President Bola Tinubu has urged medical professionals across West Africa to develop practical solutions to the growing exodus of healthcare workers, warning that the trend is undermining access to medical services and placing additional pressure on already strained health systems.
Tinubu made the call on Thursday at the State House, Abuja, shortly after being conferred with a Fellowship of the West African College of Physicians (WACP) in recognition of his administration’s commitment to healthcare reforms.
The President said the continued migration of skilled medical personnel to other parts of the world was limiting access to essential healthcare services and increasing the workload of professionals remaining in the sub-region.
He urged the college to use its forthcoming conference to develop practical and sustainable strategies for addressing medical brain drain and strengthening healthcare delivery across West Africa.
Tinubu also emphasised the need to strengthen disease prevention and public health preparedness to tackle infectious diseases, including Ebola.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to reforms aimed at making healthcare services more accessible, affordable and efficient for Nigerians.
The President commended medical professionals for their contributions to research, disease prevention and life-saving interventions, while thanking the college for the honour.
Speaking at the ceremony, President of the WACP and Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Dr Mamadou Mourtala Ka, said the special fellowship was reserved for heads of state who had made significant contributions to healthcare delivery in West Africa.
“This award is given only to presidents who have made a mark in health care delivery and affected the health of the West African people,” Ka said.
The college’s Secretary-General, Professor Musa Dankyau, said the special recognition had been awarded only eight times in the institution’s 50-year history.
He identified former Gambian President Dawda Jawara as the first recipient and former Nigerian military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, as a recipient in 1991.
Dankyau said the decision to honour Tinubu reflected the college’s assessment of his administration’s investments and reforms in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
According to him, investments in the sector had exceeded $2.2 billion, although he did not provide a breakdown of the funding or the period covered.
He also cited progress in disease prevention, immunisation and public health preparedness as areas of improvement under the administration.
The fellowship was conferred ahead of the WACP’s 50th anniversary celebration and Annual General and Scientific Meeting, scheduled for October 26 to 28, 2026, in Abuja.
The ceremony was attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, among other senior government officials.
