Sophia Michaels
The federal government has reiterated its determination to protect and promote hardworking and honest Nigerians in the diaspora irrespective of their location.
The government has acted as a guarantor for eight medical doctors to pursue further training in various medical specialties in the United States for the entirety of their training period.
It emphasized that while it will not hinder any Nigerian from pursuing their life ambitions in locations of their choosing, it will continue to prioritize capacity building and create conducive environments to retain its workforce.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, approved the medical trainees’ applications for a Statement of Need to be issued to the United States Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
Pate said the approval was in furtherance of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his conscious commitment to transforming the nation’s healthcare system.
However, he cautioned that the trainees must uphold the commitment they made in their applications to return to Nigeria immediately after their training and serve their home country for at least two years.
The trainee professionals and their subspecialty include Dr. Chidiebere Emmanuel Omaliko, a three-year Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the One Brooklyn Health/Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center program; Dr. Ejemenare Dawodu – Fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Duke University Medical Center; Dr. Favour Ekerete Markson training in Cardiology (cardiovascular diseases) at the Jefferson Einstein Hospital, Philadelphia; and Dr. Olanrewaju Adebusuyi Ogunleye Fellowship in Radiology (Breast Imaging) at the University of Texas at Houston Breast Imaging.
Others are Dr. Obinna Theophilus Nwankwo – Fellowship in Nephrology, Fellowship program at the University of Nebraska, Omaha; Dr. Anderson C. Anuforo – Fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine at the SUNY Upstate Medical University, New York; Dr. Ayo Samuel Falade- residency training in Hematology/ Oncology at Mayo Clinic School to Graduate Medical Education (MCSGME) Jacksonville, Florida; and Dr. Adanna Ikunna Nwaneri 3 years Fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine.
All programmes, varying in duration but primarily lasting three years, will begin between June and September 2024.
According to Pate in a statement issued by the Ministry’s Director of Information Patricia Deworitshe on Thursday, the issuance of the Statement of Note depicts the federal government’s confirmation to the United States Government of a need in Nigeria for the specialized training, being sought by the applicants, thus, paving way for processing of J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa applications for trainees.
Pate called on the trainees to honour their commitment to return and patriotically serve the country that gave them foundational training and still needs their services.
The minister further noted that as the trainees do well in the US, they should remember that it is the commonwealth of Nigeria that contributed to their being attractive to the US and avoid being simply inputs or economic migrants.
While urging Nigerian professionals in the Diaspora to avoid engineering negative perceptions about the country in foreign lands, also assured that the Federal Government is pursuing a policy of Constructive Migration while doing everything possible to improve the working conditions of the existing workforce.
