Global biopharma executive, Dr Henrietta Ukwu, has called for a more sustainable and strategic approach to engaging Nigerian healthcare professionals in the Diaspora, stressing the need to move beyond periodic medical missions to build lasting systems that strengthen the country’s health sector.

Ukwu made the call during the 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where she participated prominently in discussions on harnessing the expertise of Nigerians living and working abroad to accelerate healthcare development in Nigeria.

The event, held on July 24 and 25, was organised under the theme, “Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development.”

Ukwu moderated the first session of the Returnees Diaspora Discussion, a key session of the programme that focused on the experiences, contributions and opportunities surrounding Nigerians returning home to deploy their expertise.

Her moderation brought together perspectives on how Nigeria could create a more enabling environment for Diaspora professionals seeking to contribute to national development, particularly in healthcare.

The session was widely regarded as one of the major highlights of the Diaspora engagement, with discussions centred on converting international exposure, professional expertise and global networks into sustainable value for Nigeria.

Speaking during the programme, Ukwu emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships in tackling some of the structural challenges confronting Nigeria’s healthcare system.

She noted that Diaspora engagement should not be limited to short-term interventions but should encompass biopharmaceutical innovation, clinical governance, regulatory alignment, mentorship and professional capacity building.

According to her, Nigeria stands to gain significantly when professionals with international experience are provided with structured platforms to contribute to the development of local institutions and systems.

Ukwu stressed that the country must develop mechanisms capable of connecting Nigerian professionals abroad with institutions and professionals at home in ways that encourage continuous knowledge exchange, innovation and capacity development.

Her position aligns with the broader objective of the Nigerians in Diaspora Advance Health Programme (NiDAH-P), launched during the celebration by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in partnership with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.

The initiative seeks to transform the challenge of health-worker migration from “brain drain” to “brain gain” and “brain circulation” by creating structured opportunities for Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad to contribute their skills and expertise to the domestic health system.

For Dr Ukwu, however, the success of such an approach would depend largely on the ability of government, private-sector stakeholders and professional institutions to build systems that make Diaspora participation sustainable.

She advocated stronger collaboration among healthcare institutions, private-sector organisations, regulators, researchers and professionals in the Diaspora, noting that such partnerships could unlock new opportunities in healthcare innovation and improve the capacity of the Nigerian health system.

The event also featured discussions on the growing contribution of Nigerians abroad through specialist interventions, research collaborations, mentorship, telemedicine and institutional partnerships.

Through her participation and moderation of the Returnees Diaspora Discussion, Ukwu underscored the need for Nigeria to view its global professional community not simply as a source of remittances, but as a strategic reservoir of knowledge, innovation, experience and investment.

Her intervention further reinforced the growing call for a structured framework that would enable Nigerians returning from abroad to effectively reintegrate their expertise into national development.

The 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration therefore provided a platform for renewed conversations on how Nigeria can build stronger bridges between its professionals at home and abroad, with Dr Henrietta Ukwu playing a notable role in driving the conversation toward sustainable partnerships, innovation and healthcare transformation.