The Federal Government has inaugurated the Technical Working Committee aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s healthcare sector through the integration of diaspora expertise.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa inaugurated the Technical Working Committee on Tuesday in Abuja.
Alausa said that the government’s commitment to leveraging the skills and knowledge of Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad was part of a broader nation-building effort.
“The initiative, named the Nigerian Health Professionals in Diaspora Close Engagement Programme, seeks to formalise and scale the contributions of Nigerian healthcare professionals.
“These professionals have been actively involved in medical missions, health education, and public health interventions globally,” he said.
The minister highlighted the programme’s goal of creating a platform for mutual learning and collaboration between diaspora health professionals and their counterparts in Nigeria.
“This is not just another initiative. It is a visionary project designed to harness the invaluable expertise of our global healthcare workforce.
“Our aim is to not only improve our healthcare system but also to foster long-term, sustainable engagement,” he said.
He underscored the critical role of the committee in aligning the programme with the needs of Nigeria’s healthcare institutions and broader health framework.
The minister said that part of the terms of reference is to coordinate the implementation of the National Health Professional Indiaspora Plus Engagement Programme.
He said that it would also recommend strategies for coordinating the activities of the programme.
“To support the prioritisation of initiatives that facilitate effective knowledge and skill transfer to Nigerian students and health professionals.
“Recommend courses, tutorials, and seminars, including virtual ones, that provide cutting-edge perspectives in health sciences to home-based health professionals and students in training institutions.
“Identify workshops for hands-on demonstration, practice simulation, experience sharing, and actual service delivery at health institutions under the programme, among others,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, the Chairman of, the Technical Working Committee, Prof. Sydney Ibranusi, said that the initiative marked a significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to harness the global talents of its diaspora.
Ibranusi said that the idea was to address local healthcare challenges and build a more resilient health system.
He emphasised the responsibilities and transformative potential of the committee in enhancing Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
He stressed the importance of collaboration, strategic planning, and sustainability in integrating the programme into the national health strategy.
The President of the Medical Association of Nigeria, United Kingdom, Dr Chris Agbo, said that the association warmly welcomed this development.
Agbo said that members of his association were committed to the strategies and processes involved in improving Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The President of, the Physicians Association of Canada (PACA), Dr Itua Iriogbe, said that as a body, the assistant would ensure that the country’s health care system was at the forefront of providing what was expected.
“We are fully committed in making Nigeria health system a better one,” Iriogbe said.
The President of, the Association of Nigerian Physicians in America (ANPA), Dr Cliff Eke, said that the association had been in existence for more than 10 years, adding that this is an opportunity to make it stronger.
“We are ready to do all we can. Every year we come to Nigeria to have ANPA week where we have advocacy curriculum in education, free health care services.
“We want to come to Nigeria for a convention on November 30th to celebrate our 30th anniversary, and we need the ministry to actualise it,” Eke said.
The President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, Dr Pamela Ajayi, highlighted the role of the federation in addressing the issue of brain drain in the country’s health sector.
Ajayi explained the federation’s efforts to support both the Ministry of Health and private sector initiatives to combat this challenge.
She gave details of the federation’s ongoing work to counteract brain drain, and its collaboration with various stakeholders, including AMPA and other partners.
She said that the federation’s initiatives were to provide a soft landing for health professionals returning to Nigeria, whether they aimed to work in the public or private sectors.
She highlighted how the federation represented the private sector and was working to integrate returning professionals into this sector, showcasing the benefits of this approach.
She called on health professionals, both domestic and international, to engage with the federation to explore opportunities within the country’s healthcare system.
NAN
