President says Nigeria needs the expertise, innovation and patriotism of medical professionals abroad to build a world-class healthcare system.
President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerian medical doctors and other healthcare professionals in the diaspora to return home and contribute their expertise to the ongoing transformation of the nation’s healthcare sector.
The President made the appeal while receiving a delegation of Nigerian healthcare professionals who recently conducted medical outreach programmes across the country.
President Tinubu said Nigeria needs the knowledge, innovation, experience and patriotism of its highly skilled professionals abroad to build a resilient and world-class healthcare system that meets the needs of all citizens.
“It is a very great joy to see that you are coming back to facilitate your singular motivation to help your country meet the needs of our people. Seeing your indivisible commitment to humanity is part of your oath and commitment in life. I thank all of you,” the President said.
Reflecting on his own experience abroad, Tinubu said there was no place like home and urged the visiting professionals to play their part in national development.
“I have been through that journey, I’m home now and I can tell you there’s nowhere like home. Some people built the societies where you are today because they remained focused on developing their nations and continents,” he said.
The President recalled returning to Nigeria after his professional career with Deloitte and Touche and Mobil to contribute to nation-building.
He reaffirmed that the Renewed Hope Agenda places healthcare at the centre of national development, noting that the Federal Government is implementing far-reaching reforms to strengthen primary healthcare, expand access to quality medical services and encourage greater collaboration with Nigerian professionals in the diaspora.
According to him, the reforms are being driven through sustained investments in medical education, research, digital health infrastructure, improved welfare for healthcare workers and policies aimed at reversing the trend of brain drain.
“Poverty and lack of development remain challenges for Africa, but this is the heart of Africa. I have interacted with many of our friends abroad in an effort to attract them home. The best way to demonstrate my commitment is to remain focused on the Renewed Hope Agenda so that Nigerians can enjoy a better environment, quality education, development and prosperity,” President Tinubu said.
The President commended the doctors for their commitment to humanity through their recent medical outreaches across the North-East, North-West, South-East, South-West and other parts of the country.
He noted that their voluntary services, which provided specialist medical care, surgeries, consultations, health education and life-saving interventions to thousands of Nigerians, reflected the compassion, patriotism and excellence for which Nigerians are known globally.
President Tinubu urged the healthcare professionals to serve as ambassadors of Nigeria’s renewed optimism by encouraging more Nigerians abroad to reconnect with home through partnerships, investments, knowledge exchange and permanent return where possible.
Earlier, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the visiting professionals had demonstrated their commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s healthcare delivery agenda through their contributions across the country.
According to her, many Nigerians abroad are eager to contribute their knowledge and expertise towards national development.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, also commended the commitment of the diaspora medical professionals, describing it as a validation of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the health sector.
He said the administration’s declaration that the health of every Nigerian is a matter of urgent priority has inspired healthcare professionals abroad to support ongoing reforms.
“These are highly motivated and prepared Nigerians who want to give back to their country,” Salako stated.
Members of the delegation included Dr. Jide Menakaya, Dr. Kunle Akanbi, Dr. Uche Menakaya, Dr. Itua Iriogbe, Dr. Cliff Ike, Dr. Hamid Balogun, Dr. Sadiya Gumi, Dr. Benjamin Anyanwu, Dr. Emilia Iwu, Dr. Timileyin Oluseye, Dr. Charles Adekunle and several other Nigerian healthcare professionals in the diaspora.