…Don't just Japa, plan your future, young doctors admonished
L-R: Dr. Kunle Onakoya, CEO, QHS Consultant LTD; Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, Founder & Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre & Fibroid Care Centre at Nordica;
Ms. Ibiyemi Ifaturoti, Coordinator, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi Physician Mentoring Program and Mrs. Rashidat Adebisi, Co-Founder, Zenvolve Tech at the Close-Out event of Dr Abayomi Ajayi Physician Mentoring Programme held recently in Lagos.
By Admin
The Founder of the Dr Abayomi Ajayi Mentoring Program, and Medical Director of Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Abuja and Asaba, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, says young Nigerian doctors need more than clinical competence to build successful careers, arguing that leadership, financial literacy and strategic career planning have become just as important in today's evolving healthcare environment.
Speaking at the close of the fourth cohort of the Dr. Abayomi Ajayi Mentoring Programme, Ajayi said the initiative was created to bridge the gap between medical education and professional life by exposing young doctors to skills that are rarely taught in medical school.
With the migration of Nigerian doctors remaining a major public concern, he stressed that the programme was never intended to discourage participants from seeking opportunities abroad.
"We don't tell them, 'Don't go.' We encourage them to make informed decisions, but if they decide to leave for greener pasture, they should go to acquire knowledge, skills and experience, then return to help strengthen Nigeria's healthcare system," he said.
The programme, Ajayi explained, combines mentorship from accomplished professionals in medicine, academia, finance, business and the pharmaceutical industry with practical training in leadership, career planning and financial management.
"We expose the mentees to opportunities that exist in Nigeria while also helping them understand the realities of working abroad. Many young people make decisions based on incomplete or inaccurate information," Ajayi added.
Rather than appealing to patriotism, he said the programme gives participants a balanced perspective that enables them to make better-informed career decisions, whether they choose to remain in Nigeria or pursue opportunities overseas.
One of the programme's mentors, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, described mentoring as one of Nigeria's most underutilised tools for retaining talented healthcare professionals.
Ogunsola observed that many young doctors are surrounded by negative narratives about Nigeria and often come to believe that success is only possible outside the country.
"Nigeria has so much going for it and it is important that young doctors don't leave simply because all they hear is bad news. This country is a country of opportunities. We need to show them that you don't have to go abroad to be successful," she said.
Further, Ogunsola said financial success alone should not define a career, noting that lasting fulfilment comes from making a meaningful difference. She added that mentors help young professionals navigate the uncertainty that often follows graduation by offering guidance, opening doors to professional networks and providing long-term support.
Addressing the growing wave of doctor migration, she admitted that was not opposed to international exposure but would rather encourage young doctors to pursue it with a clear purpose and a plan to return home.
Another mentor, Orthopaedic surgeon and healthcare management expert, Dr. Kunle Onakoya, said the mentoring programme was developed in recognition of the reality of medical schools producing competent clinicians, but not always equipping them with the leadership, governance, financial management and other practical skills required throughout their careers.
According to Onakoya, the Dr Abayomi Ajayi Mentoring initiative is designed to produce well-rounded professionals who can lead hospitals, manage healthcare organisations and respond effectively to the increasing complexity of modern healthcare.
Former Country Director and Chief Client Officer at AXA Mansard and Co-founder of Zenball Technologies, Rashida Adebisi, said financial literacy is an essential skill that every healthcare professional should possess.
Adebisi, the only non-medical mentor in the programme noted that many doctors graduate from medical school without any formal education in personal finance, budgeting, investing or retirement planning, despite the critical role those skills play in building sustainable careers.
"When the programme started, it was largely medical doctors mentoring medical doctors, but over time, it became clear that professional success requires much more than clinical knowledge. Medicine is also a business. Running a practice demands financial management, leadership and sound decision-making," she said.
The coordinator of the mentoring programme, Mrs. Ibiyemi Faturoti, said the initiative has continued to evolve in response to participants' feedback. In addition to one-on-one mentoring, it now includes group sessions where young doctors learn from professionals in finance, law, engineering, business and other fields.
She said the programme is not about persuading doctors to remain in Nigeria at all costs but about ensuring they make career decisions based on a clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges, both at home and abroad.
"Medical school equips doctors with clinical knowledge, but there are many other skills they need to succeed professionally. Our role is to expose them to those skills and help them discover the different career paths available to them," she said.
In her words, medical school may give young doctors the cake, but mentorship provides the icing that helps them thrive long after they leave the classroom.
