Building Nigeria's Nursing Supply and Capabilities

The majority of the text and images in this article appeared in reports and articles from "Rural Nigeria News." The full content can be read online at https://ruralnigerianews.com.ng/empowering-nigerias-healthcare-workforce-a-tale-of-triumph-and-gratitude/.

The convocation ceremonies held December 12 and 14, 2024, respectively, at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City, and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, marked a significant milestone in the journey of the 19 beneficiaries of the groundbreaking nurse-educator scholarship program launched in 2023 by the tag-team of Health Carousel Foundation and National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America.

Of the first five beneficiaries to graduate under the initiative, three of them – Taiwo Olajumoke Abosede, Aladenola Folashade Fehintola, and Dare Olanike Temitayo earned the postgraduate diploma in nursing education [PGDNE] certificate from the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City; while the other two – Arike Adebola Bolarinwa and Fatanmi Similoluwa Judith graduated from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife with the postgraduate diploma in education [PGDE]. The remaining 14 beneficiaries domiciled in the following institutions – University of Uyo, National Open University, and Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, shall ultimately be celebrated at convocation ceremonies to be scheduled by their respective institutions in 2025 in line with their academic calendars.

"Sustainable capacity-building programs for nurse educators – such as run by Health Carousel Foundation, NANNNA, and NMCN become the sunshine, water, and fertile soil needed for Nigeria's healthcare garden to thrive. The program deserves everyone's prioritizing to ensure a bountiful harvest of skilled nurses and nurse educators, improved health outcomes, and a healthier Nigeria. - Kenneth K. Agwu, professor of radiography and medical physics and Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences at the Evangel University Akaeze, Ebonyi State.

This laudable program aims to grow the population and capacity of nurse educators. The Health Carousel Foundation donates the yearly funds for each cohort, NANNNA supervises the intervening process – from registration to graduation of each year's beneficiaries, and the NMCN licenses the certified scholars of each year. Like in a relay race, NANNNA and Health Carousel Foundation have delivered on the 2023 cohort with palpable dedication – while waiting for the NMCN to take the assignment to the finishing line – as each participating institution graduates their scholar[s].

Reactions from scholarship recipients:  

"The scholarship award came just when I needed it most. Without that financial lifeline from Health Carousel Foundation through NANNNA, I would not have embarked on the postgraduate program in the first place. The miracle of it all is how I learned about the program in the first place. I ran into a friend who informed me about it and asked me to complete the form online. I did, but dismissed it as one of those things. Truth is, I did not believe it was going to work out. I was therefore surprised to learn that I had been selected as one of the beneficiaries – even without knowing anyone at the NANNNA circle" - Nurse Okoroikpa

"I promise to make the most of this opportunity and strive to become the best educator I can be. NANNNA and Health Carousel Foundation's supports have motivated me to work harder, dream bigger, and never stop reaching for excellence in my profession." - Nurse Okafor Obianuju Makuochukwu of Nwafor Orizu College of Education Nsugbe

Reactions from nursing school faculty:

Interestingly, Dr. Mayowa Elemile, UNIMED's Faculty of Nursing Postgraduate Coordinator, stated that the three beneficiaries of the Health Carousel Foundation-NANNNA scholarship came top of their class of six candidates with the highest CGPA scores. She attributed their outstanding performances to the scholarship award – as they didn't have to scramble for the requisite tuition. Plus, of course, they had to put in extra work to justify the financial investments in them by the organizations.

Indeed, this report on their excellent performance would be corroborated by a letter signed by Dr. Mary Idowu Edward – Dean of the university's Faculty of Nursing Science. The development has buoyed up many undergraduate students of nursing science – especially among the hosting institutions of the first cohort, to become more studious in the hope of making the NANNNA-Health Carousel Foundation scholarship selection list when the time comes.

Observers have praised this program as a proactive corporate social responsibility on the part of Health Carousel Foundation – under the leadership of Andrew Lingo and his management team at Health Carousel, LLC– which, if sustained, would mitigate the perennial shortage of nurse educators arising from their depletion by foreign recruiting agents – with attendant negative consequences on the local healthcare industry. The program's sustainability is highly envisaged, as the Foundation has already released the funds for the 50 candidates approved for the 2024 cohort.

‍