News Investigators/ The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), on Thursday inducted no fewer than 206 foreign -trained Nurses into the profession.
Speaking at the historic event in Abuja on Thursday, the Registrar/CEO of the council, Alhassan Ndagi stated that the inducted nurses graduated from 15 institutions in foreign countries and had their adaptation programme in ten institutions in Nigeria.
The nurses were inducted into the profession after completing a compulsory six-month adaptation programme conducted in 10 Nigerian universities and passing the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) professional examination.
He said, “the inductees graduated from 15 institutions across several countries, including the Niger Republic (62), Ghana (35), Cameroon (35), India (22), Cyprus (19), the Philippines (9), Sudan (9), Egypt (5), Turkey (2), and Ukraine (1).
As part of the registration process, all successful foreign-trained nurses are required to undergo formal induction, similar to their counterparts trained in Nigeria.
According to Mr Ndagi, the council is unwaveringly committed to providing well-equipped nurses and midwives who can deliver high -quality nursing care at all levels of the country’s healthcare system and beyond.
The registrar appealed to the newly inducted nurses to prioritise the interests of Nigerians and willingly serve the country.
He said that this was more imperative especially in areas with significant healthcare needs such as hard-to-reach communities.
Mr Ndagi further encouraged them to be exemplary ambassadors of the nursing profession in the discharge of their arduous responsibilities.
The registrar also urged, “Demonstrate humility, discipline and respect in your interactions with the public.
“Let kindness and compassion guide your care for all patients.
“Practice in accordance with the higher ethical standards of the profession and uphold the fundamental responsibilities of a professional nurse wherever your career may take you to.”
He further admonished the inductees to prioritise the well-being of their patients, advising, “but remember to also care for yourselves.”
Mr Ndagi also urged them to embrace the culture of lifelong learning and explore opportunities available for self development and acquisition of higher Degrees as well as ascendancy in the nursing profession.
He advised, “It is important to contribute to the elevation of the nursing profession to an enviable pinnacle.
“Discipline yourself in using social media especially at period of your professional duties.
“Please note that you are now solely responsible for your nursing actions and you should maintain high level of professionality in all you do.”
Mr Ndagi reminded the new nurses that they would work under strict supervision of seasoned colleagues at their internship centres.
Mr Ndagi explained that Nigeria was no longer facing a shortage of trained nurses, following the expansion of training capacity and the introduction of new retention measures.
Responding to concerns about Nigerians studying nursing abroad despite the availability of accredited programmes locally, he acknowledged the concern but said the number involved was relatively small.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, said reforms introduced by the Federal Government were gradually reversing the trend of outward migration.
Mr Ganduje expressed optimism that ongoing reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration would further strengthen the health sector and encourage professionals to remain in the country.
“To now finish the internship and decide to go back to where they were coming from after the government has spent some investment on them? I assure you it will be a different story because the reforms undertaken by the present government will turn the tide,” he said.
According to him, improvements in health service delivery were already influencing the decision of many Nigerians trained abroad to return and practise locally.
“I think it is a welcome development because when we have our own children studying abroad and then coming back and joining the service, that is very encouraging,”
Other speakers at the event advised the inductees, who will proceed on a one-year internship followed by the National Youth Service, to take their training seriously, uphold confidentiality, and adapt to the evolving needs of patients.
The event also featured the presentation of awards to outstanding inductees and the institution that produced the overall best inductee, Cynthia Okwor.
The inductees also took the Oath of Allegiance, pledging to maintain confidentiality and abstain from acts harmful to patients.
