The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has called for the full integration of diaspora health resources into national and global health strategies, describing Nigerian professionals abroad as a critical asset for strengthening healthcare systems.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the call while delivering a keynote address at the 2026 United Kingdom Global Health Summit held at the Royal College of Physicians in London.
He noted that over 150,000 Nigerian health professionals in the diaspora represent a vast pool of expertise, networks, and capital that could accelerate healthcare development.
The minister urged host countries, international organisations, and diaspora groups to formalise and expand ongoing collaborative programmes.
Dr. Salako also advocated increased investment in health research and innovation, stressing the need for equity in the global research ecosystem to ensure that low- and middle-income countries are adequately represented.
Addressing workforce migration, he called for a structured global framework, including managed migration agreements with clear performance indicators. He criticised the current trend where developing nations bear the cost of training health workers while developed countries benefit disproportionately.
He proposed bilateral and multilateral agreements that would include compensation mechanisms, joint training initiatives, circular migration pathways, and investment in healthcare training infrastructure in source countries.
The minister emphasised the importance of global cooperation in addressing the health workforce crisis, noting that no country can tackle the challenge in isolation.
He highlighted ongoing reforms under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including a significant expansion in medical education. According to him, medical school admissions increased by about 160 per cent between 2023 and 2025, alongside similar growth in the training of nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals.
Dr. Salako added that the government is strengthening paramedical training institutions and implementing task-shifting policies in line with World Health Organization recommendations to maximise the roles of community health workers.
He said efforts are also underway to improve working conditions and welfare for healthcare personnel to curb migration.
On financing, the minister reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to allocating 15 per cent of its national budget to health, in line with the Abuja Declaration target, while calling for increased international support and innovative funding mechanisms such as health bonds and public-private partnerships.
Dr. Salako acknowledged that Nigeria’s health sector faces multiple challenges, including underfunding, infrastructure deficits, high out-of-pocket costs, and disparities between rural and urban areas.
He concluded by urging global stakeholders to work collaboratively toward building a more equitable and resilient health system.
The statement was signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations.