…Mobilises Nigerians health workers diaspora
By Mercy Peter
The 2026 National Diaspora Day will focus on healthcare delivery, the Chairman and Chief Executive of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa has said.
The Diaspora Health Impact Initiative 2026 (DHII 2026) of NIDCOM and Ministry of Health has as its theme:“Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development”.
The programme, Dabiri-Erewa said will feature coordinated medical interventions across the six geopolitical zones from July 20, culminating in the grand finale in Abuja on July 25–26.
She said the programme intends to mobilise global Nigerian medical experts to strengthen local systems.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, NiDCOM Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the initiative is aimed at expanding access to specialist care and improving health outcomes in underserved communities.
Dabiri-Erewa explained that DHII 2026 reflects the government’s commitment to equitable national coverage, spanning the North East, North West, North Central, South East, South South and South West zones.
Under the initiative, seven major diaspora medical associations—including the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA–USA), the Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists (CANPAD–Canada), the Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain (MANSAG–UK), the Concerned Medics Foundation (UK), Nigerian Medical Association Germany, Nigerian-Australian Medical and Dental Association (NAMDA), and the Nigerian Doctors Forum South Africa (NDF-SA)—will deploy to designated states between July 20 and July 23 to deliver specialist clinical services ranging from maternal and neonatal care to neurosurgery and interventional radiology. All teams are expected to reconvene in Abuja on July 24 to submit impact reports ahead of National Diaspora Day.
“This initiative is designed to harness the expertise, innovation and global experience of Nigerian health professionals in the Diaspora to strengthen local health systems and expand access to specialist care, particularly in underserved communities across the country,she said.
She added that beyond over $20 billion in annual remittances, Nigerians abroad continue to contribute through “knowledge transfer, specialist interventions, mentorship and advisory support.” According to her, DHII 2026 provides “a structured national framework for aligning diaspora medical expertise with priority federal and state health needs, in line with the National Diaspora Policy.”
Dabiri-Erewa expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, for their support, calling on diaspora health professionals to “continue to join hands with the government in building resilient, equitable and people-centred healthcare systems across Nigeria.” Representatives of the participating associations and the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council also pledged their commitment to sustaining the initiative.
