By Nafisat Makinde
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has emphasized that medical doctors must remain at the forefront of Nigeria’s healthcare system. Dr. Salako made this assertion during his official visit to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Secretariat headquarters in Abuja.
According to Dr. Salako, “Patients visit hospitals primarily to see doctors. Yes, they interact with other professionals, but doctors are central. And everywhere in the world, doctors are positioned to provide leadership. Nigeria, of course, cannot be an exception.”
The Minister stressed that leadership in a multi-professional environment demands vision, sacrifice, and continuous improvement. “If you’re not ahead as a leader, you lose the leadership position,” he warned, urging Nigerian doctors to rise to the challenge and develop their capacity to lead.
Dr. Salako praised the resilience and patriotism of doctors who have chosen to remain in Nigeria despite better opportunities abroad. “I proudly call myself a homeboy,” he said. “And I use this opportunity to appreciate all of you who have chosen to stay behind and grow our country, because we have no other country.”
The Minister also linked the ongoing exodus of Nigerian health professionals to a continuum of exploitation that began with slavery and colonization, criticizing modern forms of brain drain as neo-colonial tactics depriving Nigeria of its skilled workforce.
The NMA President, Dr. Audu Bala, lauded the Minister’s visit as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to health sector reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.” Dr. Bala highlighted recent policy strides aimed at reversing brain drain, including the implementation of a health workforce retention strategy and doubling medical training capacity across tertiary institutions.
Dr. Bala said, “This policy could make Nigeria a major exporter of health professionals, benefiting both our healthcare system and economy.” He also emphasized the need for Nigeria to tap into the global health economy, a “multi-trillion-dollar sector,” to reverse medical tourism, boost local healthcare access, and position Nigeria as a regional health hub.
Both leaders agreed that strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system requires a coordinated effort from government, professionals, and society, pledging continued collaboration to ensure the sector meets national needs and contributes to the country’s economic development.
The visit forms part of Dr. Salako’s ongoing engagements with parastatals, agencies, and professional associations under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, aimed at revitalizing the health value chain and local pharmaceutical production.
