Abuja: Stakeholders in Nigeria’s health sector have renewed calls for urgent action to retain medical professionals in the country amid rising global mobility and migration pressures. The call was made at the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (ARD-UATH) in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the theme of the AGM/Scientific Conference is ‘Strengthening Nigeria’s system: the role of resident doctors in an era of global mobility’. Prof. Titus Ibekwe, Provost, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen the health sector and ensure the retention of trained medical workers. Ibekwe, who is also the Secretary-General of the Association of Provosts of Colleges of Medicine in Nigeria, commended the conference theme, calling it timely and in line with national discussions on health system strengthening.
Workforce retention remains a major concern to health authorities, especially given the high cost and time involved in training medical professionals, Ibekwe noted. ‘This has to do with how to strengthen our system to ensure good workforce retention so that professionals who are trained here are encouraged to stay back and give their best,’ he said. Training each professional workforce is very expensive and time-consuming, and countries are now protecting their investments in training as populations grow and health demands increase.
Ibekwe further mentioned that even developed countries, despite their vast resources, are struggling to produce adequate manpower to meet their health needs. Measures being considered include improved welfare packages, better conditions of service, and provision of modern tools to enable health workers to perform optimally. Authorities have recognised the need to improve doctors’ welfare if the country is to retain healthcare workers, although meeting all demands at once may not be feasible. ‘However, support will continue for those who genuinely want to stay back and serve,’ he added.
Dr. Emeka Ayogu, Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, also urged authorities to urgently address the welfare of medical workers. Ayogu expressed concern over the growing number of Nigerian doctors practising abroad, especially in Canada. ‘When you look at the number of Nigerian doctors working abroad, one marvels at it. Something urgent must be done to discourage further migration,’ he said. Welfare, remuneration, working conditions, and availability of enough doctors are critical issues requiring attention, Ayogu noted, urging doctors to remain professional in their duties.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Yusuf Gazali, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Police Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) Ltd., emphasized the need for stronger policies to discourage medical tourism and talent flight. Gazali, represented by Mr. Yakubu Enape, Head of Human Resources and Staff Development of the HMO, delivered a paper titled ‘Reimagining the Nigerian health workforce: building capacity, retaining talent, and sustaining hope.’ He warned that continued migration of trained doctors would weaken the country’s health system and undermine investments made in medical education.
Prof. Dike Ojji, Director, Institute of Advanced Medical Research and Training (IAMRAT), University of Abuja, urged doctors to reconsider relocating abroad in his presentation titled ‘Beyond japa: creating a future worth staying for.’ Ojji advised that doctors who invested meaningfully in their country would ultimately reap greater rewards. ‘The years spent in medical school give you knowledge, privilege, and leadership capacity. You are meant to touch lives,’ he said.
Similarly, Prof. Gazama Amos of the Department of Chemical Pathology, UATH, encouraged doctors to cultivate leadership qualities wherever they found themselves. Speaking on ‘From physicians’ strikes, tenure elongation and brain drain to self-actualisation via entrepreneurship,’ Amos advised doctors to build skills, talents, and capacity to improve their earning potential. ‘You must be productive and hardworking. Build the attitude of a leader and be in the right market,’ he stated.