2026 DIASPORA DAY: FG UNVEILS INITIATIVE TO ENGAGE 50,000 DIASPORA DOCTORS IN HEALTH SECTOR

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By ‘Sefiu Ajape

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to tap into the expertise of more than 50,000 Nigerian doctors and thousands of other healthcare professionals in the diaspora to strengthen the country’s health system through the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative (DHII) 2026.

The initiative was highlighted during the 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration held on Friday at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, themed “Harnessing Global Diaspora Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development.”

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, described Nigerians in the diaspora as one of the nation’s greatest strategic assets, stressing the government’s commitment to leveraging their expertise beyond remittances and investments.

According to him, the DHII is designed to harness the knowledge, innovation and professional networks of Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad through knowledge transfer, specialist medical outreach, capacity building, clinical mentorship, research collaboration and health workforce development.

He noted that the initiative is already improving access to healthcare, enhancing service delivery, reducing health disparities and advancing universal health coverage across Nigeria.

“The diaspora remains one of Nigeria’s most strategic assets, serving as a bridge for diplomacy, technology transfer and global partnership well beyond remittances and investment,” Enikanolaiye said.

He added that robust health systems are critical to economic growth, social stability and national resilience, noting that linking Nigerian medical experts abroad with local healthcare needs would help build a healthier and more prosperous nation.

The minister also reaffirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ commitment to deepening engagement with Nigerians abroad and commended the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and the commission’s management for advancing diaspora participation through initiatives such as the DHII.

In her remarks, Dabiri-Erewa said NiDCOM had moved “from policy to impact” since its establishment, adding that Nigerians in the diaspora now enjoy a stronger voice in government.

She revealed that the Federal Executive Council had approved the National Diaspora Policy 2021 and disclosed that nearly all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory had appointed State Diaspora Focal Point Officers to coordinate diaspora-related affairs.

She also announced progress on the National Diaspora Database, developed in partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and urged Nigerians abroad to register their profiles.

Highlighting achievements under the DHII, Dabiri-Erewa said diaspora physician associations had carried out medical missions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, providing specialist services in maternal and child healthcare, sickle cell screening, emergency surgery and neurosurgery.

She added that diaspora medical organisations had donated medical equipment worth billions of naira to hospitals and primary healthcare centres, while the Diaspora Bridge Programme continued to facilitate lectures and sabbaticals by Nigerian academics abroad.

The NiDCOM boss further announced a new Silicon Valley Tech Bridge partnership with San José State University to equip young Nigerians with skills in emerging technologies.

On the economic front, she disclosed that diaspora remittances rose from $17bn in 2019 to more than $21bn in 2025, while investment summits have been scheduled for Abuja and Toronto in August.

She also announced a partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to provide affordable housing opportunities for Nigerians in the diaspora, with the initiative set for launch in the United Kingdom next month.

Dabiri-Erewa recalled the contributions of Nigerians abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic, floods and other humanitarian crises, as well as NiDCOM’s role in coordinating the evacuation of distressed Nigerians from Sudan, Ukraine, Libya and South Africa.

She said the commission had also intervened in more than 1,200 cases involving detained or mistreated Nigerians overseas and commended diaspora advocates for supporting the rescue of trafficking victims, including the recent return of a Nigerian girl trafficked to Cairo, Egypt.

The NiDCOM chairman appealed to the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the diaspora voting bill to enable Nigerians living abroad to participate in elections.

She also disclosed that the commission had honoured 91 Nigerians abroad over the past four years with Diaspora Excellence and National Diaspora Merit Awards in recognition of their contributions to science, healthcare, sports and humanitarian service.

Looking ahead, Dabiri-Erewa announced plans to establish a Diaspora Investment Fund and a National Diaspora Health Corps aimed at engaging 1,000 diaspora health professionals annually.

Expressing appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting diaspora engagement, she described Nigerians abroad as “our ambassadors at large,” noting that they are building hospitals, training doctors and projecting a positive image of Nigeria across the world.

“We are one nation, one people. The journey continues and the best is yet to come,” she said.