The Federal Government has commended Nigerian health professionals in the diaspora for their contributions to improving healthcare delivery across the country, describing their efforts as a demonstration of patriotism and a catalyst for health sector transformation.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, gave the commendation at the 2026 National Diaspora Merit Award Dinner and closing ceremony of the Nigeria Diaspora Health Impact Initiative (NDHII) in Abuja.
Salako congratulated recipients of the National Diaspora Merit Award and expressed appreciation to thousands of Nigerian healthcare professionals from around the world who voluntarily returned home to provide specialist medical services, conduct life-saving surgeries, mentor healthcare workers and strengthen local health systems.
He said medical teams from organisations such as the Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists (CANPAD), Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain (MANSAG), Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), Nigerian Australian Medical Doctors Association (NAMDA), Nigerian Doctors Forum South Africa, Nigerian Medical Association Germany, Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association UK and the Concerned Medics Foundation delivered healthcare services across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
According to the minister, the 2026 Nigeria Diaspora Health Impact Initiative benefited nearly 10,000 Nigerians through medical consultations, specialist surgeries, diagnostics, telemedicine services, sickle cell screening and other interventions, while more than 2,000 frontline healthcare workers received specialised training.
He highlighted achievements of the initiative, including the training of over 1,000 frontline health workers in the Safer Births Bundle of Care in Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto; more than 4,000 medical consultations and over 500 surgeries in Enugu, Imo and Abia; advanced neurosurgery, interventional radiology and endoscopy procedures in Lagos; ultrasound-based diagnosis training for endometriosis in Edo State; and expanded telemedicine and primary healthcare services in the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State.
Salako reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with Nigerians in the diaspora through simplified licensing procedures, support for medical missions, and incentives for investments in hospitals, diagnostic centres and pharmaceutical industries.
He also urged healthcare professionals abroad to register on the newly launched Nigerians in Diaspora Advanced Health Programme (NiDAH) Portal and the Diaspora Health Registry to enable them contribute more effectively to the development of Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The Minister commended the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, her team, state governments and development partners for the successful implementation of the initiative.