A Review of the Implications of Brain Drain on Nigeria’s Health and Educational Systems

Abstract

The issue of brain drain is a global challenge facing particularly the developing countries of the world. One country that the numbers of professionals that are leaving the country on a regular basis especially from the health and educational system is Nigeria. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the implications of brain drain on the Nigeria’s health and educational systems. This study argues that most developed countries often prefer educated and skilled labours from the developing countries especially from Nigeria. The data for this study was collected from secondary sources while content analysis was used to analyse the data collected. This study is situated within the context of the push-pull theory. The study agrees with the push and pull factors to be responsible for the increasing rate of migration in the health and educational systems in Nigeria. Furthermore, this study argues that the implications of brain drain on Nigeria’s health and educational systems are enormous, as Nigeria will continue to suffer from decline labour force in both the health and educational system. Again, Nigeria will continue to suffer from declining economic growth and development because of the absence of the lost professionals in both the health and educational systems that would have contributed to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Lastly, this study recommended among other things that the Federal Government of Nigeria need to invest in the critical sector of the economy as it remains key to achieving long-term economic growth and development in the country.

Received: 15 May 2023 / Accepted: 24 August 2023 / Published: 5 September 2023