Akure, Ondo State – Former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has stated that the ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s health sector under President Bola Tinubu have the potential to stem the tide of brain drain—provided they are adequately funded and properly implemented.

 

Dr. Mimiko made the assertion while delivering a keynote lecture at an event in Akure on Tuesday to mark the 81st birthday of Senator Bode Olajumoke. The event, themed “Conqueror, Conquered and Consequences: A Discourse on Brain Drain,” was organised by the Bode Olajumoke Education and Hospitality Initiative (BOEHI).

 

He described the Tinubu administration’s “Medical Health Revamp – System-wide Reform Anchored on Increased Funding” as a commendable initiative, particularly highlighting the proposed 15% budgetary allocation to health as a major improvement over the historical ceiling of 5%.

 

Mimiko also lauded the 2023 National Policy on Health Workforce Migration, describing it as a “timely intervention” in the battle to retain Nigerian medical professionals.

 

“To fully tackle brain drain, Africa must realise it has moved from involuntary to voluntary conquest,” Mimiko said. “The way forward is for our leaders to create enabling environments that retain our best brains for national development.”

 

 

While acknowledging that emigration can sometimes bring benefits such as knowledge transfer and global exposure, he warned that the negative effects—such as illicit financial flows and deteriorating local systems—are threatening long-term progress.

 

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by his deputy, Hon. Olayide Adelami, praised both the lecture and the celebrant, noting that Senator Olajumoke remains a pillar of human development in the state. He also pledged continued government support for BOEHI’s efforts in education and healthcare advancement.

 

Also speaking at the event, the chairman of the occasion, Chief Olugbenga Ale—former Chief of Staff to late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu—commended the topic and the depth of Mimiko’s presentation.

 

In his remarks, Senator Olajumoke expressed gratitude to God for the gift of life and reaffirmed his commitment to empowering lives through education and humanitarian service.