FG Hails Diaspora Health Professionals, Says 10,000 Nigerians Benefited From 2026 Initiative

The Federal Government has commended Nigerian health professionals in the diaspora for their contributions to improving healthcare delivery across the country through the 2026 Nigeria Diaspora Health Impact Initiative (NDHII).

Speaking at the 2026 National Diaspora Merit Award Dinner and Closing Ceremony of the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the programme as a demonstration of patriotism and a clear example of how the expertise of Nigerians abroad can transform the country’s health sector.

Salako congratulated the award recipients and praised thousands of Nigerian healthcare professionals who voluntarily returned home to provide specialist medical services, perform surgeries, mentor local health workers and strengthen healthcare systems.

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He noted that medical teams from organisations including the Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists (CANPAD), Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain (MANSAG), Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), Nigerian Australian Medical Doctors Association (NAMDA), Nigerian Doctors Forum South Africa, Nigerian Medical Association Germany, Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association UK and the Concerned Medics Foundation delivered healthcare interventions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

According to the minister, the initiative provided medical consultations, specialist surgeries, diagnostic services, telemedicine, sickle cell screening and other interventions to nearly 10,000 Nigerians, while more than 2,000 frontline healthcare workers received training to strengthen healthcare delivery nationwide.

He said, “The initiative directly impacted nearly 10,000 Nigerians through medical consultations, specialist surgeries, diagnostics, telemedicine services, sickle cell screening, and other interventions while training over 2,000 frontline healthcare workers, thereby strengthening the country’s capacity to deliver quality healthcare long after the missions concluded.”

Salako highlighted some of the achievements of the programme, including the training of more than 1,000 frontline health workers on the Safer Births Bundle of Care in Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto States, over 4,000 medical consultations and more than 500 surgeries in Enugu, Imo and Abia States, as well as advanced interventional radiology, neurosurgery and endoscopy procedures in Lagos.

He added that healthcare teams also conducted ultrasound-based diagnosis training for endometriosis in Edo State and expanded telemedicine and primary healthcare services in the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State.

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening engagement with Nigerian health professionals in the diaspora through simplified licensing procedures, locum arrangements, customs and visa waivers for medical missions, and support for diaspora investments in hospitals, diagnostic centres and pharmaceutical industries.

While acknowledging the migration of health professionals from Nigeria over the years, Salako said the Tinubu administration was implementing reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda to improve healthcare financing, infrastructure, workforce welfare and professional development.

He also called for sustained collaboration beyond annual medical missions through telemedicine, digital health, structured training partnerships, joint clinical research, technology transfer, public-private partnerships and diaspora-led investments.

Salako urged Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad to register on the newly launched Nigerians in Diaspora Advanced Health Programme (NiDAH) Portal and the Diaspora Health Registry, describing the platform as a structured avenue for diaspora experts to contribute to Nigeria’s healthcare development.

The minister further commended the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, alongside members of the joint planning committee, state governments and development partners for the successful implementation of the initiative.