President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerian doctors and other healthcare professionals living abroad to return home and help improve the country's healthcare system.
According to a statement released by Sunday Dare, Special Adeviser to the President on Media and Communications, the president made the appeal on Friday while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Diaspora Medical Associations Worldwide at the State House in Abuja during the 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration.
The delegation was led by the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Tinubu praised the visiting medical professionals for organising free medical outreach programmes across the country, saying their work had brought specialist treatment, surgeries, consultations, health education and other life-saving services to thousands of Nigerians.
"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 president said.
"Seeing indivisible commitment to humanity is part of your singular oath and commitment in life. I thank all of you."
Tinubu encouraged more Nigerian health workers abroad to reconnect with the country through partnerships, investments, knowledge sharing and permanent return where possible.
"I have been through that journey.
"I'm home now and I can tell you there's nowhere like home," he said.
"Some people built the society where you are.
"They had their hands on their plough, their focus was to develop their nation and their continent."
The president said his administration's Renewed Hope Agenda places healthcare at the centre of national development.
He said the government is investing in primary healthcare, medical education, research, digital health infrastructure and better welfare for health workers to improve healthcare services and reduce brain drain.
"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," Tinubu said.
Dabiri-Erewa said the visiting doctors had chosen to give back to Nigeria despite building successful careers overseas.
"They are Nigerians and succeeded abroad but they want to come back home and do something," she said.
"It is your leadership qualities that made them agree to come collectively and make this impact in the health sector."
Minister of State for Health Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako said the diaspora professionals had embraced the government's health reforms.
"These are very motivated, very ready, very prepared Nigerians who want to give back to Nigeria," Salako said, adding that the Federal Ministry of Health would make its collaboration with diaspora healthcare professionals an annual programme.
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