The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made this announcement during a special address at the National Diaspora Merit Award Dinner held at the State House in Abuja. The event celebrated the conclusion of the initiative and coincided with the culmination of the 2026 Diaspora Day Celebration.
Dr. Salako commended the returning medical professionals, emphasizing their contributions as a testament to "patriotism made visible." He highlighted the significant impact of their expertise on communities nationwide.
For several weeks, Nigerian medical experts from various diaspora organizations, including the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) and the Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain (MANSAG), traveled back to Nigeria to offer their skills and knowledge.
In specific regional interventions, UK-based specialists trained over 1,000 frontline health workers in the North-West, focusing on the Safer Births Bundle of Care (SBBC) to significantly reduce maternal and child mortality rates. In the South-East, US-based doctors performed over 500 surgeries and conducted 4,000 medical consultations while training 500 local health personnel.
In the South-West, doctors from South Africa executed more than 70 advanced medical procedures at hospitals in Lagos. Additionally, in the South-South region, Nigerian-Australian specialists led masterclasses on ultrasound-based diagnosis for endometriosis, addressing undetected infertility issues. Meanwhile, teams in the North-East and North-Central targeted sickle cell testing in secondary schools and expanded primary healthcare services through digital health initiatives.
Dr. Salako reframed the traditional narrative around the migration of Nigerian health personnel, arguing that it is an oversimplification to view this as a passive 'natural disaster.' He pointed to systemic issues such as remuneration, working conditions, and professional development as key factors driving this migration.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Health Agenda, the Federal Government is focused on rebuilding the health sector to stem the estimated ₦4.8 trillion lost annually to preventable diseases and medical tourism.
To ensure sustained collaboration, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in partnership with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), announced the launch of the Nigerians in Diaspora Advance Health Programme Portal (NiDAH-P) and a new Diaspora Health Registry. These tools aim to connect diaspora expertise directly to critical healthcare needs within Nigeria.
Dr. Salako also promised ongoing institutional reforms, including streamlined licensing for foreign-based clinicians, customs and visa waivers for medical missions, and expanded frameworks for diaspora-funded healthcare projects.
He expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his support, as well as to NiDCOM Chairman Hon. (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa and the state governments that facilitated the initiative.
In closing, the Minister urged global medical professionals to continue engaging with Nigeria through telemedicine, clinical research, and public-private partnerships. "The health system in Nigeria will ultimately be built by Nigerians, wherever they may reside," Dr. Salako stated. "Let this evening mark not a farewell, but a renewal of our commitment to collaboration."
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