EMPOWERING NIGERIA’S 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 rest 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 individual academic calendars.

Back to the charges of UNIMED and OAU, it was the height of glory for these five dedicated professionals, beneficiaries, and alumni of the prestigious nurse-educator scholarship program that has since turned to an annual academic philanthropy – meant to equip selected graduates of nursing science with the knowledge, skill, and expertise to revolutionize Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.

ON UNIMED: DECEMBER 12 AND 13, 2024

UNIMED [PGDNE] Graduates with faculty leaders and NANNA representative

Scholarship Beneficiaries Outperform Colleagues
For the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City, the 2-day event started on Thursday, December the 12th with the conferment of undergraduate and graduate degrees after an academic procession.

Interestingly, this reporter was proudly informed by Dr. Mayowa Elemile, UNIMED’s Faculty of Nursing Postgraduate Coordinator, that the three beneficiaries of the Health Carousel-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 on them by the foreign 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 1st Cohort, to become more studious in the hope of making the NANNNA-Health Carousel scholarship list when the time comes.

Dean Mary Edward’s letter

As been explained earlier, the scholarship scheme, a partnership between Health Carousel Foundation and NANNNA, has been hailed as a game-changer in the country’s healthcare system. The managements of the two institutions in focus, at their respective crowd-pulling events, expressed profound gratitude to Health Carousel and NANNNA – sponsors and managers of the annual program, for their thoughtfulness in empowering Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.

UNIMED authorities Commend Health Carousel and NANNNA
In a chat at the end of the first day, the Vice Chancellor [President] of UNIMED, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi – B.Sc., MBChB [Ife], MPH[Hadassah], PhD[Ibadan], FWACP, MD, FNAMed, FAS, was enthusiastic in his thanks to Dr. Ojiaku Kalu, NANNNA-Health Carousel’s representative at the occasion: ‘‘We are deeply grateful for the support and investment in our nurse-educators’’, ‘‘this initiative has not only enhanced the skills and knowledge of our preceptors and clinic instructors, but also demonstrated the power of collaboration on academic frontiers in molding new entrants into the nursing profession to transform lives and communities. For these bold efforts of theirs, the two organizations have entrenched themselves among Nigeria’s sustainable development partners.’’
Plus, during his opening speech at Day 2 of the ceremony, Professor Adesesgun Fatusi, in the following video clip, had additional kind words for NANNNA and its partner’s contributions to building the capacity of Nigeria’s healthcare professionals.

From available records, the nurse-educator scholarship was floated in 2021 by the USA-based Health Carousel Foundation as a ‘’give back scheme’’ to the continent of Africa. The Foundation first tested the initiative in Kenya from the period under review; and with its resounding success in that country began talks with NANNNA in 2022 with a view to replicating it in Nigeria. The project would eventually be launched in Nigeria in 2023 with selection of participating institutions and ultimate admission of the 19 pioneer beneficiaries therein. Like a wildfire in harmattan, the nurse-educator program has since gained grounds among professional nurses, medical doctors, and among health-training institutions in Nigeria. The formal release of these ‘‘soldiers’’ into the country’s healthcare ecosystem is therefore the crowning of that praiseworthy vision of Health Carousel Foundation’s – now being expressed through NANNNA’s managerial astuteness.

The University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City, with the rare advantage of pioneering the all-medical programs in the country’s higher education system for 10 years ago, has become many an aspirant’s institution of first choice – especially in the last five years; and has [not surprisingly] made history thereon as the first institution in Nigeria to gift to Health Carousel and NANNNA the substance of their shared dream of breeding sure-footed educators in the nation’s nurse-training institutions.

Group photographs with UNIMED VC, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi [middle]

UNIMED Scholars Speak

The new graduates, beaming with pride and gratitude, shared their experiences and aspirations. ‘’This scholarship has been a life-changing opportunity for me in particular and I am sure my colleagues as well’’, said Nurse Abosode Taiwo Olajumoke – who incidentally emerged the overall best candidate in her program of postgraduate diploma in nursing education with a 74.24 CGPA Distinction score. ‘’I am now equipped with the expertise and confidence to make a meaningful impact in the lives of my patients and students – in line with the shared vision of Health Carousel and NANNNA, our sponsors and managers respectively.
A colleague of hers, Aladenola Fehintola Folashade, added: ‘’ For me, I lack words to express my gratitude for the kind gesture extended to us by Health Carousel and NANNNA by sparing a thought for the nation’s healthcare sector – specifically in building the capacity of our local nurses. History will record them with kindness!’’
______________________________________________________________________________

OAU IFE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2024
In keeping with academic ceremony as this, the program of the day started with a procession of Departments in the School of Postgraduate Studies at about 10:17am. N/B: the program of the day was planned by the Management of OAU solely for graduate students – the undergraduates had earlier had their outing in the week. Graduating students of each program in the School of Postgraduate Studies – led by their Program Officer, marched with pride into the famous ODUDUWA HALL, venue for the occasion.

And the two beneficiary nurses and proud possessors of postgraduate diploma in education of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife: Adebola Bolarinwa Arike: EDP21/22/H/197 and Similoluwa Judith Fatanmi: ED21/22/H/098 overwhelmed with joy, at the forecourt of the venue expressed their gratitude in the following video, for the charity extended to them by Health Carousel and NANNNA to advance their careers.

 

While Dr. Olawale Jimoh, Head of Personnel [Office of the Registrar] Obafemi Awolowo University, was on hand to receive the NANNNA-Health Carousel team on the campus, the rest senior officers of the university were inevitably preoccupied with the visits of the nation’s First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu – who was in attendance and conferred with the degree of doctor of philosophy in public administration [Honoris Causa], and the Ooni of Ife – the paramount monarch and spiritual head of the Yoruba nation. However, Dr. Johnson Okewole, standing in for the Director of the university’s Institute of Education, sent the following message via Whatsapp: ‘‘ Having heard so much about NANNNA as an organization of Diaspora Nigerian nurses and its scholarship scheme with Health Carousel Foundation meant to improve the capacity of Nigerian nurses, it was a delight to have on our campus their representatives in the persons of Dr. Esther Oshunluyi and Dr. Ojiaku Kalu, during the 48th Convocation of students of our postgraduate School [of which two of them are products of our Institute of Education]. I have the authority of my Director, Professor Hannah Ajayi, who is away on sabbatical, to extend her gratitude to the two organizations for their unsolicited charity, and to request for continual inclusion of students of OAU in the coming years.’’

Group photographs with Dr. Olawal Jimoh, Head of Personnel, OAU.

The successful completion of their postgraduate studies by these exceptional nurse-educators marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s quest for improved healthcare outcomes – which had been in great deficit for several years running. Interestingly, while some practicing nurses had over time attained requisite qualifications to earn the appellation, ‘‘nurse-educators’’, never had there been such a concerted intention at deepening the specialization in the country as the present effort by Health Carousel and NANNNA!

Speaking to the press on the sideline of the OAU convocation ceremony, Dr. Esther Oshunluyi, a NANNNA executive who graced the occasion from her base in California, USA, said: ‘‘The addition of these empowered nurses to the healthcare workforce will undoubtedly have a profound impact on patient care. We are proud to have played a part in their journey and look forward to witnessing the transformative impact they will have on Nigeria’s healthcare.’’

Number of Beneficiaries Increased
In proof of its determination to deepen its corporate social responsibility in Nigeria, the Health Carousel Foundation in league with NANNNA, has increased the 2025 beneficiaries to 50 – indeed, a significant jack up from the 19 beneficiaries that made the 1st Cohort. And NANNNA, in its famed effectiveness, is working to surpass the success of the inaugural cohort.

As the pioneer cohort graduates embark on their new journey, they carry with them the gratitude and appreciation of their sponsors, universities, and the nation’s healthcare community. Their success is indeed a testament to the power of collaboration, philanthropy, and dedication to excellence.
Added Value of the Scheme
The importance of a preceptor and clinical instructor possessing the nurse-educator qualification – as being promoted by the duo of Health Carousel and NANNNA, cannot be overemphasized – given that it is now central to every College or Department of Nursing Science attaining the accreditation status of the National Universities Commission [NUC] to continue to admit students therein; or be scraped from the system. N/B: this was not initially factored into the vision of the promoters of the scholarship scheme; but that it is now such a critical consideration by the higher education regulator in the training of Nigerian nurses is a gratifying value addition. To this end, some managers of Nigerian nursing institutions like Professor Iche Ukpai – Vice Chancellor of Evangel University Akaeze, and Dr. Ebere Nwanyia – Ag. Principal of UNTH School of Nursing Science, Enugu, give kudos to the Health Carousel Foundation and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America for their act of serendipity – which henceforth shall greatly enhance the chances of degree programs in nursing science to meet that aspect of NUC’s accreditation demand.

Now, apart from their academic relevance as mentioned above, nurse educators in Nigeria play a vital role in shaping the country’s healthcare landscape. They ensure quality patient care, address the perennial nurse shortage, build capacity, mentor students and beginners in the field of nursing; and generally contribute to healthcare policy and advocacy. Additionally, they promote research, evidence-based practice, and community health promotion – ultimately advancing the nursing profession and improving patient outcomes.

Prof. Leroy Edozien, Head, Department of Health Law and Policy, UNIMED, is upbeat over the NANNNA-Health Carousel’s launch of the scholarship project for nurse educators in Nigeria – describing it as ‘‘a pioneering partnership that tackles one of the most pressing challenges in healthcare, paving the way for significant progress in the country.’’

Discovery and Recommendation
In the cause of travelling across states and interacting with nurses and students of nursing science on different campuses, one recurring topic in those conversations is the need for mentoring of new nurses by experienced professionals. According Nurse Chinaza Uzo, the overall best graduate of nursing science [2023/2024 Academic session] at Evangel University Akaeze, said: ‘‘we young nurses need sustainable mentorship from experienced ones – from such experts as the individual NANNNA members. Having followed NANNNA through your various reports, I believe those experts have much to teach new nurses back in Nigeria. While we may never make physical contact with them, reading stories of their experience would suffice in guiding the new nurses. This kind of help is still unavailable to nurses in Nigeria.’’

It is therefore the informed opinion of this report for NANNNA, as a professional entity, to consider embarking on periodic publication of its ideals as FESTSCHRIFTS – in which a select group of members would share their critical experiences in their practice by highlighting their successes, mistakes and lessons learned. This would help greatly, especially now that the nurse-educator project is up and running; and its beneficiaries now being released into the local healthcare system.