By Jane Okeke
Key stakeholders have endorsed the Federal Government’s Diaspora Health Impact Initiative (DHII), describing it as a strategic platform for leveraging the expertise of Nigerians in the diaspora to strengthen the country’s healthcare system and accelerate national development.
The endorsement came during the 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration in Abuja, where representatives of the National Assembly, diplomatic missions, international organisations, state governments and federal agencies pledged support for the initiative spearheaded by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Aniekan Bassey, represented by Senator Anthony Yari, called for stronger collaboration with Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad to improve healthcare delivery nationwide.
He urged stakeholders to foster sustainable partnerships through research, telemedicine, mentorship and strategic investments, while commending Nigerian medical professionals in the diaspora for their continued contributions to the country’s health sector.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Chinedu Tochukwu Okere, described Nigeria’s medical diaspora as a valuable national asset capable of transforming the nation’s healthcare system through global expertise and innovation.
Okere advocated policies that would encourage greater diaspora participation and urged medical professionals abroad to collaborate with local institutions, register with relevant professional bodies and volunteer their expertise.
The Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Miriam Morales Palmero, highlighted the longstanding bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Cuba, calling for deeper cooperation in healthcare, education and capacity building to support sustainable development.
In his remarks, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Nigeria, Mr. Amr Taha, described the gathering as a vital 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 but contribute more than 10 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), stressing that Nigeria’s medical diaspora contributes not only through remittances but also through knowledge transfer, innovation and healthcare expertise.
Taha reaffirmed the IOM’s commitment to supporting migration policies that effectively harness diaspora expertise for national development.
Similarly, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, commended the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission for initiating the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative, noting that while Nigeria continues to grapple with brain drain, inadequate infrastructure and funding challenges, the country possesses enormous opportunities to tap into the expertise of its medical professionals abroad.
Also speaking, the Head of Office of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Isabelle Wolfsgruber, said Nigeria’s challenge was not a lack of skilled professionals but the need for stronger policies and partnerships capable of translating available expertise into lasting impact.
She called for closer collaboration among government institutions, diaspora professionals, development partners and the private sector to build a more resilient and efficient healthcare system.
Participants at the event also praised the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for her sustained efforts in deepening diaspora engagement and strengthening partnerships with Nigerians living abroad.
The 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration, themed “Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development,” focused on promoting healthcare delivery through diaspora-led medical missions, mentorship, knowledge transfer and strategic partnerships aimed at improving Nigeria’s health sector.
