A Nigerian-born health professional, Dr. Ngozi Philomena Anonyuo, has called for greater investment in nursing education and health care delivery to strengthen Nigeria’s health system and curb medical tourism.
Anonyuo, who hails from Ibuzor in Delta State, recently earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from Walden University in the United States. Her doctoral research focused on improving diabetes care among Black American patients by equipping nurses with targeted training programmes, which significantly enhanced patient outcomes.
She emphasised that advancing nursing beyond the first degree is crucial for shaping policy and mentoring younger professionals, noting that many Nigerians typically stop at the diploma or Bachelor’s level. “A doctorate in nursing empowers you to contribute beyond the hospital ward, it positions you as a leader, researcher, and change agent,” she said.
In Nigeria’s health sector, Anonyuo identified weak primary health care, inadequate funding, and poor implementation of policies as major setbacks.
She urged federal and state governments to meet the Abuja Declaration target of allocating at least 15% of annual budgets to health and to invest in infrastructure, technology, and staff welfare to reduce heavy reliance on foreign hospitals.
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