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Japa: Doctors Proffer Solutions At Tinubu Town Hall

Published

3 years ago

February 11, 2023

A number of medical professionals have tabled viable solutions for the next administration to use as a workable strategy to resolve the perennial problem of brain drain plaguing the health sector.

The brain drain phenomenon, which was rechristened as ‘Japa’, has seen a generation of young health workers, tech entrepreneurs and a number of professionals dumped Nigeria as a result of insecurity, corruption, failed leadership and several other factors.

Speaking at a medical town hall meeting on BAT Health Agenda in Abuja on Saturday, a medical doctor and serving lawmaker representing Ogun Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Dr. Lanre Tejuosho, explained that ‘Japa’ is a problem any serious government can tackle.

While stating that he is happy that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has indicated tackling ‘brain drain’ as one of his priorities in his ‘Renewed Hope’ manifesto, he said the problem can be resolved if the right policies and initiatives are implemented.

Tejuosho, who is also the pro-chancellor of University of Lagos, told our reporter that if the president and the health minister are willing to tinker with the idea of allowing doctors to be self employed, it will go a long way in tackling brain drain.

According to him, having the feel of ownership of over 30,000 Primary Health Centres and knowing that they are in charge of drugs procurement, provision of water and power would give doctors, nurses and other health workers a sense of belonging.

“We should try to think in the direction of making all our health professionals self-employed. When I say self employment, I am talking about taking advantage of the over 30,000 Primary Health Centres in Nigeria today.

“Let’s say, as you graduate as a medical doctor or as a senior nurse, you are put in charge of that particular health centre. We will allocate to that centre about 10,000 Nigerians that are already insured in terms of health insurance.

“That means the money to run the place is guaranteed because the monthly allocation from National Health Insurance Scheme of the 10,000 patients attached to that centre will be able to pay the salaries of the staff including the nurses and the doctors.

“With that, they should be able to also maintain the drugs, water, electricity and basic needs of those centres. I am aware that the NHIS pays around N750 per patient every month.

“If we sum this figure up with 10,000 patients, it should give each centre about N7.5m per month. Let it be given to these doctors and nurses to run.

“Of course, we know not all the 10,000 patients will come to the centre every month. But you will always have money to run PHC,” he said.

When reminded that the plan looks good only on paper, the UNILAG Pro-Chancellor agreed that implementation of the initiative is paramount.

Tejuosho claimed that as Chairman of Senate Committee on Health, it was one of those ideas he has been pushing for the attention of the Federal Government and health ministry.

He said, “That is why I am telling you that the implementation is key. It is part of what we are here to talk about. It is part of what Asiwaju as president must pursue with the implementation of that Health Insurance Act. This is my idea that I will be proposing to him. It is not in the Act or any law.

“As Chairman of Senate Committee on Health, I have been saying this for a long time. We will also make sure that there is enough money in the basket. It’s now a matter of making it practical.

“We have the infrastructure, give it to the medical doctors. Our doctors abroad will come back because they won’t be making that kind of money in London or other part of the world.

“All we need to set up is a monitoring committee that will ensure that we monitor what these doctors are doing. Anyone that doesn’t perform, we will take it from them and give to another person.

“In no time, doctors from London and other places will be queuing to come and be self employed.”

The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, on his part said he has nothing against doctors, nurses and other health care sectors are leaving the country in droves.

He, however, encourage the incoming president to upgrade the health sector including a better pay package that would appear irresistible to even those who dumped the country for prospects abroad.

Shuaib also canvassed that the incoming administration should focus on special arrangements for doctors and health workers on annual leave abroad to return to the country to share their expertise and help in technology transfer.

“We need to stop the one-way traffic. There is nothing wrong with people wanting to seek greener pastures abroad.

“What we need to put in place measures that will make sure that they also give back to Nigeria where they are trained.

“In a lot of instances you find in countries with similar situations as ours, their professionals abroad actually remit a fixed amount of money back to their home countries.

“And this is something that is agreed with the host countries so that we always find people come in bringing resources.

“It should also be done in a way that is well organised. We don’t even have adequate doctors and nurses in the health care sector.

“It’s not about saying that people should not go. Focus should be also be on how to encourage them to come back, even if it is during their annual leave.

“They can come back and also give back to our health sector some of the advanced technologies, advanced capabilities that they’ve learnt,” he advised.

Appreciating the participants and speakers at the town hall, the APC PCC head of Medical Directorate, Dr. Ikechukwu Odikpo, noted that he observed many Nigerians are not particularly asking questions on what Tiinubu presidency has to offer.

According to the medical doctor, healthcare as presented in his principal’s manifesto covers critical areas such as human resources, brain drain, health tourism, infrastructure, universal health care and health financing.

“That is why today we have assembled the very best across Nigeria medicare to dialogue on how to better our health care sector and services.

“But we want Nigerians especially Medicare professionals and our youths to be part of our actions and decisions hence this town hall meeting.

“When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, strength cannot fight, intelligence cannot be applied, art cannot become manifest and wealth becomes useless.

“Let’s create a wealthy nation by putting our health care services in the right perspective,” he said

News

Nigeria Ready, Willing To Host Commonwealth Games — Tinubu

Published

2 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

Nigeria on Thursday welcomed the Commonwealth Sport Bid Evaluation Committee to Abuja, a major step towards hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, formally received the delegation at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

“What I can assure you is that we’re ready,” Tinubu told the delegation.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to hosting an inclusive, diverse, and world-class 2030 Commonwealth Games on African soil.‎

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement he signed Thursday titled, ‘Nigeria ready to host Africa’s First Commonwealth Games in 2030-President Tinubu assures‎.’

Gbajabiamila, along with a strong Federal Government team of Ministers and senior government officials, held strategic talks with the delegation led by Darren Hall, Director of Games and Assurance at Commonwealth Sport, and a member of the 2030 Evaluation Commission.

President Tinubu emphasised that the Commonwealth champions unity and diversity, and Africa deserves its moment after nearly a century.‎

Africa has never hosted the Games since their inception in 1930. Nigeria made an unsuccessful bid to host the 2014 Games. The city of Durban in South Africa won the bid to host the 2022 Games, but could not do so due to financial difficulties. Birmingham in the UK took over and hosted the Games. Thus, Nigeria’s bid to host the 2030 Games would be historic, Onanuga stated.

In his welcome remarks, Gbajabiamila called on the visitors to savour Nigeria’s renowned hospitality: “You’re very welcome to Nigeria. I hope you enjoy our great hospitality, which we are known for. Mr President also asked me personally to convey his regards; he fully supports this bid.”‎

“The President has written a Letter of Guarantee to you; his full weight is behind this bid. What I can assure you is that we’re ready. We’re willing, we’re able, and we actually want this. It’s been almost 100 years. The games have not been held on any soil in Africa.

‎”The element of inclusivity is what the Commonwealth is, and we hope that will benefit us,” he stated.

President Tinubu stressed that his administration has set some bold reforms to reposition sports, having realised its role as a strategic driver of national development.

He added that he scrapped the Ministry of Sports and replaced it with the National Sports Commission in the bid to drive sports development.

The President further assured the delegation that all infrastructural, security, and hospitality needs will be met ahead of schedule.‎

He emphasised that Nigeria’s bid is not just about hosting but also leaving a legacy for youth and national development.‎

Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, made a strong case for Nigeria over India, stressing that Africa has 22 Commonwealth nations, and Nigeria, as the continent’s giant, deserves the honour.‎

“One thing I want to assure you is that the President sees the hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2030, if we win the bid, as a celebration of the country’s growing force in sports, beyond just participation.”

‎President of Commonwealth Sport Nigeria, Habu Gumel, said the country is ready to host an environmentally sustainable Games.‎

Chairman of the Bid Committee, Mainasara Illo, presented Nigeria’s proposal, highlighting key plans and innovations.‎

He revealed that Nigeria proposes 15 sports, with football introduced to boost excitement, global visibility, and audience engagement.‎

Director of Games and Assurance, Darren Hall, thanked President Tinubu and the Nigerian team for their warm welcome.‎

“I have been most thrilled by the passion of the Nigerian people in all their endeavours, including sports.”

He said the Commonwealth, now comprising 56 nations, aims for greater diversity as it approaches its 100-year milestone.‎

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, Minister of Aviation, Festus Kayamo, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa and‎ Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, attended the meeting and made statements in support of the bid.

Nigeria and India are the two official bidders for the 2030 Games, with Abuja and Ahmedabad, in Gujarat, as their proposed host cities.‎

‎After a thorough evaluation of both bids, the Commonwealth Games General Assembly will decide the host city in November 2025.

The next Commonwealth Games will be held in 2026 across four venues in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2.

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JAMB Extends Post-UTME Deadline For Underage Candidates In 23 Varsities

Published

2 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has extended the deadline for universities to submit Post-UTME screening scores of underage candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination

JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, announced the extension on Thursday in a statement on Thursday.

Benjamin, who explained that the decision was reached in collaboration with the affected institutions, said a reminder has been sent via email to the defaulting universities.

He noted that despite the release of the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination results by the National Examinations Council on September 17, several institutions had yet to comply.

Benjamin, hoiwever, urged the affected institutions to forward the results without further delay.

He said, “23 out of 71 universities failed to meet the earlier deadline of September 15 for the submission of the scores. The institutions are among those chosen by candidates seeking admission.”

Benjamin further directed all public universities to upload their recommended candidates to the Central Admissions Processing System on or before September 30, while private universities have until October 31.

He added, “The measure was necessary to meet the overall admission deadlines of October 30 for public universities and November 30 for private institutions.”

Benjamin said a breakdown of the affected schools shows that the University of Lagos tops the list with 39 underage candidates, followed by Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, with 18, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, with 15.

Others include the University of Abuja with 12 underage candidates, University of Uyo with nine, Federal University of Technology, Owerri has eight, and David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu with six.

The board spokesperson added that in total, 135 underage candidates are involved across 23 institutions.

JAMB had earlier disclosed in August that it would conduct a special screening for over 500 outstanding underage candidates seeking admission for the 2025/2026 academic session.

Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said the screening would be handled by a technical committee between September 22 and 26 at designated centres in Lagos, Abuja, and Owerri.

He noted that while 41,027 underage candidates wrote the 2025 UTME, only a little over 500 met the requirements to proceed to the next stage.

News

FULL LIST: Anglican Church Approves 15 New Dioceses

Published

2 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has approved the creation of 15 new dioceses, bringing the total number of dioceses across the country to 176.

The decision was taken at the Standing Committee Meeting of the Church, which held in Ekiti State between September 15 and 19, 2025.

According to a statement signed on Thursday by the Church’s Communication Officer, Korede Akintunde, the approval followed a series of inspections, verifications and validation exercises after the lifting of the moratorium on the creation of new dioceses in September 2024.

The statement read, “The inspection team are as follows: Old Province 1 headed by Archbishop Joseph Akinfenwa, Old Province 2 headed by Archbishop David Onuoha while Old Province 3 headed by Archbishop Daniel Yisa.

“They presented their fact-finding report at the Standing Committee held at Niger-Delta Diocese in February 2025 which formed the basis of the assignments of the Church of Nigeria Validation Team on the creation of full-fledged and missionary Dioceses which was constituted and inaugurated by the Primate on 27th March, 2025, headed by the Most Rev’d Dr Timothy Yahaya.

“The Validation Team in turn visited, inspected and verified the contents of the report of the Inspection Teams and Verification Committee and made the recommendations to the Primate on the creation of full-fledged and missionary Dioceses in the Church of Nigeria.”

The statement noted that five of the new dioceses would operate as full-fledged dioceses, while 10 others were approved as missionary dioceses.

The full-fledged dioceses are:

1.⁠ ⁠Ekiti South Diocese out of Ekiti Diocese
2.⁠ ⁠Kalabari Diocese out of Niger Delta Diocese
3.⁠ ⁠Lagos South West Diocese out of Lagos West Diocese
4.⁠ ⁠Omoku Diocese out of Ahoada Diocese
5.⁠ ⁠Ozoro Diocese out of Oleh Diocese

The missionary dioceses include:

1.⁠ ⁠Eket Diocese out of Uyo Diocese
2.⁠ ⁠Idanre Diocese out of Akure Diocese
3.⁠ ⁠Ikom Diocese out of Calabar Diocese
4.⁠ ⁠Keffi Diocese out of Kubwa and Lafia Dioceses
5.⁠ ⁠Nasarawa Diocese out of Lafia Diocese
6.⁠ ⁠Ogoja Diocese out of Calabar Diocese
7.⁠ ⁠Oyo South Diocese out of Oyo Diocese
8.⁠ ⁠Oyun Diocese out of Kwara Diocese
9.⁠ ⁠Takum Diocese out of Jalingo Diocese
10.⁠ ⁠Zuru Diocese out of Kebbi Diocese

The church added that the election of bishops, consecration, inaugurations, and enthronement dates would be announced later.