Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has urged the Federal Government to introduce measures preventing students who benefit from the student loan scheme from leaving Nigeria after their education.

Speaking in Jos while hosting the Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, Mutfwang emphasized the negative impact of brain drain, particularly in the health sector.

He warned that Nigeria is losing highly trained medical professionals, leaving a gap in healthcare services despite significant public investment in their education.

The governor suggested binding agreements requiring beneficiaries to serve in Nigeria for a period before seeking opportunities abroad.

He also called for better incentives such as competitive salaries, career growth opportunities, and improved working conditions to retain skilled professionals.

With 16,000 doctors reportedly leaving Nigeria in the last five years, Mutfwang stressed the need for a patriotic commitment to national development from those educated with public funds. Meanwhile, NELFUND’s CEO reassured the governor of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring accessible education for all Nigerian students.