NiDCOM Unveils Diaspora Health Impact Initiative 2026 to Boost Nigeria’s Healthcare
Oru Leonard
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Unveils Diaspora Health Impact Initiative (DHII) 2026 to Strengthen Nigeria’s Healthcare System
Abuja, Nigeria – February 18, 2026
The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, OON, on Wednesday formally announced the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative 2026 (DHII 2026) at a press conference held at the State House New Conference Building, Abuja.
Addressing members of the press, health sector representatives, development partners, professional bodies, diaspora medical associations, and distinguished stakeholders, Dr. Dabiri-Erewa described DHII 2026 as a landmark national health intervention platform designed to harness the expertise of Nigerian medical professionals in the diaspora to strengthen healthcare delivery across the country.
Scheduled to take place one week before Nigeria’s annual National Diaspora Day celebrated every July 25, DHII 2026 carries the theme:
“Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development.”
The initiative will run from July 20–23, 2026, delivering coordinated medical outreach, specialist interventions, capacity building, and systems strengthening programmes across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.
Rationale: Harnessing Diaspora Expertise Beyond Remittances
Dr. Dabiri-Erewa highlighted that Nigerian diaspora remittances exceed $20 billion annually, but emphasized that the intellectual capital, specialist skills, mentorship, and systems expertise of Nigerian health professionals abroad represent an even more transformative national asset.
DHII 2026 provides a structured framework to align diaspora expertise with priority national and state health needs, particularly in underserved communities.
Through the National Diaspora Policy and structured engagement platforms, diaspora professionals have already contributed significantly to:
Medical outreach programmes
Capacity building and specialist training
Health education and mentorship
Policy dialogue and advisory roles
DHII 2026 consolidates these efforts into a focused and sustainable health-impact framework.
The initiative aims to:
Strengthen healthcare delivery through targeted specialist medical interventions
Facilitate sustainable knowledge and skills transfer.
Improve access to quality healthcare in underserved communities
Enhance clinical governance and health systems management.
Promote innovative medical technologies and diagnostics.
Foster long-term diaspora–local institutional partnerships.
Generate evidence-based data to inform national health policy and reform
Strategic Partnerships.
DHII 2026 is being implemented in collaboration with key institutions, including:
Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Federal Ministry of Education
Nigerian Medical Association
Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria
Nationwide Medical Deployment: Participating Diaspora Associations
Seven major diaspora medical associations will lead specialized interventions across designated states:
– Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA).
Lead: Dr. Cliff Eke
States: Imo, Abia, Enugu
Focus: Advanced specialist lectures, Basic Life Support (adult & pediatric), ECHO programmes
– Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists (CANPAD).
Lead: Dr. Itua Iriogbe
Location: Federal Capital Territory (Abuja)
Focus: Medical leadership, governance, health systems strengthening
– Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain (MANSAG).
Lead: Dr. Jide Menakaya
States: Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto
Focus: Maternal, newborn and child health; obstetrics and neonatal care
– Concerned Medics Foundation (CMF)
Lead: Dr. Sadiya Gumi-Bennett
State: Borno
Focus: Sickle cell disease screening and management
– Nigerian Medical Association Germany
Lead: Dr. Mariam Adamu
Locations: Abuja, Nasarawa (Keffi)
Focus: Cervical cancer screening, POCUS, echocardiography
– Nigerian-Australian Medical & Dental Association (NAMDA)
Lead: Dr. Uche Menakaya
States: Bayelsa, Edo (Benin City), Akwa Ibom (Uyo), Rivers (Port Harcourt)
Focus: Endometriosis care, reproductive health diagnostics, women’s health
– Nigerian Doctors Forum South Africa (NDF-SA)
Lead: Dr. Kunle Akanbi
State: Lagos
Focus: Interventional radiology, neurosurgery, gastro-endoscopy.
DHII 2026 will officially flag off in Abuja at the start of Diaspora Week 2026. Following the launch, participating associations will deploy to their assigned states.
After completing field operations, all associations will return to Abuja on July 24, 2026, to present outcomes, impact data, and lessons learned during the National Diaspora Day celebration on July 26, 2026.
The national showcase will promote accountability, policy dialogue, and scaling of successful models.
Dr. Dabiri-Erewa expressed profound appreciation to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his consistent support of diaspora engagement as a strategic pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy and national development agenda.
NiDCOM called on Nigerian health professionals in the diaspora to join the DHII 2026 initiative as partners in building resilient, equitable, and people-centered healthcare systems across Nigeria.
“Let DHII 2026 be remembered as a pioneering coordinated national effort where diaspora expertise translates into measurable health impact,” Dr. Dabiri-Erewa stated.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) is the federal agency responsible for engaging and mobilizing Nigerians in the diaspora for national development.
