In a candid reflection on Nigeria’s health sector, Prof. Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, revealed a troubling trend: more than 16,000 Nigerian doctors have left the country over the past five to seven years. And it’s not just doctors—nurses and midwives are also departing in large numbers, leaving the country’s already strained healthcare system gasping for air.
Speaking at the 7th Annual Capacity Building Workshop of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA) in Abuja, Prof. Pate didn’t sugarcoat the issue. With a doctor-to-population ratio of just 3.9 per 10,000, Nigeria falls well below the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum.
To make matters worse, training just one doctor costs an estimated $21,000—a steep investment walking out the door each time a medical professional migrates.
This trend isn’t exactly new, but it’s definitely accelerating. Many of Nigeria’s best-trained health workers are heading abroad in search of:
-
Better pay and working conditions
-
Access to cutting-edge research and medical technology
-
Professional growth and advanced training opportunities
“We’re not just losing people,” Prof. Pate said. “We’re losing investments—public funds, years of education, and the future of healthcare delivery in our communities.”
While the figures paint a grim picture, Prof. Pate believes there’s a silver lining. The current crisis, he argued, is also an opportunity—a chance to reimagine the way Nigeria manages its health workforce.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda and guided by the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the government is pivoting toward a more strategic and people-centered approach. At the heart of this shift is the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration—a framework designed to balance health workers’ rights to pursue careers abroad with the nation’s need for a strong domestic healthcare system.
“This isn’t about putting up walls,” Pate explained. “It’s about stewardship—creating ethical norms, strengthening governance, and ensuring that our system doesn’t collapse under the weight of global imbalances.”
The new policy sets out a clear roadmap to address the migration challenge while building a resilient, sustainable health system. Among its core objectives:
-
Motivating and retaining healthcare workers who remain in Nigeria
-
Expanding training capacity to meet both local and global needs
-
Establishing ethical recruitment frameworks with international partners
-
Improving regulatory coordination and real-time workforce data systems
-
Supporting reintegration of Nigerian professionals returning from abroad
It’s an ambitious plan—but one rooted in realistic, data-driven strategies.
Prof. Pate didn’t limit his vision to Nigeria alone. He called on African nations to come together, crafting a unified stance on healthcare workforce mobility. He proposed a new global compact, anchored in:
-
Pan-African training and accreditation standards
-
Shared evidence and data platforms
-
Coordinated negotiations with destination countries
-
Collective investment in healthcare professionals
“The future of African healthcare won’t be written in isolation,” he said. “It will be shaped by collaboration, shared purpose, and a commitment to put people first.”
Also speaking at the event, AMCOA President, Prof. Joel Okullo, emphasized the importance of continental collaboration. He described the workshop as a turning point in efforts to streamline health regulation and leadership in Africa.
“This year’s theme speaks to our commitment to face complex challenges head-on,” Okullo said. “We’re laying the foundation for decisions that can reshape healthcare outcomes across the continent.”
The event’s sessions focused on everything from credentialing systems to workforce mobility management—with the goal of giving regulators the tools they need to act decisively.
Dr. Fatima Kyari, Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), welcomed participants warmly, noting that this marked Nigeria’s first time hosting an AMCOA workshop. She applauded the alignment of health sector leadership in prioritizing patient safety and long-term system resilience.
Meanwhile, Prof. Afolabi Lesi, MDCN Board Chair and Chair of the workshop’s organizing committee, addressed another major challenge: inter-professional fragmentation within the health sector.
“We have clear policies and direction at the governance level,” Lesi stated. “But when health professionals fail to work together as a team, patient care suffers.”
He called for a renewed focus on unity among health workers—with the patient at the center of every decision.
Nigeria’s healthcare system is at a crossroads. On one side lies continued decline and dependence on foreign-trained professionals. On the other, a bold, coordinated effort to rebuild, retain, and reinvest in the health workforce.
With strategic policies in place and a growing emphasis on regional cooperation, the tide can still be turned. But it will take more than talk—it will require action, unity, and a shared commitment to ensuring that Africa’s health professionals care for Africans first.