In recognition of the far-reaching contributions of the Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi Foundation (RAAF) to the healthcare sector, Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi, founder and sole financier of the non-governmental organisation was honoured by the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association (ICOMAA) Worldwide. The Foundation, which has been active for over a decade, has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to improving healthcare delivery and supporting medical advancement in Nigeria.
As a mark of appreciation for these contributions, Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi was appointed Chairman of the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Day Celebration (ICOMAA) Worldwide. The event attracted a distinguished gathering of eminent medical professionals and academics, including Emeritus Professor O.O. Akinkugbe, Emeritus Professor E. Oluwole Akande, Professor E.O. Oluwabunmi Olapade-Olaopa (Provost, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan), Professor Isaac Adewole (Former Minister of Health), Professor M.T. Shokunbi, Professor Temitope Alonge (Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Ibadan), and Dr. Abib Olamitoye (CEO/CMD, Ibadan Central Hospital, Ibadan), among others.
In his address, Senator Akanbi spoke extensively on the challenge of brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector. He noted that citizens rightly expect democracy to deliver improved access to essential public goods such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and security. According to him, the legitimacy of the state is anchored on its ability to provide these services adequately. When the state fails to meet these expectations, public trust erodes, and citizens increasingly turn to non-state actors for basic services, thereby weakening state authority, stability, and social cohesion.
He described the phenomenon of brain drain as a major threat to the attainment of universal health coverage in Nigeria. Brain drain, he explained, refers to the large-scale emigration of highly trained professionals in search of better opportunities abroad. Although accurate data on the scale of this challenge remains limited, its negative impact on Nigeria’s health system is undeniable. Factors such as poor remuneration, unsatisfactory working conditions, limited career progression opportunities, inadequate medical equipment, and insufficient government investment have driven many medical professionals to seek employment overseas. This mass exodus has placed enormous pressure on the few remaining practitioners, leading to fatigue, misdiagnosis, and declining quality of care.
Senator Akanbi further highlighted the paradox of medical tourism, estimating that Nigeria loses about one billion US dollars annually as citizens travel abroad for medical treatment. Ironically, many Nigerians who seek care overseas are often treated by fellow Nigerians practicing in foreign hospitals. This dual crisis of brain drain and patient drain, he argued, calls for a deeper examination of both its root causes and sustainable solutions.
To address this challenge and transform brain drain into brain gain, Senator Akanbi proposed two critical pathways. First, he stressed the urgent need to reduce the emigration of highly skilled health professionals through improved salaries, better welfare packages, and enhanced working conditions factors which, according to him, account for over 80 percent of the reasons for emigration. Second, he advocated adopting models used by some East Asian countries, where targeted schemes were created to attract expatriate professionals who are willing to give back to their home countries.
He recommended that the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, establish a comprehensive database of Nigerian medical and health professionals working abroad. Mapping their associations and creating incentives for them to return either permanently or on a temporary, rotational basis would, he noted, yield significant benefits. These include improved access to quality healthcare and the transfer of knowledge and medical technology, ultimately repositioning Nigeria’s health sector for sustainable growth.
Speaking at the event, the ICOMAA Worldwide President, Dr. Abib Olamitoye, who also serves as the CEO/CMD of Ibadan Central Hospital, described Senator Akanbi as “a reformer, a go-getter, a mover and shaker in corporate social responsibility, a renowned philanthropist, and a seasoned political heavyweight.” He further praised him as an astute administrator, a mentor, and a role model par excellence, widely respected for his integrity and commitment to humanity.
The event culminated in the presentation of an award to Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi in recognition of his role as Chairman of the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Day Celebration (ICOMAA) Worldwide.
#amebonewshub
