King's College London

Nigeria has around 250 psychiatrists serving a population of more than 200 million people. This already limited workforce is further threatened by the increasing migration of psychiatrists to other countries.

A nationwide study involving 228 psychiatry trainees and early-career psychiatrists from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones found that 85.8 per cent had considered leaving Nigeria, 69.2 per cent were considering leaving at the time of the study, and 52.9 per cent had already taken practical steps towards migration. More than half believed that they would be working outside Nigeria within five years.

Financial pressures, limited academic and professional-development opportunities, and unsatisfactory working conditions were among the main reasons for considering migration. Participants identified better remuneration, improved working conditions, stronger academic opportunities, welfare support, mentorship and professional networking as important areas for reform.

Following the publication of a nationwide cross-sectional survey of workforce migration in Nigeria, the findings are being translated into accessible information and targeted policy engagement intended to support the retention of psychiatrists and strengthen mental healthcare in Nigeria.

Aims

• increase awareness of the scale and potential consequences of psychiatrist migration from Nigeria;
• communicate the research findings to policymakers, professional bodies, training institutions, journalists and the wider public;
• promote evidence-informed reforms relating to remuneration, working conditions, career development, mentorship, welfare and professional networking;
• encourage policymakers and institutional leaders to make and implement commitments supporting psychiatrist retention; and
• monitor the influence of the dissemination activities on public discussion, institutional practice and health workforce policy.

Project activities

Communicate findings through:

• a policy brief and accessible infographics;
• a short animated explainer video;
• a high-level stakeholder roundtable;
• engagement with members of the Nigerian legislature and health-sector policymakers;
• national radio, television and other news-media activities;
• opinion articles and journalist engagement;
• a sustained social media advocacy campaign; and
• an online project hub providing free access to the study findings and dissemination materials.

These activities are designed to reach decision-makers who can influence health workforce policy, while also enabling professional organisations, journalists and members of the public to support and sustain calls for reform.

Research team

Dr Emmanuel Aniekan Essien – Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar (Principal Investigator, Nigeria)

Dr Mariana Pinto da Costa – King’s College London (Co-Investigator, UK)

Collaborators

Dr Mohammed Yusuf Mahmood – Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri

Dr Frances Adiukwu – University of Port Harcourt

Dr Yesiru Adeyemi Kareem – Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta

Dr Nafisatu Hayatudeen – Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna

Dr Margaret Isioma Ojeahere – Jos University Teaching Hospital

Dr Mumeen Olaitan Salihu – University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital

Dr Kamaldeen Adeyinka Sanni – Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna

Dr Ayotunde Bolatito Omotoso – University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital

Partner Organisations

Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria

Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria

Funding

This research has been funded by the Medical Research Foundation’s Changing Policy and Practice Award (Grant reference: MRF-CPP-R1-25-106) and Travel Grant in Epidemiology (MRF-SF-MCTG-2022-100047s1). Both grants were awarded to Dr Emmanuel Essien as Principal Investigator and Dr Mariana Pinto da Costa as Co-investigator.