By Aderogba George
Stakeholders across Nigeria’s health sector have issued a renewed and urgent call for systemic action to stem the accelerating exodus of medical professionals, framing the crisis not merely as a workforce issue but as a fundamental threat to national health security. The calls were made at the 2025 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (ARD-UATH), a gathering that served as a critical forum for diagnosing the causes of—and potential cures for—the nation’s debilitating brain drain.
The conference theme, “Strengthening Nigeria’s system: the role of resident doctors in an era of global mobility,” underscored a pivotal shift in perspective: the solution lies not in restricting movement, but in making the domestic health system robust and rewarding enough to compete on the global stage for talent.
Prof. Titus Ibekwe, Provost of the College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, framed the issue in stark economic and strategic terms. “Training each professional is a massive national investment,” he stated, highlighting the years of subsidized education and clinical training. “When a doctor emigrates, we are not just losing a person; we are exporting a multi-million-naira public investment to wealthier nations, effectively subsidizing their healthcare at our own population’s expense.” He noted that even developed nations face manpower shortages, making them aggressive recruiters of Nigerian talent. The proposed countermeasures, he said, must be holistic: competitive welfare packages, dignified conditions of service, and, crucially, the provision of modern tools and infrastructure that allow professionals to practice at their peak capacity and find intellectual fulfillment at home.
Dr. Emeka Ayogu, Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) FCT chapter, provided a sobering quantification of the crisis, pointing specifically to the surge of Nigerian doctors in countries like Canada, the UK, and Saudi Arabia. “The scale of the diaspora is now a critical warning sign,” he argued. “Addressing this requires moving beyond periodic hazard allowances to a comprehensive review of remuneration, doctor-to-patient ratios, and career progression pathways. We must create a practice environment where doctors are not perpetually overwhelmed and under-resourced.”
The keynote address, delivered by representatives of Dr. Yusuf Gazali of Police HMO Ltd., presented a paper titled “Reimagining the Nigerian health workforce: building capacity, retaining talent, and sustaining hope.” The presentation argued for stronger, smarter policies that actively discourage medical tourism by improving domestic capacity and implementing ‘smart retention’ strategies. These could include bonded scholarships with clear service commitments, targeted incentives for service in underserved areas, and public-private partnerships to upgrade key tertiary hospitals into centers of excellence that rival foreign institutions.
A particularly insightful perspective came from Prof. Dike Ojji in his presentation, “Beyond japa: creating a future worth staying for.” He challenged the narrative of migration as an individual’s sole solution, urging doctors to weigh the profound, often overlooked rewards of building a legacy in one’s homeland. “The leadership void and immense need here present unparalleled opportunities for innovation, impact, and professional growth that are often unavailable in the structured, saturated systems abroad,” he contended. His argument reframed retention as an issue of creating compelling professional opportunities, not just better pay.
Echoing this theme of agency, Prof. Gazama Amos advised doctors on “From physicians’ strikes, tenure elongation and brain drain to self-actualisation via entrepreneurship.” He advocated for physicians to develop complementary skills in healthcare management, digital health, and medical innovation. “Building entrepreneurial capacity diversifies your value and creates alternative revenue streams, reducing the financial desperation that often fuels migration,” he explained. This approach empowers doctors to become architects of systemic change, not just its employees or victims.
The consensus from the conference is clear: retaining Nigeria’s medical workforce demands a multi-pronged strategy that addresses immediate welfare concerns while simultaneously executing long-term systemic reforms. It requires viewing doctors not as a cost to be managed, but as a precious, irreplaceable national asset to be nurtured. The alternative—a perpetually depleted health system struggling to train professionals only for export—is a path that undermines both public health and national development. As Prof. Ibekwe concluded, “Support must continue for those who genuinely want to stay and serve. But that support must be tangible, systemic, and sustained.”
In his closing remarks, Dr. Adewale-Adeleye Premiere, President of ARD-UATH, thanked the stakeholders, emphasizing that the dialogue must now translate into actionable policy. The ball, as the experts have declared, is firmly in the court of health authorities and policymakers to create a healthcare environment that Nigerian doctors are proud to call home.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
AG/TAK
Edited by Tosin Kolade
