To Stop Young Doctors From Going Abroad
For many young Nigerian doctors, the lure of “greener pastures” abroad has become almost irresistible. Long hours, tough working conditions, and the promise of better pay overseas often leave the country’s hospitals drained of its best talent. But one man is quietly and passionately rewriting this story, doing his best possible to create a change in orientation of young physicians making them see things differently that there are many untapped opportunities in Nigeria which need to be harnessed for their good and for the good of the country.
Few days ago, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, respected fertility expert and CEO of Nordica Fertility Centre, kicked off the 4th edition of his annual Physicians Mentoring Programme, a vision-driven initiative designed to raise doctors who will stay, lead, and make a difference at home.
This year’s cohort, simply known as C4, welcomed 13 bright young physicians—adding up to 53 mentees who have passed through the programme since it began. Among them are: Dr. Anjolaoluwa Oluyole, Dr. Favour Akunna, Dr. Haleemat Shutti, Dr. Mary Bakare, Dr. Olanrewaju Solanke, Dr. Oluwatunmise Aladesawe, Dr. Precious Obi, Dr. Rita Nwadobu, Dr. Simisola Oluwalana, Dr. Victor Odekunle, Dr. Yasir Hazma, Dr. Bello Olakeu Abdussalam, and Dr. Fervant Idakwo.
Unlike typical medical trainings, this mentoring scheme is not about textbooks or clinical drills. It’s about shaping vision, building resilience, and teaching the art of leadership.
“We want young doctors to understand that they are nation-builders,” Dr. Ajayi explained during the virtual onboarding. “The answer is not always outside the country; there’s impact waiting to be made right here.”
To help drive this message home, Dr. Ajayi is not working alone. Thirteen seasoned professionals and thought leaders from different industries have been brought in as mentors, including Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Dr. (Mrs.) Funmi Babington-Ashaye, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, Prof. Afolabi Lesi, Mrs. Rasheedat Adebisi, Mr. Funmi Onabolu, Mr. Ade Popoola, Mr. Adekunle Oyegade, Engineer Nnamdi Agbim, Dr. Olakunle Onakoya, Mrs. Nireti Adebayo, Prof. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, and Mr. Akinwumi Akintola.
Their role is simple but powerful: to walk hand-in-hand with these young doctors, sharing wisdom, offering guidance, and inspiring them to see beyond their stethoscopes.
At the onboarding, some of these mentors spoke directly to the mentees. Mrs. Rasheedat Adebisi, Mr. Funmi Onabolu, and Prof. Afolabi Lesi shared heartfelt advice on leadership and responsibility, leaving the new cohort visibly inspired. Alumni from earlier cohorts also testified about how the programme reshaped their careers, proving the journey is worth every step.
By the time the meeting ended, one thing was clear: Cohort 4 is not just another batch of mentees. They are a movement in the making—young doctors choosing to stay, grow, and build.
For Dr. Ajayi, this is only the beginning of a much bigger dream. If the mentoring programme continues on this path, the future of Nigerian healthcare may just be written not in the West, but right here at home.
Why This Matters Now
The need for such an intervention could not be more urgent. Statistics shows that in the last 5–7 years alone, over 16,000 Nigerian doctors have left the country in search of better opportunities abroad. This has left Nigeria with just 3.9 doctors per 10,000 people, far below the World Health Organization’s recommendation. Surveys show that nearly 8 in 10 doctors still practising in Nigeria have concrete plans to leave within five years, mainly due to poor pay, weak infrastructure, and socio-political instability. Even medical students are not exempt—over two-thirds already plan to practice abroad once they graduate.
This alarming trend means the country is investing heavily in training doctors, only for other nations to reap the benefits. Against this backdrop, Dr. Ajayi’s mentoring programme stands out as a bold attempt to rewrite the script by showing young physicians that impact and fulfilment can also be found at home.
By the time the meeting ended, one thing was clear: Cohort 4 is not just another batch of mentees. They are a movement in the making—young doctors choosing to stay, grow, and build.
For Dr. Ajayi, this is only the beginning of a much bigger dream. If the mentoring programme continues on this path, the future of Nigerian healthcare may just be written not in the West, but right here at home.
-Jamiu Abubakar
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