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42% of nurses in Africa love to migrate – WHO
42% of nurses in Africa love to migrate – WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised an alarm as 42 per cent of nurses in Africa reported intentions to emigrate, posing a significant threat to the region’s already strained healthcare workforce.
Chikwe Ihekweazu, the acting WHO regional director for Africa, issued the warning in his message on Saturday, marking International Nurses Day.
Mr Ihekweazu highlighted that while the global nursing workforce had increased to 29.8 million, up from around 28 million in 2018, there were concerning disparities.
“Nearly 80 per cent of nurses serve only 49 per cent of the world’s population, underscoring severe inequities in healthcare delivery.
“Today, on International Nurses Day, we honour the commitment, compassion, and courage of nurses across Africa and the world.
“Nurses represent nearly 70 per cent of the health workforce and are the foundation of our health systems, essential every day and indispensable in times of crisis,” Mr Ihekweazu said.
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Mr Ihekweazu pointed out that while recent investments in nursing education and training in Africa had shown positive results, the number of nurses had increased from 900,000 in 2018 to 1.7 million in 2023.
“This growth is a testament to the efforts made to improve healthcare staffing on the continent. However, in spite of these advancements, the nurse-to-population ratio remains one of the lowest globally, significantly lower than in high-income countries.
“This disparity highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing healthcare workforce shortages in Africa. Yet, this is still one of the lowest ratios worldwide and more than tenfold lower than in high-income countries,” he said.
He noted that nurses accounted for 66 per cent of Africa’s projected shortfall of 6.1 million health workers by 2030. This gap limited access to essential healthcare services and hindered progress towards universal health coverage.
Additionally, Mr Ihekweazu emphasised that despite 43 per cent of the nursing workforce in Africa being under 35, many nurses lacked access to mentorship or clear career pathways.
He also raised concerns about the continued recruitment of nurses from low-income countries by high-income nations, which relied heavily on foreign-born nurses, accounting for nearly 25 per cent of their nursing workforce.
The WHO official also highlighted a 43 per cent shortfall in health workforce financing in African countries, leading to widespread underemployment, particularly among nurses and midwives.
According to him, in May 2024, African leaders endorsed the Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter, paving the way for long-term improvements.
Mr Ihekweazu noted that some countries, like Zimbabwe, were taking steps to address the challenges.
“For example, Zimbabwe’s new Investment Compact aims to mobilise an additional $166 million annually over the next three years to strengthen its health workforce,” he said.
According to him, the annual report recommended nursing education, the introduction of advanced practice roles and the improvement of working conditions.
“In spite of women comprising 85 per cent of the nursing workforce, the gender pay gap remains at seven per cent,” he said.
Mr Ihekweazu ended by stressing the broader role of nurses: “Nurses are more than caregivers.”
42% of nurses in Africa love to migrate – WHO
(NAN)
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FG Begins Formal Recovery of 157 Almajiri Schools for Nationwide Rehabilitation
FG Begins Formal Recovery of 157 Almajiri Schools for Nationwide Rehabilitation
The Federal Government has commenced the official recovery of 157 model Almajiri schools built during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, in a renewed push to overhaul Almajiri education across the country.
The move was confirmed by Nura Muhammad, spokesperson for the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE), during an interview in Abuja on Sunday. He described the recovery process as a crucial step toward fully revamping and institutionalising Almajiri education.
Muhammad explained that the effort follows the establishment of a legally backed national body now responsible for all Almajiri-related programmes — a structure he said was missing during earlier reform attempts.
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While commending former President Jonathan for constructing the schools, which he described as “a noble and well-intentioned stride toward modernising the system,” Muhammad noted that the previous initiative struggled due to weak policy implementation, including inadequate engagement with Alarammas, the traditional Qur’anic teachers who play a central role in the Almajiri system.
He added that the lack of a strong institutional framework — with the project operating only as an initiative under the Federal Ministry of Education — contributed to its challenges.
According to him, the Commission is now strengthened by law and guided by the newly adopted National Policy on Almajiri Education, positioning it to deliver sustainable reforms.
Muhammad expressed confidence that harmful practices linked to the Almajiri system would be addressed, emphasising that all recovered schools would soon be fully under the Commission’s control and rehabilitated to serve their original purpose.
FG Begins Formal Recovery of 157 Almajiri Schools for Nationwide Rehabilitation
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Delta State Police Arrest Suspects in Killing of Retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu
Delta State Police Arrest Suspects in Killing of Retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu
The Delta State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the murder of retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu in Anambra State, arresting key suspects linked to the case.
Spokesperson SP Bright Edafe disclosed on Sunday that operatives of the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), acting on credible intelligence, apprehended 25-year-old security guard Godwin Mngumi on 6 December 2025. Mngumi allegedly murdered the retired judge, and authorities also recovered the deceased’s mobile phone from him.
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According to Edafe, Mngumi confessed to inviting a friend, Nnaji Obalum, and another accomplice — who remains at large — to the residence where the crime was committed. Obalum has since been arrested, while a manhunt continues for the third suspect.
The arrests mark a major step forward in the effort to bring all perpetrators of the high-profile murder to justice.
Delta State Police Arrest Suspects in Killing of Retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu
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Delta State Police Recover Arms, Arraign 18 Suspects in Crackdown on Cultism, Violent Crimes
Delta State Police Recover Arms, Arraign 18 Suspects in Crackdown on Cultism, Violent Crimes
The Delta State Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has made significant strides in its ongoing campaign against cultism and violent crimes. Recent operations, including an intelligence-led arms recovery in Abraka and the arraignment of 18 suspects, highlight the command’s intensified enforcement efforts across the state.
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Spokesperson SP Bright Edafe said on Saturday that the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), under ASP Julius Robinson, executed a successful operation on December 6, 2025, targeting cult-related activities and the proliferation of illegal firearms. Acting on credible intelligence, officers conducted a coordinated search at No. 2 Umeghe Community, Abraka, the residence of Isiakpere Friday, 67.
The move underscores the Delta State Police’s commitment to restoring safety and security in communities affected by criminal and cult-related activities.
Delta State Police Recover Arms, Arraign 18 Suspects in Crackdown on Cultism, Violent Crimes
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