MDCN Registrar Begs Newly Inducted UI Doctors to Stay, ‘Train More’ in Nigeria

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has made a passionate appeal to the country’s newest medical professionals, urging them to resist the tempting allure of the “Japa” phenomenon and stay in Nigeria to rebuild the nation’s fragile healthcare system.

The plea was delivered by the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the MDCN, Dr. Fatima Kyari, on Monday, October 20, 2025, during the official induction ceremony of the 2025 MBBS and BDS graduating set of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (UI). A total of $\text{136}$ medical and dental professionals took their professional oaths at the event.

Amid the national crisis of medical brain drain, Dr. Kyari’s core message centred on patriotism and professional duty. She challenged the inductees directly, asking, “Where would you be if [your lecturers] were not here to train you? Feel the responsibility to also stay and train more doctors. How many will you train? Set yourselves targets from today.”

The Registrar acknowledged the global demand for Nigerian-trained doctors, noting that she signs off on “quite a number of global verifications for doctors intending to practice in other countries.” However, she stressed that this international desirability should fuel a commitment to their homeland, where they received a heavily subsidized, high-standard education.

Dr. Kyari further assured the new doctors that despite the challenges, she is “optimistic that the dynamics of transformation in the healthcare sector in the current government are real.” She urged them to embrace professionalism, empathy, and integrity, reminding them that the fulcrum of their practice must remain patient-centred care.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, also charged the inductees to be ambassadors of excellence and ethical practice, emphasizing their role in solving problems and innovating within the nation’s healthcare delivery system.