Posted on: Fri 07-06-2024

The School of Psychiatric Nursing, Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday, graduated 619 of its students urging them to stay back to benefit the country with their skills rather than emigrating abroad in search of greener pastures.

The advice came against the backdrop of Nigeria struggle with the exodus of medical practitioners, a phenomenon now termed "japa".

The Ogun psychiatric school held its 7th combined convocation for Post-Basic Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing programme of the institution, which covered 14 sets from 2009/2010 to 2022/2023.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Nursing, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dame Okafor, congratulated the 619 graduates but urged them to stay back in Nigeria, saying the country needed them.

Okafor said the prevailing economic hardship had the potential to triggering depression and substance abuse, hence the need for the new psychiatrists to stay in the country and help out.

Okafor said "while I am rejoicing with you as you have toiled selflessly and burnt the midnight candle to achieve this great academic feat and having been found worthy to be a graduate of Psychiatric Nursing, I want to urge you to stay back to care for our people.

Look at the young ones indulging in drug and substance abuse who will take care of them if you join the japa train? Even though there is a need to improve on our working environment, which the government is trying to work on, we must always remember that Nigeria remains our home and no sacrifice can be too much to render in our service to the nation."

SOURCE: PUNCH NEWSPAPER

---

---