A Nigerian doctor living in the United States, Dr. Sunday Fawole, has said that many doctors are leaving Nigeria for other countries because the country’s healthcare system is falling apart.
Dr. Fawole made this statement during the 2025 National Health Summit, held online by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors and the Resourceful Youth Network Initiative.
He said many Nigerian doctors working abroad can be seen as “economic fugitives” — people forced to leave because of poor working conditions, insecurity, and lack of job opportunities in Nigeria.
Dr. Fawole, who works in Atlanta, Georgia, explained that most doctors are pushed out of Nigeria by serious problems like poor healthcare funding, lack of good equipment, limited career growth, and bad leadership — not just attracted by better opportunities overseas.
He said these “push factors” in Nigeria have a bigger impact than the “pull factors” offered by other countries.
He explained, “The health system is broken. Doctors are leaving because of bad facilities, insecurity, and no career progress. When they go abroad, they find better pay, more training options, and a better life.
“Dr. Fawole pointed out that resident doctors in Nigeria earn less than \$10,000 per year, while those working abroad can earn between \$100,000 and \$300,000, depending on their area of expertise.
However, he warned that the mental and emotional challenges migrant doctors face are often ignored.He spoke about the hidden pain of migration, like being away from family, adjusting to a new culture, struggling with identity, and missing loved ones.
He said, “The pain of those living abroad is part of the cost Nigeria pays for letting its healthcare system fail.”Dr. Fawole added that many doctors abroad silently deal with mental stress, go to therapy, struggle with relationships, and feel guilty for leaving their country behind.
He stressed that most doctors who moved abroad did so out of necessity, not selfishness.He added, “Most of us didn’t leave just for a better life. We were forced to leave. After a while, the money doesn’t matter as much. You start to feel the urge to come back and help the country that trained you.
“He also shared that some doctors suffer from “survivor’s guilt” — feeling bad for being better off while their colleagues in Nigeria continue to suffer.
These doctors often come back on short medical missions, only to see the same problems they left behind. This experience can be deeply upsetting.
Dr. Fawole urged Nigerian leaders to focus on fixing the real issues causing healthcare workers to leave the country.
He warned that without real change and serious investment in doctors’ welfare, Nigeria will keep losing its best medical professionals.
Also speaking at the event, the President of NARD, Dr. Tope Osundara, said resident doctors are the backbone of Nigeria’s healthcare system and their welfare must be a priority.
He explained that the summit, organized with the Resourceful Youth Network Initiative, aimed to come up with policy ideas to stop the brain drain.“We’re looking at why young doctors are leaving and whether this is just a brain drain — or if it can become a brain gain,” he said.
Dr. Osundara said that if the government creates better working conditions, doctors who return from abroad could help fix the system.
The summit featured top Nigerian and diaspora doctors discussing the reasons behind the large number of doctors leaving Nigeria. They talked about both the challenges at home and the opportunities abroad.
The event ended with suggestions on how to stop the brain drain, such as improving hospital conditions, increasing doctors’ salaries, involving diaspora doctors in reforms, and addressing both local and international challenges doctors face.
