Kaigama wants actions over exodus of doctors, others leaving Nigeria

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most. Rev. Ignatius Kaigama has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s deepening brain drain, describing the exodus of over 16,000 doctors and thousands of other skilled professionals as a serious national crisis that must decisively acted upon. He made the call in his homily at St. Edwin’s Parish, Kubwa in Abuja […]

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most. Rev. Ignatius Kaigama has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s deepening brain drain, describing the exodus of over 16,000 doctors and thousands of other skilled professionals as a serious national crisis that must decisively acted upon.

He made the call in his homily at St. Edwin’s Parish, Kubwa in Abuja to mark this year’s 59th World Communications Day.

Kaigama, who celebrated the mass with parishioners and administered the sacrament of confirmation to over 100 candidates, urged media professionals to spotlight the consequences of Nigeria’s ongoing brain drain.

“An estimated 16,000 doctors have left Nigeria in the past seven years to countries like the UK, US, Canada, and Germany. Thousands of other skilled personnel have also joined this exodus. Does it not worry our government when those trained to build our nation flee due to poor working conditions, insecurity, and lack of basic professional tools?” he said.

He urged media practitioners to embrace their roles as peacemakers, stressing the importance of ‘communicating truth with love’ in the digital age.

He said, “Let your words heal, not wound. Let your messages bring hope, not fear. Contribute to bringing down the walls of hostility that divide humanity. Social media must become a tool for edification, not destruction.”

While urgin Christians to become ambassadors of unity, as a divided church cannot heal a divided nation, he also urged the newly confirmed candidates, he reminded them that they were receiving not just a sacrament, but a mission of positive impact in the country.

He said, “On World Communications Day, we are called to remember that in today’s world of imagery, the mass media have effectively become an extraordinary resource for promoting solidarity and understanding within the human family.

“See the vibrant way the death and solemn funeral rites of our late Pope Francis were reported all over the world and how equally, the inaugural Mass of the papacy of Pope Leo XIV dominated world news headlines. However, the media must be used “with gentleness and reverence”.

“We live in an age of powerful technologies — of digital voices, social media, and instant messages. But we must ask: Are we communicating truth? Are we promoting understanding and unity? Are we forming human hearts?”

He said that while being mindful of the impact of artificial intelligence, the dangers of fake news and misinformation, people should not be too quick to spread bad news.

“Always ensure objectivity and respect for human dignity. When you read your funeral on social media or stories that are fabricated to make headlines or to get likes on Facebook and other platforms, they are far from being intended to edify or bring peace or development. Use rather, the modern means of modern communication to edify, to motivate, to instruct, to correct, to inspire, to promote unity and harmony,” Kaigama said.