At least 16,156 nurses and midwives trained in Nigeria have obtained licenses to work in the UK from 2017 up until September 30, 2025, according to The PUNCH.
This statistic comes from the most recent information available on the UK's Nursing and Midwifery Council registry, which was shared with our reporter on Wednesday.
The image illustrates an important pattern in the migration of health workers educated in Nigeria, commonly referred to as "japa," where qualified individuals move to nations providing higher pay, greater opportunities for promotion, and improved work environments.
The movement of medical professionals presents a significant problem for Nigeria's health sector, especially in regions with limited access to care, highlighting the necessity for immediate measures aimed at keeping healthcare staff and enhancing local capabilities.
The NMC serves as the governing organization in the United Kingdom tasked with enrolling eligible individuals and examining issues concerning nurses, midwives, and nursing associates.
In an email exchange with our reporter, the NMC mentioned, "By 30 September 2025, there were 16,156 nurses listed on the registry who had received their education in Nigeria."
On March 31, 2025, the total number of nurses trained in Nigeria stood at 15,421, marking an increase of 4.8 percent compared to the previous six months.
A report published in March revealed that Nigeria was the third-largest provider of internationally trained nurses to the UK, following the Philippines and India.
It further mentioned that a reduction in global hiring was seen among nations, such as the leading three: India, the Philippines, and Nigeria.
The report stated that although the number of UK-trained professionals registering with the NMC keeps rising, this rate is not fast enough to make up for the decline in overseas hiring. Consequently, total registration growth has decreased over the last year.
Additionally, the 2025 Nigeria Health Statistics publication, issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in November, revealed that 43,221 physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and medical lab professionals departed the nation from 2023 to 2024.
The findings indicated that by 2024, more than 23,000 Nigerian nurses and midwives had moved overseas seeking enhanced job prospects and superior work environments.
The most popular countries chosen by nurses and midwives were the United States (8,613), the United Kingdom (7,463), Canada (5,603), Saudi Arabia (1,231), and Ireland (989).
As stated by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, "The ratio of doctors to the population stands at 1:5,000 (compared to the WHO guideline of 1:600), and the ratio of nurses to the population is as poor as 1:2,000 (in contrast to the WHO suggestion of 1:300)."
Nevertheless, Salako stated that the government continues to be dedicated to tackling these issues by enhancing primary healthcare systems, broadening the Health Workforce Registry, raising the number of trainees for medical personnel, and introducing retention strategies to reduce staff turnover.
Supplied by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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