According to a recent report, a total of 3,383 nurses and midwives trained in Nigeria were licensed to practice in the United Kingdom within a year.

The report, obtained from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), revealed that there are currently 10,639 Nigerian nurses and midwives practicing in the UK.

The NMC serves as the regulatory body for nursing and midwifery in the UK and maintains a register of eligible professionals.

The World Health Organization (WHO) listed Nigeria and 54 other countries as facing significant health workforce challenges related to universal health coverage.

The impact of COVID-19 and disruptions to health services have led health workers in these countries to seek better opportunities in wealthier nations.

Consequently, the UK government placed Nigeria and 53 other countries on a red list, discouraging recruitment of health workers from these nations.

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The NMC report indicated a record total of 788,638 nurses, midwives, and nursing associates registered to practice in the UK.

The number of new joiners in the register reached over 52,000, with 27,142 educated in the UK and 25,006 educated outside Europe.

While the number of professionals leaving the register decreased slightly, there are concerns about staff retention, as 52% of those who left did so earlier than planned.

Nigeria ranked third among foreign countries with the highest number of nurses and midwives working in the UK, following India and the Philippines.

The report highlighted a significant increase in the number of Nigerian nurses and midwives practicing in the UK over the years, reaching 10,639 by March 2023.

The President of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives expressed concern over the migration of over 75,000 nurses and midwives from Nigeria within five years.

Factors such as poor wages, lack of decent work environments, insecurity, and violence against healthcare workers contributed to this trend.