Plateau state governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, has urged the Federal Government to implement a system that will discourage students benefiting from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) from embracing the “japa” syndrome.
He stated this Monday night in Jos, Plateau state capital, while hosting the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, alongside other officials of the Fund.
Members of the NELFUND delegation included Director of Client Support Services, Yemi Carson; Senior Manager of Strategic Communications, Folayemi Ogunniya; and Senior Manager and Technical Advisor to the MD/CEO, Nasir Ayitogo, among others.
The governor reiterated the need for policies that will ensure beneficiaries remain in Nigeria to contribute to its development.
He lamented the adverse impact of brain drain, especially in the healthcare sector, where the mass emigration of highly skilled professionals, especially doctors, nurses and specialists, has created a significant workforce shortage.
Mutfwang warned that the trend threatens the country’s ability to provide quality healthcare despite the substantial investments made in medical training.
The Governor recalled a time when medical students were placed on salary Level Seven once they entered clinical training. This ensured that, upon graduation, they were automatically enrolled in state service and required to serve for a designated period before seeking employment elsewhere.
He underscored the importance of instilling patriotism in young professionals, urging them to prioritize national development.
Mutfwang commended the Federal Government for its innovative approach to student loans, particularly the policy of paying tuition fees directly to educational institutions. He noted that this measure would enhance transparency and prevent financial mismanagement.
The governor also lauded President Tinubu for appointing Sawyerr as the head of NELFUND, describing the decision as a well-considered one.
He said: “For medical students, the most significant impact of Japa is felt in the health sector, where we are experiencing a severe shortage. We are committed to investing in their training, but we must also establish measures that prevent them from immediately relocating abroad after graduation.
“It doesn’t make sense to train medical doctors only for them to leave the country as soon as they qualify. How do we address this? Because if they have access to this type of financial support, we are essentially training them for export.
“To curb the exodus of medical professionals, the governor advocated for the introduction of incentives that would encourage them to remain in Nigeria. These incentives could include competitive salaries, improved working conditions, career advancement opportunities, and other benefits that make medical practice within the country more attractive.
“If we fail to address this issue, we will simply be training professionals for developed nations that require skilled manpower. These countries have declining birth rates and are in constant need of workers. If we do nothing, we will continue supplying them with our best talent.
“We have no other country but Nigeria. If we don’t take responsibility for our nation’s growth, no one else will. There must be a conscious and deliberate commitment to contributing to our country’s progress,” he stated. “You can study anywhere in the world, but if your education was funded by Nigerian taxpayers, there should be a reasonable expectation for you to give back to the nation.
“We have seen cases where students were given allowances to cover school charges but failed to use them for that purpose. Consequently, they were barred from writing exams, creating additional crises. Ensuring direct payment to schools will eliminate such issues.”
In his response, NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, said the President Bola Tinubu administration is committed to ensuring that no student in public tertiary institutions is denied access to education due to financial difficulties.
“Our goal is to ensure that both indigenes and non-indigenes studying in Plateau State understand how to access the funding available to them.
“Every Nigerian student, regardless of location, should benefit from this initiative,” he said.