Between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, a total of 3,173 Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives were licensed to practice in the United Kingdom, according to a report by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). This brings the total number of Nigerian-educated nurses and midwives in the UK to 13,656.
The NMC report revealed that as of March 31, 2024, there were 826,418 nursing and midwifery professionals on their register, with Nigeria being one of the top non-UK countries of education. The number of Nigerian nurses and midwives in the UK increased by 28.3% within a year.
Nigeria ranks alongside other top non-UK countries for nursing education, including India (62,413), the Philippines (49,092), Romania (7,378), and Ghana (5,536).
Despite the UK government’s red list, which discourages active recruitment from certain countries, the number of international joiners to the NMC register continues to rise, with nearly 60,000 new nursing and midwifery professionals registering this year alone. This includes significant numbers from countries like India.
The exodus of Nigerian nurses seeking better opportunities abroad is contributing to a critical shortage of health workers in Nigeria, impacting healthcare delivery and access. The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives reported that over 75,000 nurses and midwives left Nigeria in the past five years, seeking greener pastures.
This trend underscores the pressing challenges faced by Nigeria and other countries in retaining their health workforce amidst global health service disruptions and better-paying opportunities abroad.
