- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a passionate call to Nigerian medical practitioners operating in foreign nations, urging them to return to their homeland and lend their skills to the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s domestic healthcare sector.
- Drawing parallels from his own career after studying and working in financial accounting in the United States before returning to Nigeria, President Tinubu emphasized that genuine fulfillment lies in serving one’s native country.
- The high-level audience at the State House in Abuja coincided with the 2026 National Diaspora Day, organized by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission under the leadership of Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made an urgent and emotional appeal to Nigerian medical professionals practicing across the globe, encouraging them to return home and actively participate in rebuilding the nation’s health sector and economic landscape.
Eko Hot Blog reports that speaking during a high-level audience at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday, President Tinubu received a delegation from the Nigerian Diaspora Medical Associations.
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The delegation was led by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, alongside key government officials and healthcare administrators.
Reflecting on his personal path as a young professional who acquired education and executive experience in the United States before making the decisive choice to relocate back to Nigeria, the President urged overseas healthcare workers to view his life journey as a compelling model for patriotic service and personal impact.
He noted that while working abroad provides valuable technical exposure, building a sustainable home country remains an irreplaceable endeavor.
President Tinubu lauded the sacrifices and deep technical competence of Nigerian healthcare providers in foreign health systems, acknowledging that many have faced difficult trials while operating in overseas jurisdictions.
He urged the visiting delegation to serve as ambassadors of return, tasking them with convincing fellow physicians, surgeons, nurses, and medical researchers to bring their expertise back to support domestic health institutions.
The President reiterated his administration’s unyielding commitment to eradicating severe poverty, upgrading public infrastructure, and fulfilling the promises embedded within the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He emphasized that establishing a functional healthcare framework is a vital prerequisite for securing the well-being of future generations of Nigerians.
Addressing the broader national climate, President Tinubu noted that Nigeria’s democratic experiment remains relatively young when compared to long-established Western systems, such as America’s 250-year constitutional democracy or centuries of British parliamentary governance.
He stressed that steady institutional progress requires focus, resilience, and patience from both citizens and leaders alike.
In a lighter moment during the audience, President Tinubu made reference to the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted across North America, describing the tournament as a celebrated global demonstration of cultural diversity and international camaraderie.
He jocularly noted that the collective spirit displayed during global sporting events should serve as an inspiration for Nigerians to unite in celebrating and developing their own homeland.
To formalize the government’s gratitude, President Tinubu directed NiDCOM chief Abike Dabiri-Erewa to draft personalized presidential letters of commendation for each member of the visiting medical delegation.
He instructed his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, to coordinate the administrative process and present the document package for his official signature.
President Tinubu also expressed appreciation to the leadership team of the Federal Ministry of Health, particularly commending the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, for his energetic efforts in driving health reforms and expanding local clinical capacity.
The presidential meeting coincided with the 2026 National Diaspora Day Celebration, taking place from July 24 to 25 at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
The national event was organized by NiDCOM under the overarching theme, ‘Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development.’
