The Director of Nursing at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dame Francisca Okafor, has urged nursing graduates to reconsider the pursuit of opportunities abroad, commonly referred to as ‘Japa’.
Okafor made this appeal on Thursday during the seventh combined convocation ceremony of the School of Psychiatric Nursing at Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, in Abeokuta.
The event, covering 14 sets of graduates from 2009/2010 to 2022/2023, saw 619 graduates in attendance.
She emphasized the Federal Government’s hope that the newly graduated nurses would prioritize contributing to Nigeria’s healthcare system rather than seeking greener pastures overseas.
In her words; “Given the prevailing economic hardship which can lead to depression and growing substance abuse, among others, there is no doubt that the mental illness burden is increasing daily in the country.
Read Also:
“So, there is the need for Nursing professionals who have been specially trained in the area of mental health to be considerate enough to stay behind to offer requisite care to Nigerians.
“While I am rejoicing with you as you have toiled selflessly and burned the midnight candles to achieve this great academic feat and have been found worthy to be a graduate of Psychiatric Nursing, I want to urge you to stay back to care for our people.
“Look at the young ones indulging in drug and substance abuse, who will take care of them if you indulge in ‘japa’?
“While the government is working on your work environment being better, we must always remember that Nigeria remains our home and no sacrifice can be too much to render in our service to the nation,” she added.
The Director, however, noted that if the nurses are determined to leave the country, they must do so through the proper channels.
”There are many Nigerian nurses abroad doing all sorts of menial jobs in spite of their academic qualifications. This is because they were more interested in leaving the country, rather than going through the right channels”.
“While doing this, you should also work in line with the new Mental Health Act signed into law in 2022,” she said.
