The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has raised concerns over the worsening migration of Nigerian doctors, warning that the country’s medical brain drain is now beginning before students even completea their training.
NMA President, Professor Afekhide Ernest Omoti, said some medical students are already preparing for foreign qualifying examinations while still in medical school or during their internship, with the aim of relocating shortly after completing their professional registration in Nigeria.
According to him, many young doctors are not necessarily leaving because they do not want to serve Nigeria, but because they are increasingly discouraged by poor working conditions, inadequate remuneration, limited career opportunities and concerns about their future in the country.
The warning is backed by a 2025 study involving 2,152 Nigerian medical and nursing students from six universities across the country's geopolitical zones. The study found that 72.9 percent of respondents who planned to specialise intended to pursue their specialist training abroad, with the United States, United Kingdom and Canada among the most preferred destinations.
The NMA has therefore called for improved remuneration, safer working environments, better infrastructure and stronger incentives to retain medical professionals in Nigeria.
The growing trend has raised fresh concerns about the future of Nigeria's healthcare system, as the country continues to invest heavily in training doctors who may ultimately take their skills abroad.