Japa Syndrome: UNIOSUN VC Urges Graduating Nurses Not To Leave Nigeria

Amid the problem of brain drain in Nigeria, Vice Chancellor, Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Prof.Odunayo Clement Adebooye has appealed to graduating Nurses of the institution to remain in the country, saying urgent steps must be taken to end exodus of young medical professionals from the country.

Professor Adebooye urged newly inducted nurses of the institution to demonstrate commitment to national reconstruction and rejuvenation of Nigeria through their profession.

Adebooye who gave the plea on Friday at the 4th induction/Oath taking ceremony of registered nurses of the institution in Osogbo appealed to the inducted nurses to give back to Nigeria who is in dear need of them.

He enjoined the inductees not to join those who believe Nigeria is beyond redemption.

Addressing the 65 inductees , the Uniosun VC said “If I ask you what your next aspiration is, I am sure all of you will chorus “Ja-pa”, meaning this degree has given you a ticket to jet out of the country for supposedly “greener pastures”.

“But I must also let you know that God did not create you here for no purpose. If we all keep saying Nigeria is bad, Nigeria is bad, then who are those people that will make Nigeria good? I have come to realise that money does not make everything in life.

“Nigeria needs more nurses and medical professionals. UNIOSUN is trying its best to fill this dearth of nursing professionals in the country. But it will only take a high level of personal reorientation to keep our nurses back home to help Nigeria.

“I have come to realise that money does not make everything in life. There is a time for genuine assistance, a time for show of love and a time for commitment to national reconstruction and rejuvenation.

“I therefore appeal to you all as inductees of today to have hope and faith in this country; and to prioritise the need to give back to the nation that has licensed you to prosper as nursing professionals.

“This you can do, by staying back to help our helpless patients in their thousands who need more care, more kindness and more medics to give them hope”.

Earlier in his opening remark, Provost of the Uniosun College of Health Science, Professor Christopher Alebiosu urged the inductees to ensure that they allow peace in the hospitals that they will be working.

He also charged them to be a good ambassador of their institution adding that they should also give back to the college that produced them.

In her lecture, Dr Iyanuoluwa Ojo while speaking on the theme: “Digitalization for Nursing Education, Practice And Research” emphasized on the technology and its impact on nursing education.

Dr Ojo harped on the need for Nursing educators to prepare clinicians to promote health and increase wellbeing.

She further said that basics of nursing education need to be redesigned in many countries.

One of the inductee, Miss Blessing Adejobi who expressed gratitude to God gave assurance of her commitment to serve her country that has invested much in her,

Adejobi corroborated the VC plea for increase in the quota approved for UNIOSUN noted that there are many qualified candidates seeking admission to study Nursing across the country.