25, July 226
President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerian medical doctors and other health professionals living overseas to return home and contribute to efforts to overhaul the country’s healthcare system under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Tinubu made the appeal on Friday at the State House in Abuja while receiving a delegation of Nigerian Diaspora Medical Associations Worldwide.
The meeting was part of activities marking the 2026 National Diaspora Day Celebration.
The delegation was led by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
According to the President, Nigeria needs the knowledge, innovation, experience and patriotism of its skilled professionals abroad to build a healthcare system that is resilient and able to serve 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,” Tinubu said.
He added that he understands the journey of living and working abroad. “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 recounted his own path after working with Deloitte and Touche and later with Mobil, before returning to Nigeria to contribute to nation building.
Tinubu stated that healthcare is central to the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the Federal Government is rolling out wide-ranging reforms aimed at strengthening primary healthcare, expanding access to quality medical services, and deepening collaboration with Nigerians in the diaspora.
He said the plan would be driven by sustained investment in medical education, research, digital health infrastructure, improved welfare packages, and policies designed to reverse 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,” he said.
“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 praised the diaspora doctors for recent medical outreach programmes held across the North-East, North-West, South-East, South-West and other regions. He noted that their voluntary work provided specialist care, surgeries, consultations, health education and life-saving interventions to thousands of Nigerians.
He described their services as a reflection of the compassion, patriotism and excellence Nigerians are known for globally. He also urged them 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 where possible, permanent relocation.
Earlier, Dabiri-Erewa said the visiting professionals are committed to deploying their skills to support the national healthcare delivery masterplan under the Renewed Hope Agenda, as demonstrated during their recent 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,” she 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.”
Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adekunle Salako, also spoke at the event. He said the commitment of diaspora medical professionals shows the reach of the Renewed Hope Agenda in health.
“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,” he said.
Salako added that since assuming office he has engaged with many diaspora professionals online and physically, and described them as motivated and ready to give back. He announced that the Ministry of Health will include collaboration with diaspora health professionals as a yearly event in its calendar.
