The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has urged 86 newly inducted nurses to resist the temptation to leave Nigeria for employment opportunities abroad, stressing the importance of retaining and deploying their professional expertise to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
Egbewole gave the charge on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, during the ninth Professional Induction and Admission Ceremony of the university’s Department of Nursing Science, held at the University Auditorium in Ilorin, Kwara State. The university officially listed the ceremony among its events for the day. <Cite refs={[“turn455021view0″,”turn455021view1”]}/>
A total of 86 nursing graduands, comprising 13 males and 73 females, were inducted into the nursing profession, marking another milestone in the university’s contribution to the training of healthcare personnel.
The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Moji Taibat Bakare-Odunola, encouraged the new nurses to apply the knowledge and practical skills acquired during their training to improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
He emphasised the need for the inductees to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, demonstrate compassion in their dealings with patients and remain worthy ambassadors of the university as they begin their careers.
His appeal comes amid continuing concerns about the migration of Nigerian healthcare professionals to countries offering international employment opportunities, a trend commonly described as “japa”. The movement of trained nurses abroad has intensified public discussions about healthcare workforce shortages, staff retention and the sustainability of health services in Nigeria.
For the newly inducted nurses, the transition from academic training to professional practice represents an opportunity to contribute to patient care across hospitals, primary healthcare centres, community health programmes and other clinical settings. Their professional responsibilities will require not only technical competence but also ethical conduct, sound judgement and sensitivity to patients’ needs.
Egbewole’s message also placed emphasis on the responsibility of healthcare professionals to maintain the reputation of the institutions that trained them. By encouraging the inductees to remain committed to professionalism and compassionate service, he underscored the importance of combining clinical knowledge with the values that underpin nursing practice.
However, calls for nurses to remain in Nigeria also draw attention to the conditions required to retain healthcare workers. Competitive remuneration, adequate staffing, access to modern equipment, opportunities for postgraduate education, safe working environments and clear career progression remain important considerations in discussions about the migration of skilled professionals.
While the university’s appeal focused on the need for Nigeria to benefit from the expertise of its newly trained nurses, long-term retention efforts depend on a healthcare environment in which professionals can develop their careers and deliver quality care effectively.
The induction ceremony therefore represented both a professional milestone for the 86 graduands and an opportunity to reinforce the role of nursing in strengthening healthcare delivery. As they begin their careers, the new nurses are expected to uphold professional standards, protect patients’ dignity and contribute meaningfully to the communities they serve.
UNILORIN’s Department of Nursing Science continues to play a role in preparing healthcare professionals for service, while the university’s call highlights the wider challenge of ensuring that Nigeria can retain, support and benefit from the skilled workforce its institutions train.
