‘Reduce Medical Tourism, Invest in Local Healthcare’ – FG Urges Nigerians in Diaspora

Bianca Ojukwu, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs has called on Nigerians in the diaspora to invest in high-tech medical infrastructure back home as a way of reducing the country’s heavy dependence on medical tourism.

Speaking at the 16th Annual Mbaise USA Convention held in Minnesota, United States, the minister emphasised the urgent need to transform Nigeria’s healthcare sector through diaspora-led initiatives. She used the occasion to officially launch the construction of Medville Medical City, a state-of-the-art healthcare facility set to be built in Uvuru, Mbaise, Imo State.

Describing Medville as a “legacy project,” Ojukwu said such initiatives have the potential to position both Mbaise and Nigeria on the global healthcare map. She added that the facility will serve as a model of what can be achieved when Nigerian professionals abroad bring their expertise and resources back home.

“This project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which is anchored on the 4Ds: Democracy, Diaspora, Demography, and Development,” she stated, noting that the Nigerian government has made efforts to create a favourable business environment for such investments.

Ojukwu affirmed that Medville Medical City represents a critical step toward reducing outbound medical travel, boosting domestic healthcare capacity, and fostering national development.