By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Channels Television, Mr. John Momoh, has called for stronger collaboration between Nigeria and its diaspora with a view to harnessing global expertise for national development, particularly in transforming the country’s healthcare system.
Delivering the keynote address at the 2026 National Diaspora Day Celebration and National Diaspora Merit Awards, Momoh described the event as a celebration of excellence, patriotism, and the enduring bond between Nigeria and its citizens across the world.
According to him, “No matter how far a river flows, it never forgets its source,”.
This saying, he reasoned, aptly captures the Nigerian diaspora, whose remarkable achievements across the globe continue to reflect an unwavering connection to their homeland.
He observed that Nigerians are making extraordinary contributions to healthcare and other critical sectors around the world, demonstrating that the country is not short of talent but must create the right opportunities for that talent to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Commending the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) for providing a platform that connects Nigerians abroad with development initiatives at home, Mr. Momoh noted that “when knowledge travels back home, everyone wins.”
He emphasised that healthcare should no longer be viewed merely as a social service but as critical national infrastructure, stressing that building an effective healthcare system requires sustained collaboration among government, the private sector, healthcare professionals, and the diaspora.
According to him, Nigeria must move beyond celebrating the achievements of its healthcare professionals abroad to forging practical partnerships that promote knowledge exchange, skills transfer, research collaboration, and improved healthcare delivery.
He urged stakeholders to harness the multiplier effect of diaspora engagement, noting that this is how nations grow and achieve sustainable development.
Describing human capital as the nation’s greatest asset, Momoh remarked that “every nation’s greatest resource is not what lies beneath the ground, but what lives in its people.”
He added that his optimism about Nigeria remains unshaken, not because the country is without challenges, but because of the resilience, innovation, and determination of its people.
Addressing Nigerians in the diaspora, he thanked them for representing the country with distinction and for flying the Nigerian flag through excellence in their various professions.
He reminded them that success comes with responsibility and that patriotism is measured not only by words but by meaningful contributions to national development.
The veteran Broadcaster also encouraged young Nigerians to seize the opportunities available to them, stressing that true success is measured not only by personal achievements but by the opportunities created for others.
He congratulated recipients of the National Diaspora Merit Awards, describing the honour as recognition of excellence, sacrifice, and outstanding service to the nation.
Momoh urged the awardees to continue opening doors for others while serving as worthy ambassadors of Nigeria’s values and aspirations.
He concluded by calling on all stakeholders to build trust, strengthen partnerships, and translate the expertise of Nigerians in the diaspora into practical solutions that will build a resilient healthcare system, improve the lives of citizens, and accelerate national development.
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