agenda makes healthcare a priority. The federal government is taking steps to improve primary healthcare, increase access to quality services, and work closely with Nigerian professionals abroad. He mentioned that this would be done through investments in medical education, research, health technology, better welfare, and policies to reduce brain drain.
“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.”
President Tinubu praised the doctors for their dedication to helping others. He noted their recent medical outreach programs across Nigeria, including the North-East, North-West, South-East, and South-West.
He pointed out that their voluntary services provided essential medical care, surgeries, consultations, health education, and life-saving interventions to thousands of Nigerians. This shows the compassion, patriotism, and excellence that Nigerians are known for worldwide.
He encouraged the visiting doctors to act as ambassadors of Nigeria’s renewed optimism. He wants them to inspire more Nigerian healthcare workers abroad to reconnect with home through partnerships, investments, knowledge sharing, and permanent return if possible.
Earlier, Abike Dabiri-Erewa spoke about the commitment of the visiting healthcare workers. They want to use their skills to support the national healthcare plan shown in their recent medical outreach efforts.
“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.
“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 told the visitors.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Salako, also spoke. He said the commitment of the diaspora medical professionals shows the impact of the Renewed Hope Agenda in healthcare.
“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 said.
The minister added that the Ministry of Health will make working with diaspora health professionals a regular event in their plans.
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