First Lady Receives Diaspora Health Award, Urges Sustained Support for Nigeria’s Healthcare

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called on Nigerian healthcare professionals in the diaspora to deepen their support for the country’s health sector, announcing that 70 medical experts will soon return to Nigeria under the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative (DHII) to provide medical services, specialist training and capacity-building programmes.

Tinubu made the appeal on Saturday while receiving the Diaspora Health and Humanity Champion Award at the 2026 National Diaspora Merit Awards in Abuja.

Represented by the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the First Lady described the recognition as a renewed call to strengthen partnerships aimed at improving access to quality healthcare across Nigeria.

The award, presented during the fourth edition of the National Diaspora Merit Awards organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), recognised her contributions to healthcare advocacy and humanitarian development.

Speaking at the event, themed “Harnessing Global Diaspora Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development,” Tinubu said the planned return of 70 Nigerian medical professionals under the DHII demonstrates the patriotism and commitment of citizens abroad to improving healthcare delivery at home.

She urged Nigerian healthcare professionals in the diaspora to continue contributing their expertise, knowledge and experience to the country’s health sector, particularly through specialist medical missions, mentorship and the training of young healthcare workers.

According to a statement by the Special Assistant on Media and ICT to the Vice President, Kwapchi Bata Hamman, the initiative is expected to strengthen healthcare capacity by facilitating knowledge transfer, specialist care and professional development within Nigeria’s medical system.

The event brought together healthcare professionals, policymakers, development partners and members of the Nigerian diaspora to explore ways of leveraging global expertise to strengthen local health systems and improve healthcare outcomes across the country.