The Senate has assured Nigerians living abroad that efforts to secure voting rights for the diaspora are progressing, while calling on Nigerian professionals overseas to champion the establishment of vaccine production facilities in the country to strengthen healthcare delivery and national preparedness.
The assurance was given by the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro who represented the Committee Chairman, Senator Eteng Bassey, at the 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The event, themed “Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development,” brought together government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, Nigerian professionals in the diaspora, development partners and key stakeholders from the health sector.
Addressing participants during his goodwill message, the lawmaker commended the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) for sustaining engagement with Nigerians abroad and for promoting initiatives that enable the diaspora to contribute meaningfully to national development.
He assured Nigerians in the diaspora that the National Assembly remained committed to making diaspora voting a reality, expressing optimism that the legislative framework would be concluded before the next electoral cycle.
“As Madam Chairman has said, that is where the National Assembly has a role to play. Diaspora voting is on course. We assure you that by the next dispensation, by the grace of God, it will be accomplished. We will work on it,” he said.
Senator Yaro also challenged Nigerian medical professionals and investors abroad to channel their expertise and resources towards establishing vaccine production facilities in Nigeria.
He said the country must reduce dependence on imported vaccines by developing local manufacturing capacity capable of producing vaccines for diseases such as Ebola and other emerging public health threats.
“I throw a challenge to our colleagues in the diaspora. Before I leave this world, I want to see a vaccine production centre established in the heart of Nigeria. Let us begin to produce even the most difficult vaccines here at home,” he said.
According to him, such investments would not only strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system but also position the country as a regional hub for vaccine research, production and distribution across Africa.
He noted that the 2026 National Diaspora Day theme underscored the critical role of Nigerian professionals abroad in advancing healthcare through medical missions, technology transfer, research collaboration, specialist training and investment.
The lawmaker urged Nigerians in the diaspora to continue supporting the country’s development through innovation, healthcare delivery, education, entrepreneurship and strategic investments.
Earlier, the event was declared open by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
President Tinubu, in his address, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to institutionalising the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative (DHII) to mobilise the expertise of more than 50,000 Nigerian doctors and thousands of other healthcare professionals living abroad in support of healthcare reforms.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, also reiterated the Commission’s appeal for accelerated passage of the Diaspora Voting Bill, describing political inclusion as an important aspect of diaspora engagement.
The celebration featured goodwill messages from the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Tochukwu Okere, representatives of the European Union, the Republic of Türkiye and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as officials of international organisations and development partners.
Participants included members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), diaspora medical associations from across Europe, North America, Australia and Africa, government agencies, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders committed to strengthening diaspora engagement and national development.
