President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday urged Nigerian medical professionals in the diaspora to return home and contribute their expertise to national development, assuring them that his administration is creating an environment that will enable citizens to thrive and participate meaningfully in rebuilding the country.

The President made the appeal while receiving members of the Nigerian Diaspora Medical Associations at the State House, Abuja.

The delegation was led by the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Tinubu commended the visiting medical professionals for their commitment to Nigeria despite their careers abroad, describing their decision to support the country’s healthcare system as a demonstration of patriotism and service to humanity.

“It is a very great joy to see that you are coming back to facilitate your single motivation to help your country, the need of our people. Your indivisible commitment to humanity is part of your singular oath and commitment in life. I thank all of you.

“I’ve been through that journey. I’m home, and I can tell you, there’s nowhere like home. 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, and your coming to help is immeasurable”, the President said.

He assured the delegation that his administration would continue implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda with a focus on improving the quality of life for Nigerians through better healthcare, education, infrastructure and economic opportunities.

The President stressed that poverty remained one of Africa’s greatest challenges but insisted that Nigeria possessed the capacity to overcome it through purposeful leadership, sustained development and collective national effort.

“Poverty and lack of development is a challenge to Africa. But what do you see as a Nigerian? This is the heart of Africa. 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 better environment, better education, better development and prosperity, and that your hope that this part of the continent will change for good, for better, for an improved, hospitable environment.

“Strong determination and stay focused. Poverty is not acceptable. We won’t accept it. We will fight it. We will bring prosperity. We will bring care to our people”, he said.

Tinubu also reflected on Nigeria’s democratic evolution, noting that although the country’s democratic institutions were still relatively young, they were steadily progressing towards greater stability and national renewal.

“If you look at the journey so far, we are still very young. We are in our infancy. If you look at 250 years of American democracy and the centuries of British governance”, he said.

The President reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening democratic governance, describing Nigeria’s ethnic, religious and professional diversity as a strategic asset that should be harnessed to advance national development.

“All I can promise you is, within the confinement of a democratic up and down, twist and turn, our diversity is flourishing, both professionally, ethnically, and religiously, we are working on the stability”, Tinubu said.

He assured the visiting medical professionals that his administration would remain focused on building a more prosperous, stable and inclusive Nigeria where citizens at home and abroad could contribute meaningfully to the nation’s progress. (The Nation)