Africa is facing a critical healthcare challenge as it loses an estimated $2 billion every year due to the emigration of nurses, a development that threatens the continent’s ability to provide adequate medical care. This alarming revelation was made by Professor Prisca Adejumo, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, during the fifth nursing induction and award ceremony at the University of Lagos.
Between 2019 and 2023, approximately 75,000 Nigerian nurses alone have emigrated, significantly depleting the country’s healthcare workforce. Professor Adejumo highlighted the stark disparity between Nigeria’s nurse-to-population ratio and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation. Currently, Nigeria has one nurse for every 1,160 people, far below the WHO’s advised ratio of one nurse per 300 people. This shortage means that two to three nurses are now forced to perform the work traditionally done by eight to ten, leading to severe mental and physical strain on healthcare workers.
The theme of the ceremony, “Our nurses, our future, caring for nurses strengthening economies,” underscored the vital role nurses play not only in healthcare but also in economic development. Professor Adejumo emphasized that investing in nursing yields significant returns on investment (RoI) and is crucial for strengthening primary healthcare systems. She argued that a stronger nursing workforce is essential for achieving Universal Health Coverage across Africa.
To address these challenges, Professor Adejumo called for urgent reforms, including better wages for nurses, safer working environments, and the establishment of private-public partnerships to support the growth of the nursing profession. She stressed that integrating nurses into national development plans and workforce strategies is key to retaining talent and improving healthcare delivery.
Echoing these sentiments, Professor Ademola Oremosu, Provost of the College of Medicine, urged newly inducted nurses to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folashade Ogunsola, he reminded the 28 inductees to abide by the Code of Ethics of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and to become ambassadors of excellence for their alma mater and the nation.
Alhaji Ndagi Al-Hassan, Registrar of the NMCN, encouraged the new nurses to cultivate curiosity, honesty, empathy, innovation, and critical thinking as they embark on their professional journeys. Their commitment and dedication will be vital in reversing the current brain drain and building a resilient healthcare system in Nigeria and across Africa.
The ongoing exodus of nurses not only undermines healthcare delivery but also represents a significant economic loss for African countries. Addressing this crisis requires coordinated policy action, improved working conditions, and strategic investments to retain and empower nurses the backbone of the continent’s health systems.