The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Channels Television, John Momoh, has called for stronger collaboration between Nigeria and its diaspora community to harness global expertise and accelerate the transformation of the nation’s healthcare system.

Momoh calls on Nigerians in the diaspora to use their global success to create opportunities that will transform lives and accelerate national development.

He urges diaspora professionals to move beyond goodwill by investing their knowledge, expertise and resources in Nigeria.

Momoh stresses that the true measure of success lies not in personal achievements, but in the lives transformed through service, mentorship and sustained collaboration with the homeland.

He made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 National Diaspora Day Celebration and National Diaspora Merit Awards held in Abuja, where he described the event as a celebration of excellence, patriotism, and the enduring bond between Nigeria and its citizens across the globe.

Drawing from the proverb, “No matter how far a river flows, it never forgets its source,” Momoh said the Nigerian diaspora continues to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the country’s development through outstanding contributions in healthcare and other critical sectors worldwide.

He observed that while Nigerians have excelled across the globe, the country must create the right environment for its talented citizens to contribute meaningfully to national development.

The veteran broadcaster commended the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) for providing a platform that connects Nigerians abroad with development initiatives at home, noting that “when knowledge travels back home, everyone wins.”

Momoh stressed that healthcare should no longer be viewed merely as a social service but as critical national infrastructure requiring sustained collaboration among government, the private sector, healthcare professionals, and Nigerians in the diaspora.

He urged the nation to move beyond celebrating the achievements of healthcare professionals abroad and instead build practical partnerships that encourage knowledge exchange, skills transfer, research collaboration, and improved healthcare delivery.

According to him, harnessing the multiplier effect of diaspora engagement is essential for sustainable national development, describing human capital as Nigeria’s greatest asset.

“Every nation’s greatest resource is not what lies beneath the ground, but what lives in its people,” he said, expressing confidence that Nigeria’s resilience, innovation, and determination would overcome existing challenges.

Addressing Nigerians in the diaspora, Momoh thanked them for projecting the country’s image positively through excellence in their various professions, while reminding them that patriotism is best demonstrated through meaningful contributions to national development.

He also encouraged young Nigerians to maximise available opportunities, stressing that true success is measured not only by personal achievements but by the opportunities created for others.

Congratulating recipients of the National Diaspora Merit Awards, Momoh described the recognition as a celebration of excellence, sacrifice, and outstanding service to the nation, urging them to continue serving as worthy ambassadors of Nigeria while opening doors for others.

He concluded by calling on all stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, build trust, and translate the expertise of Nigerians in the diaspora into practical solutions that will deliver a resilient healthcare system, improve citizens’ wellbeing, and drive national development.

See the full text of his speech below:

KEYNOTE SPEECH DELIVERED BY DR JOHN MOMOH, ON THE THEME: DIASPORA HEALTHCARE INITIATIVES AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

PROTOCOLS

Good evening, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is a great pleasure to be here this evening.

How many of you have lived outside Nigeria for more than ten years.

More than fifteen years?

Now let me ask one final question.

How many of you still call Nigeria ‘home’?

That is why I believe an old African proverb is true.

‘No matter how far a river flows, it never forgets its source’.

I think that proverb describes every Nigerian gathered in this room tonight.

Over the years, my work has taken me to many parts of the world. Wherever I have travelled—whether in Africa, Europe, North America the Middle East or Asia, one thing has always fascinated me.

You meet Nigerians everywhere.

Sometimes you hear the accent before you even see the person. Sometimes it’s the warmth of the greeting. Sometimes it’s simply the confidence with which they carry themselves. And before long, the conversation begins.

“Where in Nigeria are you from?”

It happens almost every time.

And what always strikes me is this: no matter how far Nigerians travel, there remains an unmistakable connection to home.

That is what we are celebrating tonight.

We are celebrating Nigerians who have crossed borders without breaking ties.

People who have built successful careers around the world, but whose hearts still beat for the country that gave them their start.

I think there is an important lesson in that. As another African proverb goes, “The tree never forgets the soil from which it grew,” words that have been etched in my memory ever since I found them.

They remind us that while success may take us to different places, our roots continue to shape who we are. Which is exactly what this evening represents.

This is much more than an awards ceremony. It is a celebration of service, a celebration of excellence and
patriotism that knows no borders. Above all, it is a reminder that wherever Nigerians may live, Nigeria still lives in them.

I want to commend the ‘Nigerians in Diaspora Commission’, for bringing all of us together tonight.

Sometimes we focus so much on the challenges facing our country that we forget to celebrate what is working. Tonight gives us an opportunity to do exactly that. Tonight, we celebrate achievement. We celebrate sacrifice. We celebrate men and women who have carried the Nigerian flag, not ony in their hands – but in their character, their professionalism and their integrity. That is something worth celebrating.

Home they say, is where the heart is.
Whenever I think about home, I think about my mother. She was a petty trader. Uneducated and didn’t travel the world. But she taught me something that has never left me. She taught me that where life takes you is important. But that even more important, is where your values come from. I wasn’t born into comfort. In fact, I often joke that my first business school was the streets of Surulere. My father was a cook. My mother was a petty trader. We lived in one room. Seven children and our parents. I hawked, and walked barefoot to school. Looking back today, I realise something. Poverty did not stop us from dreaming. It simply made us dream harder.

Perhaps that’s one reason healthcare means so much to me. Because when you’ve grown up in circumstances where a single illness could change a family’s future, you will understand that healthcare isn’t simply about medicine. It is about hope.

So this year’s theme—Diaspora Healthcare Initiatives and National Development—couldn’t have come at a better time. Because if there is one lesson the world has learnt over the past few years, it is that healthcare is not just a social service. It is national infrastructure.

A healthy population is the foundation of every prosperous society. Healthy children learn better.
Healthy workers are more productive. Healthy families are more secure. Healthy nations are more competitive.

That’s why healthcare is not simply government’s responsibility. It is everyone’s business. Yes, Government has a role, but the private sector has a role too. So do Universities, and of course the media.
The Diaspora, certainly, has a role. That’s why tonight’s conversation matters.

The encouraging thing, and I believe it is something every Nigerian should be proud of, is that Nigerians are already making extraordinary contributions to healthcare across the world. Walk into major hospitals in London, you will find Nigerian doctors.
Visit teaching hospitals in the United States, you will find Nigerian specialists. Travel to Canada, to the Gulf, South Africa and to Australia, you will meet Nigerian nurses, pharmacists, researchers and public health professionals making a difference every single day.

That tells us something.

It tells us that Nigeria does not suffer from a shortage of talent. Far from it. Our challenge has never been talent. Our challenge has been creating enough opportunities for that talent to flourish here at home.
And that’s where the Diaspora becomes so important.

People sometimes talk about brain drain. I understand why. We have lost many talented professionals over the years. But perhaps it is time to change the conversation. Instead of asking how we stop people from leaving, perhaps we should ask a better question. How do we make sure that wherever Nigerians go, Nigeria benefits?

Think about that for a moment. How do we connect knowledge acquired in London to hospitals in Lagos?
How do we connect research taking place in Boston to medical schools in Benin? How do we connect innovation in Toronto to healthcare delivery in Kano?

Those, in my view, are the questions that deserve our attention. Because when knowledge travels back home, everybody wins. That is what partnership looks like. That is what nation-building looks like.
And that is what tonight should inspire. I took a tour of the exhibition stands earlier today and was pleased by the innovation and products on display.

History teaches us something very important.

Every nation that has transformed itself reached a point where it realised that its greatest asset was not what lay beneath the ground; but what lived within its people. Singapore understood that. South Korea understood that. Ireland understood that. They invested in education. They invested in innovation.
They invested in people. And the results speak for themselves.

Nigeria can do exactly the same. In fact, I would argue that our greatest natural resource has never been crude oil. It has always been Nigerians. Our creativity. Our resilience. Our optimism. Our ability to succeed, even in difficult circumstances.

Over more than four decades in journalism, I have had the privilege of reporting Nigeria’s highs and its lows.
I have covered elections. Economic reforms. Periods of uncertainty. Moments of celebration. I have seen communities devastated by tragedy. I have also seen ordinary Nigerians perform extraordinary acts of kindness. After all these years, people still ask me,
“Are you optimistic about Nigeria?” My answer has never changed. Absolutely. Not because I ignore our challenges. I don’t. I’ve spent a lifetime reporting many of them. But I’ve also spent a lifetime meeting Nigerians.

And once you have seen the determination of Nigerians, at home and abroad, it becomes very difficult to lose hope. Because time and again, Nigerians prove something remarkable. Give us an opportunity and we excel. Give us a challenge and we innovate. Give us hope and we build.

That, to me, is the Nigerian spirit.

Now, let me speak directly to our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora. First, let me simply say thank you.
Thank you for representing Nigeria with distinction.
Thank you for demonstrating every day that excellence has no nationality, but character has no borders. Thank you for carrying our flag, often quietly, through your work, your professionalism and your integrity.

Many of you have become leaders in your professions. Some of you lead hospitals. Some head research teams. Some teach the next generation of doctors and scientists. Others are building successful businesses, developing new technologies and creating opportunities that did not exist a few years ago. We are proud of you. Very proud of you.

But with that success comes an opportunity, and, if I may say so, a responsibility.

People sometimes ask me, “Can someone who lives abroad still be patriotic?” I think that’s the wrong question. The better question is: What are you doing with the opportunities you’ve been given? Because today, patriotism is no longer measured simply by where you live.

It is measured by what you contribute. You can live in Manchester and still build Nigeria. You can live in Atlanta and still mentor young Nigerian doctors. You can live in Toronto and still help strengthen healthcare delivery back home. You can invest in medical technology. You can support research. You can train specialists online. You can introduce global best practices. You can open doors that would otherwise remain closed. Never underestimate the power of those contributions.

Sometimes we think nation-building only happens in government offices. It doesn’t. Nation-building happens in classrooms. In laboratories. In hospitals. In boardrooms.

It happens wherever men and women decide to use their gifts for the common good. That is nation-building. And every one of us has a role to play.

Now let me say a word to the young Nigerians here this evening. You belong to a generation unlike any before it. When I was growing up, the world seemed very large. Today, it fits into the palm of your hand.
With a mobile phone, you can collaborate with someone in Tokyo before breakfast, attend a lecture in Boston in the afternoon, and close a business deal in Dubai before the day is over.

Think about how extraordinary that is. Your opportunities are greater than those of any previous generation. But so are your responsibilities.

Technology can connect us. Only purpose can inspire us. Artificial Intelligence will change the way we work. It will not change the values by which we should live. Integrity will still matter. Compassion will still matter. So will Service and Character. Those values never go out of fashion. And remb, even though Success is a wonderful thing. It only becomes truly meaningful when it creates opportunities for others. So wherever life takes you, never forget to reach back. Help someone climb. Mentor someone. Sponsor a student. Support a young entrepreneur. Encourage a researcher. Invest in an idea. Because every life you lift strengthens our nation.

Ladies and Gentlemen, If we are serious about improving healthcare in Nigeria, then we must move beyond admiration to collaboration. We already know that Nigerian professionals are among the very best in the world. The question is: How do we connect that excellence to the needs of our country? The answer, I believe, lies in partnership. Government has an important responsibility. It must create an environment that encourages collaboration. It must make it easier—not harder—for Diaspora professionals to contribute.

The private sector also has a critical role. Innovation requires investment. Research requires funding. Healthcare requires modern infrastructure. None of these can happen without committed private-sector partners.

And the Diaspora also has a responsibility. Not simply to remain interested in Nigeria, but to remain engaged with Nigeria. The truth is, goodwill alone is not enough. We need structures. We need partnerships. We need continuity. We need programmes that outlive conferences and speeches.

Imagine what could happen if more specialists abroad conducted regular virtual consultations with hospitals here.

Imagine what could happen if many of our teaching hospitals were linked to centres of excellence around the world. If Nigerian medical researchers at home and abroad worked together on diseases that affect our own communities. If every successful Nigerian consultant overseas committed to mentoring just one young doctor back home.

Think of the multiplier effect. That is how nations grow. Not through isolated acts of generosity, but through sustained collaboration.

My brothers and sisters, throughout my career in broadcasting, I have come to appreciate something very important. Stories shape nations. The stories we tell ourselves influence the future we build.

For too long, one of the dominant stories about Nigeria has been the story of what is wrong. Yes, we have challenges. No sensible person denies that. But that is not the whole story. The other story is rarely often told. It is the story of Nigerian doctors saving lives around the world. It is the story of Nigerian engineers building world-class infrastructure. It is the story of Nigerian entrepreneurs creating jobs. It is the story of Nigerian innovators solving global problems.

It is the story of resilience, of possibility, of the story of hope. And I believe that story deserves to be told much more often. Not because we should ignore our problems. But because hope is also a national resource. People build where they have hope. They invest where they have confidence. They stay where they believe tomorrow can be better than today.

That is why I remain optimistic about Nigeria. Not because I believe our journey will be easy. But because I believe in Nigerians. And over the years, Nigerians have given me every reason to believe.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Although this evening is about celebrating excellence, I believe it is about something even bigger. It is about reminding ourselves of what is possible when talent is matched with purpose. The men and women we honour tonight have excelled in different fields and in different parts of the world. Their journeys may be different, but they all have one thing in common. They have shown that Nigerians can compete with the very best anywhere in the world.

That is something every young Nigerian should know.
To our award recipients, let me congratulate you most sincerely. This recognition is well deserved. But if I may say so, tonight is not the end of your journey. It is another beginning. Awards recognise what you have done. Leadership is about what you do next. So I encourage you to continue opening doors for others. Continue mentoring. Continue investing. Continue sharing your knowledge and continue creating opportunities. Because the greatest measure of success is not how many people know your name. It is how many lives are better because you lived. That is the kind of legacy that endures.

Now, before I take my seat, allow me to leave you with one final thought. Every generation is given an opportunity to shape history. Some generations build roads. Others build institutions. Some built economies.

Our generation has an opportunity to build something even more enduring. We can build trust. We can build partnerships.

We can build a healthcare system that gives every Nigerian, regardless of where they live or what they earn, the opportunity to live a healthier and more productive life.

That is a goal worthy of our collective effort. And I believe we can achieve it. Not because the task is easy. But because Nigerians have never been afraid of difficult things. When the world says it cannot be done, Nigerians have a habit of proving otherwise.

I have seen it too many times to doubt it now. I have seen Nigerians succeed in circumstances where others expected them to fail. I have seen them innovate when resources were scarce. I have seen them lead with integrity when the easier path was compromise.

I have seen them build businesses from nothing, save lives, change communities; And I have seen them carry the name of Nigeria with dignity in every corner of the world.

So yes –

I remain optimistic. Not because I underestimate our challenges. But because I have absolute confidence in our people. And whenever I think about Nigeria’s future, I think about our people.

I think about the young doctor working a night shift in Abuja. The Nigerian consultant teaching in London. The researcher in Boston. The entrepreneur in Lagos. The nurse in Toronto.

Back here in the hall, I think about the students who are sitting in this hall tonight, wondering what the future holds. Each of them is writing a chapter in the Nigerian story. Each of them matters. Each of them has something to contribute.

People often say that the future belongs to the next generation. Yes, that correct. But I see it a little differently. The future belongs to every generation that is willing to build it. And that includes all of us in this room.

So let us leave here tonight with more than pleasant memories.

Let us leave with renewed purpose – Well, at the risk of infringing on the government s copyright – renewed hope.

Let us strengthen the bond between Nigerians at home and Nigerians abroad.

Let us turn expertise into opportunity, turn goodwill into action, turn partnership into progress – And above all Let us turn brain drain into brain gain.

Because when Nigerians everywhere work together, there is very little that this country cannot achieve.

I believe with all my heart that Nigeria’s best days are still ahead of us. Not because our journey has been easy. But because our people are extraordinary. Their resilience is extraordinary. Their creativity is extraordinary. Their determination is extraordinary.

And wherever Nigerians go, they leave behind something that cannot be measured by statistics alone.

They leave hope, excellence, and reputation for hard work. And they leave a reminder that our country continues to produce men and women capable of competing with the very best.

So let history record that this generation chose collaboration over division. Contribution over criticism, and service over self-interest.

And that it transformed global Nigerian success into national Nigerian progress.

Once again, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and her dedicated team, for their unwavering commitment to strengthening the bond between Nigeria and her citizens across the world.

Through their vision and persistence, the Nigerian Diaspora is no longer seen merely as a community living abroad, but as a strategic partner in national development. And – but of course, many thanks are due to our President, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu for creating the commission.

They deserve our appreciation.

To our distinguished award recipients, congratulations once again. May your achievements continue to inspire. May your service continue to uplift others. And may you never lose your passion for giving back to the country that first believed in you.

Finally, let me leave you with this thought. When you leave this hall tonight, you’ll return to different countries. Different cities. Different time zones. Tomorrow morning, or in the coming days, many of you will return to hospitals, universities, laboratories, businesses, boardroom or research centres.

But wherever you wake up, wake up remembering this: Somewhere, a young Nigerian is waiting for the opportunity that only you can create. Somewhere, a community is waiting for the knowledge only you can share. Somewhere, a patient is waiting for the innovation only you can inspire. And somewhere, your country is quietly waiting for you – if not, to return permanently, but to remain permanently connected. Because nations are not built only by the people who stay. They are also built by the people who never stop caring.”

(Pause).

No matter where we live, Nigeria lives in us.”

Thank you.