By Akinnodi Francis, Ondo
A University don, Professor Adesola Ogunfowokan has attributed the high brain drain in the health sector to the Nigerian nurses’ migration abroad and submitted that the trend may reduce nurse-to-population ratio by 2030.
Prof. Ogunfowokan made this claim at the 5th induction ceremony into the Nursing Profession of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo.
The Don who is the Head, Department of Nursing Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, spoke on the theme “Nigerian Nurses’ Migration: Brain Drain or Brain Gain”, explaining that“Brain drain to be emigration of a nation’s most highly skilled individuals”.
She gave the reasons for brain drain to include low wages, limited opportunities, lack of resources to work effectively, unstable economy, dangerous working conditions, poor funded health care system, better career prospect, higher income or attractive salaries, better employment contract, great health safety among others.
Underscoring the seriousness of Nigerian nurses’ migration, she said, “75,000 nurses migrated in 2017, 7,256 left between 2021 and 2022, and 42,000 exited the country between 2022 and 2024.”
Prof. Ogunfowokan added that if this trend persists and population keeps growing,“the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions will see little to no growth in their nurse to population ratio between 2023 and 2030”
She said emigration of nurses might not completely be a bad idea as it is a global phenomenon and it is capable of bringing benefits such as “research collaboration, remittances to family members, friends, alma mater, health screening for citizens, overseas institutions having MOU with Nigerian institutions.
She, however, added that “ever since nurses have been migrating, the so called gains have not really been evident in the country”.
Early in her welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIMED, Professor Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe, represented by Professor Ezekiel Adebayo, congratulated the inductees, urging them to be good ambassadors of the institution,
“As you go into the world, please represent the institution well and uphold the values UNIMED holds dear”.
In her remarks, Dean, Faculty of Nursing, UNIMED, Professor Abimbola Oluwatosin, made it clear that there is no way nurses will not be emigrating as “nursing has become one of the most sought after careers in Nigeria as in other parts of the world”.
The highlights of the induction ceremony were the administration of oath and bows conducted by the representative of the Secretary-General, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Dr Dorothea Ore, enlistment and presentation of awards to exceptional students by the National President, UGONSA, Mr Opeyemi Ojo and professional decoration of inductees led by Comrade Orobode. drain may reduce nurse-to-population ratio by 2030-Don