The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has announced plans to deploy Nigerian medical professionals living abroad to various states this year, aiming to strengthen healthcare delivery across the country.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, NiDCOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, unveiled the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative (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 geopolitical zones to provide medical interventions and professional training.
Dabiri-Erewa noted that while Nigeria receives over $20 billion in annual diaspora remittances, the technical expertise of Nigerian medical professionals abroad 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 Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Nasarawa, Abia, Sokoto, and Kaduna between July 20 and 23, ahead of the annual National Diaspora Day on July 25.
Participating organisations include the 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, and Nigerian Doctors Forum – South Africa.
The programme 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 emphasized that the initiative focuses on sustainable capacity building rather than short-term outreach, with expected outcomes including improved access to specialist services, enhanced clinical competence, strengthened institutional capacity, and generation of measurable health data.
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Dr Fatima Kyari, Chief Executive Officer of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, assured that the council would facilitate the licensing of all participating medical personnel and collaborate with other health institutions to ensure the initiative’s success.
She described the programme as a step toward encouraging more active contributions from Nigerians abroad to the country’s health sector.
Hamid Balogun, Vice President of the Nigerian Medical Association Germany, stressed that sustainability is key, noting that DHII should go beyond one-off interventions.
Nigeria’s health sector has long faced shortages of specialist doctors, uneven distribution of medical personnel, and limited access to advanced care, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The initiative seeks to leverage the expertise of thousands of Nigerian-trained medical professionals practising abroad to help address these gaps.