NiDCOM launches Diaspora Health Impact Initiative 2026, deploying Nigerian doctors abroad to strengthen local healthcare systems nationwide

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has unveiled plans to deploy Nigerian medical professionals living abroad to states across the country this year, aiming to enhance healthcare services nationwide.

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Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Dabiri-Erewa launched the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative 2026 (DHII 2026).

The programme, themed “Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development,” will bring diaspora-based doctors and specialists to multiple geopolitical zones to conduct medical interventions and provide professional training.

Dabiri-Erewa highlighted that while Nigeria benefits from diaspora remittances exceeding $20 billion annually, the technical expertise of Nigerian medical professionals overseas remains largely untapped.

“Beyond financial remittances, their knowledge transfer, specialist care, mentorship and systems expertise represent a powerful tool for national health transformation,” she said.

Under the initiative, seven diaspora-based medical associations will be deployed to states including Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Nasarawa, Abia, Sokoto, and Kaduna between 20th and 23rd July 2026, ahead of the annual National Diaspora Day on 25th July.

Participating organisations include:

Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas
Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists
Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain
Concerned Medics Foundation
Nigerian Medical Association Germany
Nigerian-Australian Medical & Dental Association
Nigerian Doctors Forum- South Africa

The interventions will cover specialist lectures, maternal and neonatal health, sickle cell screening, women’s health screening, point-of-care ultrasound, interventional radiology, neurosurgery, reproductive health diagnostics, medical leadership, and health governance.

Dabiri-Erewa stressed that DHII 2026 will prioritise sustainable capacity building rather than short-term outreach, aiming to improve access to specialist services, strengthen institutional capacity, enhance clinical competence of local health professionals, and generate measurable health data.

She also thanked President Bola Tinubu for supporting diaspora engagement, calling it a “strategic pillar in our foreign policy agenda for national development.”

“Let DHII 2026 be remembered as a pioneering coordinated national effort where diaspora expertise translated into measurable health impact,” she added.

Dr Fatima Kyari, CEO of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, assured that the council would facilitate licensing for all participating medical personnel, ensuring smooth collaboration with local health institutions.

Hamid Balogun, Vice President of the Nigerian Medical Association Germany, emphasised the need for long-term sustainability, noting that the initiative should go beyond a one-off intervention.

The programme comes amid ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s health sector, including shortages of specialist doctors, uneven distribution of medical personnel, and limited access to advanced care in rural and underserved areas.

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At the same time, thousands of Nigerian-trained medical professionals now practise abroad, contributing significantly to global healthcare systems.