Stakeholders Endorse Diaspora Health Initiative To Strengthen Nigeria’s Healthcare System
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Key stakeholders have reaffirmed their support for harnessing the expertise of Nigerians in the diaspora to strengthen the country’s healthcare system and drive national development.
The commitment was made during the 2026 National Diaspora Day (NDD) celebration in Abuja, where representatives of the National Assembly, diplomatic community, international organisations, state governments and federal agencies endorsed the Federal Government’s Diaspora Health Impact Initiative (DHII).
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Aniekan Bassey, represented by Senator Anthony Yari, called for stronger collaboration with Nigerian medical professionals abroad to improve healthcare delivery across the country.
He urged stakeholders to build sustainable partnerships through research, telemedicine, mentorship and targeted investments, while commending Nigerian healthcare professionals in the diaspora for their contributions to the nation’s health sector.
Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Chinedu Tochukwu Okere, described Nigeria’s medical diaspora as a strategic national asset whose global expertise could significantly improve the country’s healthcare system.
He advocated policies that would encourage greater diaspora participation and urged medical professionals abroad to partner with local institutions, register with relevant professional councils and volunteer their expertise.
Also speaking, Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Miriam Morales Palmero, highlighted the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Cuba, calling for deeper cooperation in healthcare, education and capacity building to promote sustainable development.
Deputy Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Nigeria, Mr. Amr Taha, described the event as an important platform for recognising the contributions of diaspora communities to national development.
He noted that migrants account for about 3.5 per cent of the global population while contributing more than 10 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adding that Nigeria’s medical diaspora contributes far beyond financial remittances through healthcare expertise and knowledge transfer.
Taha reaffirmed IOM Nigeria’s commitment to supporting effective migration management and initiatives that leverage diaspora expertise for development.
European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, congratulated the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative, saying that despite challenges such as brain drain, inadequate infrastructure, limited medical supplies and funding constraints, Nigeria has an opportunity to harness the expertise of its medical professionals abroad.
Similarly, the Head of Office of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Isabelle Wolfsgruber, stressed that the country’s challenge is not a shortage of talent but the need for effective policies and partnerships that can transform available expertise into sustainable impact.
She called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, diaspora professionals, the private sector and international development partners to build a more resilient healthcare system.
Speakers at the event also commended the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for her sustained efforts in promoting diaspora engagement and strengthening partnerships with Nigerians abroad.
The event, themed “Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development,” focused on improving healthcare delivery through diaspora-led medical expertise, mentorship, knowledge transfer and strategic partnerships.
