Tinubu Urges Nigerian Doctors Abroad to Return Home, Help Rebuild Healthcare System

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appealed to Nigerian medical doctors and other healthcare professionals living abroad to return home and contribute their expertise to ongoing efforts to transform the country's healthcare system, saying Nigeria needs their knowledge, experience and innovation to build a resilient and globally competitive health sector.

The President made the appeal on Friday while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Diaspora Medical Associations Worldwide at the State House, Abuja, during activities marking the 2026 National Diaspora Day Celebration.

The delegation was led by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Also present at the meeting were Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, Minister of State for Health Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Health Dr. Salma Ibrahim Anas, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women's Health Dr. Adanna Steinacker.

Addressing the visiting professionals, Tinubu thanked them for returning to Nigeria to provide medical services through outreach programmes and encouraged more Nigerians in the diaspora to reconnect with the country.

"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 through the medical outreaches. Seeing indivisible commitment to humanity is part of your singular oath and commitment in life. I thank all of you," the President said.

Drawing from his personal experience, Tinubu said he understood the attraction of working abroad but insisted that contributing to national development offered a deeper sense of fulfilment.

"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 had their hands on their plough and their focus was to develop their nation and their continent."

The President recalled returning to Nigeria after working with Deloitte & Touche and Mobil, saying he chose to contribute to nation-building despite opportunities overseas.

Tinubu said healthcare remains one of the pillars of his administration's Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the Federal Government is implementing reforms aimed at strengthening primary healthcare, expanding access to quality medical services and improving the overall health system.

According to him, the reforms include investments in medical education, research, digital health infrastructure, healthcare worker welfare and policies designed to reduce the migration of skilled professionals.

"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 a better environment, better education, better development and prosperity can be realised," he said.

The President also appealed to the visiting professionals to encourage more Nigerian healthcare workers abroad to contribute through partnerships, investments, knowledge-sharing and, where possible, permanent return.

"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 the diaspora medical associations for organising medical outreach programmes across several parts of Nigeria, including the North-East, North-West, South-East and South-West.

According to him, the initiatives, which provided specialist consultations, surgeries, health education and other life-saving medical interventions, demonstrated compassion, patriotism and a commitment to improving healthcare outcomes in underserved communities.

The President described the voluntary services as evidence that Nigerian professionals abroad remain connected to the country's development despite building successful careers overseas.

Earlier, NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa said the visiting medical professionals were determined to support the Federal Government's healthcare reforms by deploying their expertise to improve healthcare delivery across Nigeria.

She noted that although many Nigerian professionals had left the country in search of better opportunities, many were now returning with skills, experience and international exposure that could benefit Nigeria.

"Some of our people are leaving, but they're also coming back with knowledge and expertise to make Nigeria a better place. 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," Dabiri-Erewa said.

She also credited Tinubu's leadership with encouraging greater engagement from Nigerian professionals in the diaspora.

Minister of State for Health Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako described the growing participation of Nigerian medical professionals abroad as a strong endorsement of the administration's health sector reforms.

He said diaspora doctors had consistently demonstrated willingness to contribute to national development through knowledge transfer, specialist services and capacity building.

"Since I became Minister of State for Health, I have had interface with virtually everybody physically and online. I can tell you, Your Excellency, these are very motivated, very ready, very prepared Nigerians who want to give back to Nigeria," Salako said.

The minister announced that collaboration with Nigerian healthcare professionals in the diaspora would become an annual programme under the Federal Ministry of Health.

The delegation to the State House included Dr. Jide Menakaya, Dr. Kunle Akanbi, Dr. Uche Menakaya, Dr. Itua Iriogbe, Prof. Afekhide Ernest Omoti, Dr. Cliff Ike, Dr. Gertie Anyanwoke, Prof. Rotimi Jaiyesimi, Dr. Hamid Balogun, Dr. Sadiya Gumi, Dr. Benjamin Anyanwu, Dr. Emilia Iwu, Chike Nweke, Wendy Olayinka, Dr. Timileyin Oluseye, Dr. Charles Adekunle and Tayo Erogbogbo.

Renewed Focus on Reversing Brain Drain

Nigeria has continued to grapple with the migration of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Saudi Arabia, where remuneration, working conditions and career opportunities are generally more attractive.

The trend has placed additional pressure on Nigeria's healthcare system, contributing to workforce shortages across public hospitals and primary healthcare centres.

In response, the Federal Government has repeatedly stated that, alongside improving working conditions at home, it intends to deepen engagement with the Nigerian diaspora to encourage investment, skills transfer, medical missions and specialist collaborations.

Friday's meeting reflects that broader strategy, with the administration seeking to transform what has traditionally been viewed as "brain drain" into what policymakers increasingly describe as "brain circulation", leveraging the expertise of Nigerians abroad while creating conditions that encourage more professionals to contribute directly to the country's healthcare development.