The Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has urged the government to address conditions driving young health workers to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities.
MHWUN National President, Dr Kabiru Sani, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the union’s 2026 International Youth Day celebration.
The theme of the 2026 celebration was “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”‘
Sani said the migration of young and skilled health workers was creating concerns for the sustainability of healthcare delivery in Nigeria and other West African countries.
“The challenges are almost the same because not only skilled health workers, but even young health workers are migrating out of our respective countries to Europe for greener pastures,” Sani said.
He said the union was exploring collaboration with government to address the trend, warning that failure to retain young workers could weaken health systems across the region.
“We want to see how we can collaborate with government to stop that because if our youth are not being mentored here in our country, our health system across the region is in jeopardy,” he said.
Sani identified good working conditions, capacity building and effective mentorship as measures needed to retain young health workers and strengthen healthcare delivery.
He said young workers should be adequately prepared for leadership roles in the union and health sector, adding that MHWUN had established youth structures across its state councils and branches.
“We take the issue of youth and women very seriously, and we will continue to support them so that tomorrow they can continue to move the union and workers forward,” Sani said.
Also speaking, Mr Eustace James, NLC Focal Person on Labour Migration, urged trade unions to give young workers greater opportunities to participate in decision-making and agenda-setting.
James said youth participation should not be limited to discussions about young workers but should involve them directly in shaping policies and programmes.
“We believe it is not just to talk about the youth; it is to make the youth part of the discussion and part of the agenda-setting,” James said.
He commended MHWUN for its mentorship approach, saying it had helped produce relatively young leaders capable of sustaining the union’s culture and traditions.
James said continued mentorship and capacity building would equip young workers with the skills needed to lead the union and promote its values in the future.
Meanwhile, Mr Ujuwan Marcel, MHWUN National Youth Coordinator, commended the union’s leadership for creating opportunities for young workers to participate actively in its activities.
Marcel said the union’s support had helped young workers build confidence and develop their capacity to contribute meaningfully to the labour movement.
“We have a wonderful leadership in the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria. They recognise the importance of the youth, and we are happy about it,” Marcel said.
He urged other organisations and trade unions to establish youth committees and structures that would promote meaningful participation and safer workplaces.
Marcel also called on MHWUN to extend youth mainstreaming to the branch level, saying this would ensure that programmes initiated at national and state levels reached young workers at the grassroots.(NAN)
