Authors :
Rebecca Oluwabukunmi Olagbende
Volume/Issue :
Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 9 - September
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/yrtrc4dm
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/y6da42w4
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25sep1346
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Note : Google Scholar may take 30 to 40 days to display the article.
Abstract :
Despite having one of the largest health stock of human resources in Africa, and producing an annual estimate of 2000
– 2300 medical graduates, Nigeria continues to experience the “brain drain” challenge as a result of many medical graduates
seeking ‘greener pastures' in developed nations overseas. The migration of Nigerian medical students to practice abroad has
become an issue of concern in the health sector. Therefore, this study explores the factors influencing this migration, drawing
on observation, and interviews with medical students, doctors, health consultants, and stakeholders. As discovered from the
findings of this qualitative study, inadequate funding, poor remuneration, insecurity, limited residency opportunities,
substandard infrastructure, and unfavorable work environments are the major reasons for the migration. Although, the
Nigerian government has overtime, promised policy interventions, and also made some efforts to purchase training equipment,
but these seem to be inadequate in comparison to the benefits offered by foreign health systems. Consultants and senior
practitioners could not but admit to the fact the work condition of medical doctors have significantly deteriorated over the years;
which they described as a ‘generational gap”. The study recommends that comprehensive reforms, including improved salaries,
better infrastructure, enhanced security, and increased investment in medical education and health systems are required to
reverse the trend. The study concludes that Nigerian medical students may be more willing to remain and contribute to national
development rather than seeking greener pastures abroad if these challenges are addressed.
Keywords :
Migration, Greener Pastures, Generational Gap, Brain Drain.
References :
- Aredo D. (2020). Cited in Rafau A. (2020). “A Nigerian Health Authorities Worry Over Exodus of Doctors and Nurses”. Retrieved on 13-04-2021. https://www.nobi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1169381/#!p0=64.2857
- Chukwunma Muanya & Wole Oyebade (2020). “The Guardian: Nigerian Immigration Service, Priti Patel, Prof. Chris Bode, Mrs. Stella Ekpendu”. Retrieved on 13-04-2021. From https://m.guardian.ng/news/uks-new-migration-visa-lures-nigerian-doctors/
- Daily Trust (2015). Cited in Eddy Awire and Mamodesan “Medical Education in Nigeria and Migration...”. Retrieved on 13-04-2021. From https://www.mededpublish.org/manuscript/2356
- Hagen Zanker (2008). Cited in Eddy Awire and Mamodesan “Medical Education in Nigeria and Migration...”. Retrieved on 13-04-2021. From https://www.mededpublish.org/manuscript/2356
- Labiran et al (2008). Cited in Eddy Awire and Mamodesan “Medical Education in Nigeria and Migration...”. Retrieved on 13-04-2021. From https://www.mededpublish.org/manuscript/2356
- Massey et al (1993). Cited in Eddy Awire and Mamodesan “Medical Education in Nigeria and Migration...”. Retrieved on 13-04-2021. From https://www.mededpublish.org/manuscript/2356
- Nwariaku (2010). Cited in Eddy Awire and Mamodesan “Medical Education in Nigeria and Migration...”. Retrieved on 13-04-2021. From https://www.mededpublish.org/manuscript/2356
- Nwariaku (2020). Cited in Eddy Awire and Mamodesan “Medical Education in Nigeria and Migration...”. Retrieved on 13-04-2021. From https://www.mededpublish.org/manuscript/2356
- Omoluabi (2014). Cited in Eddy Awire and Mamodesan “Medical Education in Nigeria and Migration...”. Retrieved on 13-04-2021. From https://www.mededpublish.org/manuscript/2356
- Rafau A. (2020). “A Nigerian Health Authorities Worry Over Exodus of Doctors and Nurses”. Retrieved on 13-04-2021. https://www.nobi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1169381/#!p0=64.2857
Despite having one of the largest health stock of human resources in Africa, and producing an annual estimate of 2000
– 2300 medical graduates, Nigeria continues to experience the “brain drain” challenge as a result of many medical graduates
seeking ‘greener pastures' in developed nations overseas. The migration of Nigerian medical students to practice abroad has
become an issue of concern in the health sector. Therefore, this study explores the factors influencing this migration, drawing
on observation, and interviews with medical students, doctors, health consultants, and stakeholders. As discovered from the
findings of this qualitative study, inadequate funding, poor remuneration, insecurity, limited residency opportunities,
substandard infrastructure, and unfavorable work environments are the major reasons for the migration. Although, the
Nigerian government has overtime, promised policy interventions, and also made some efforts to purchase training equipment,
but these seem to be inadequate in comparison to the benefits offered by foreign health systems. Consultants and senior
practitioners could not but admit to the fact the work condition of medical doctors have significantly deteriorated over the years;
which they described as a ‘generational gap”. The study recommends that comprehensive reforms, including improved salaries,
better infrastructure, enhanced security, and increased investment in medical education and health systems are required to
reverse the trend. The study concludes that Nigerian medical students may be more willing to remain and contribute to national
development rather than seeking greener pastures abroad if these challenges are addressed.
Keywords :
Migration, Greener Pastures, Generational Gap, Brain Drain.
