By: LEADERSHIP News
The Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has remained intentional in harnessing the potential of the Nigerians in the Diaspora to transform the country’s health sector through their skills, expertise and investment.
NIDCOM has over the years demonstrated its enhanced activities to engage with the Diaspora, in key sectors which have yielded immense benefits for Nigerians across varied sectors, as the Commission, led by Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has made a meaningful impact through its yearly National Diaspora Day (NDD) celebration and the National Diaspora Merit Awards 2026.
This year’s NDD, held at the Banquet Hall of Nigeria’s Seat of Power, the Presidential Villa, on Friday, July 24, 2026, appeared remarkable as it was full of prospects for more Diaspora investments into the nation’s economy, in line with the stated objective of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, premised on the 4Ds( Diplomacy, Diaspora, Demography and Development).
Reacting to the increasing opportunities presented by the Diaspora, President Bola Tinubu, on the occasion of the 2026 NDD with the theme “Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development, “said that Nigerians in the Diaspora have the skill, expertise and experience to harness the opportunities in the health sector for positive transformation of the country.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, President Tinubu said that bringing home Nigerians in the Diaspora to invest in the health and other critical sectors of the Nigerian economy captures the essence of the shared vision and mission of his government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He acknowledged the challenges the Nigerian healthcare system faces, including inadequate infrastructure in many communities, shortages of skilled medical personnel, gaps in research, innovation, and specialised care, and policy inconsistencies.
He, however, noted that these challenges are not insurmountable, adding that, with the collective strength of Nigerians in the Diaspora, they can be turned into opportunities.
He said, “Our diaspora is a source of national pride. Across the world, Nigerian doctors, nurses and public health leaders are saving lives, advancing science, and shaping global healthcare. Today, we celebrate not only your achievements abroad but also your enduring commitment to the homeland.”
The President said that his government is determined to expand Diaspora Medical Missions to serve communities across Nigeria, promote their sustainability, and establish knowledge-transfer partnerships with universities and teaching hospitals.
He added that his government will leverage telemedicine platforms to connect Diaspora specialists with patients and practitioners at home, encourage Diaspora-led investments in hospitals, pharmaceutical industries, and research centres, and strengthen and empower NiDCOM to deliver excellent coordination of the Diaspora engagements.
President Tinubu commended the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) under the leadership of Hon. (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for its tireless work in coordinating Diaspora engagement, stressing that NiDCOM has been the bridge connecting the nation to its sons and daughters abroad, ensuring that your expertise, investments, and goodwill find meaningful pathways into national development.
He also lauded the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative (DHII) 2026, coordinated by NiDCOM and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as a laudable initiative that brings together all our Diaspora Medical Practitioners across the globe to participate in the development of the country.
In his keynote speech, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, described the DHII as a flagship intervention designed to harness the expertise, experience, innovation and professional networks of Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad, driving knowledge transfer, specialist medical outreach, capacity building, clinical mentorship, research collaboration and health workforce development.
He affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to fostering stronger ties with Nigerians abroad and commended the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. (Dr) Abike Dabiri Erewa, and the entire management and staff of the Commission for their dedication to advancing diaspora engagement and implementing impactful initiatives such as the DHII.
In her address, Dabiri Erewa highlighted the DHII’s zonal medical missions across all six geopolitical zones, delivered in partnership with diaspora physician associations including CANPAD, MANSAG, ANPA, NAMDA and the Nigerian Doctors Forum, South Africa, covering areas from maternal and child health to sickle cell screening, emergency surgery and neurosurgery.
She noted that diaspora medical groups have equipped hospitals and primary health centres and donated equipment worth billions of naira, alongside the Diaspora Bridge programme bringing academics home for lectures and sabbaticals, and the new Silicon Valley Tech Bridge partnership with San José State University to train young Nigerians in emerging technologies.
She reported that diaspora remittances have grown from $17 billion in 2019 to over $21 billion in 2025, pointed to upcoming investment summits in Abuja and Toronto in August, and announced a new partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to give the diaspora access to affordable housing at home, to be launched in the United Kingdom in August.
Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Miriam Morales Palmero, in her remarks, said that bilateral ties between her country and Nigeria have been very robust in the medical field, where thousands of Cuban doctors, nurses and technicians have served in over 40 African countries, including Nigeria.
According to her, Cuba’s medical system has provided healthcare to rural communities, remote areas and populations with limited access to medical services. She added that over 400 Nigerian students have graduated from Cuban universities, mainly in medicine, health services and other fields, becoming an important human bridge between the two countries.
