Nigeria facing health, education emergency, Medical Academy cautions

The Nigerian Academy of Medicine (NAMed) has raised fresh concerns about the systemic decay in Nigeria’s health and education sectors. Speaking at the Academy’s 2025 Annual Lecture, Induction Ceremony and Scientific Conference in Abuja, the outgoing President of the Academy, Emeritus Professor Samuel Ohaegbulam, lamented the multiple crises confronting the nation, from poor healthcare funding […]

The Nigerian Academy of Medicine (NAMed) has raised fresh concerns about the systemic decay in Nigeria’s health and education sectors.

Speaking at the Academy’s 2025 Annual Lecture, Induction Ceremony and Scientific Conference in Abuja, the outgoing President of the Academy, Emeritus Professor Samuel Ohaegbulam, lamented the multiple crises confronting the nation, from poor healthcare funding to the unchecked proliferation of universities and medical colleges without adequate quality control.

Ohaegbulam observed that the health sector remains grossly underfunded, with many hospitals lacking basic diagnostic equipment such as CT and MRI machines. He added that healthcare professionals, frustrated by poor facilities and low remuneration, are emigrating in large numbers in search of better opportunities.

“Can we blame them when they are offered $15,000 a month abroad while struggling to survive at home?” he asked.

He further criticised the inefficiency of the country’s health insurance scheme, noting that despite enabling laws, only about 2–5% of the population is covered.

On meritocracy, he decried the suspension of the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award for three years due to lack of funding, despite the fact that the institution is backed by law.

He expressed concern over what he described as Nigeria’s dwindling recognition of excellence, citing the neglect of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) Award as a glaring example.

According to him, the situation was “one of the most painful realities we must confront as a nation.”

He said the NNOM Award, established by an Act of the Federal Republic in 1979, once stood as a symbol of national pride.

“For decades, it honored the finest brains in Medicine, Science, Engineering, and the Humanities,” he noted. “Sadly, that legacy has suffered neglect in recent times.”

He stressed that revitalizing the culture of rewarding merit and excellence would help restore national values and inspire future generations.

A former Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said President Bola Tinubu had assured the coordinating minister and minister of state for health of his readiness to provide the required funding to strengthen the system.

“What we want to see is also to improve the remuneration of healthcare workers so that we can reduce workers’ migration. That way, more Nigerian doctors, nurses, pharmacists and physiotherapists can stay in the country and serve,” he said.

The guest lecturer, Prof John Idoko, who delivered lecture on “re-emergence of Lassa fever: advancing detection and response capacities in Nigeria” highlighted the increasing changes in Lassa fever cases, describing it as a call for new approach to the challenge.

A highlight of the event was the induction of new fellows into the Nigerian Academy of Medicine, held under the theme “Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases.”