President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerian medical professionals living abroad to encourage more of their colleagues in the diaspora to return home and contribute to the country’s development.
The President made the appeal on Friday while receiving members of the Nigerian Diaspora Medical Associations, led by the Director-General of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Reflecting on his own experience of studying and working in the United States before returning to Nigeria, Tinubu said his decision to come back had been rewarding and urged Nigerians overseas to follow a similar path.
“I’ve been through that journey. I’m home, and I can tell you there’s nowhere like home. I’ve experienced being in America. I’ve taken the best of America in my chosen profession, accountancy and finance.
“I can’t forget the Standard Oil Building in Chicago and my first week there. But since I came back from Mobil to now, it has been a very good challenge to commit and endure the possibility of turning Nigeria around,” he said.
The President noted that many Nigerians abroad had witnessed the realities and challenges of living overseas and could play a vital role in nation-building by bringing their expertise back home.
He urged the delegation to serve as ambassadors by persuading more Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad to return.
“My friends who are still there, try to attract them home. But the best way to demonstrate to you is for me to commit myself to my agenda, the Renewed Hope, so that the hope of Nigerians of having a better environment, better education, better development and prosperity can be realised,” Tinubu said.
He described the contributions of diaspora medical practitioners as invaluable, stressing that their expertise would help lay a stronger foundation for future generations.
“Your children will see the foundation of this country as belonging to them, and the future belonging to them is what we are working hard for. Your coming to help is immeasurable,” he added.
Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to reducing poverty and improving the quality of life for Nigerians.
“Poverty is not acceptable. We won’t accept it. We will fight it. We will bring prosperity. We will bring care to our people,” the President said.
