Governor Peter Mbah Urges Enugu Nursing Students to Stay and Serve, Curb Brain Drain in Health Sector
Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has called on nursing and midwifery students in the state to remain in Enugu after graduation and contribute to the state’s healthcare system, rather than seeking opportunities abroad. His appeal aims to tackle the growing issue of brain drain within the health sector.
Governor Mbah made this appeal during the 2024/2025 maiden matriculation ceremony of the College of Nursing, Enugu, held on Thursday, April 10. Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, he emphasized the state’s significant investment in training healthcare professionals.
“We invest heavily in your education—both in infrastructure and training. It’s disheartening when our graduates leave at the first opportunity,” he said. “The so-called ‘Japa syndrome’ goes against the very goals we’ve set for developing our healthcare sector.”
Mbah highlighted the government’s commitment to improving working conditions and creating better career opportunities within the state to encourage retention.
“Our focus is not just on academic excellence, but also on building a sense of service. If you check our budgets for 2024 and 2025, the highest allocations are in education and healthcare,” he added.
The governor urged the students to recognize the value of the support they receive and to give back by staying and strengthening Enugu’s healthcare delivery system.