Exclusive Story by Chinedum Anayo | 9News Abuja, Nigeria
Nigeria has lost one of its most accomplished medical specialists to the United States, as Dr. Salamat Ahuoiza Aliu-Ibrahim, the country’s first indigenous-trained female neurosurgeon and the first certified female neurosurgeon in West Africa, has transitioned from neurosurgery in Nigeria to pediatric medicine in the U.S.
Dr. Aliu-Ibrahim, who previously served as a Consultant Neurosurgeon at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), now practices pediatrics at Freeman Children’s Clinic in Joplin, Missouri, after completing a pediatric residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
Her medical credentials also include a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
This journey reflects a broader trend confronting Nigeria’s health sector.
According to Freeman Health, Dr. Aliu-Ibrahim returned to Nigeria after her fellowship in the United States and continued working as a consultant neurosurgeon before deciding to relocate in search of better professional opportunities.
She initially sought to continue neurosurgery in the U.S. but, after not matching into a neurosurgery residency, retrained in pediatrics, a specialty she says she also loves.
Dr. Aliu-Ibrahim made history in 2014 when she completed her neurosurgery training, becoming Nigeria’s first woman neurosurgeon and a trailblazer for women in one of medicine’s most demanding specialties.
She graduated with top honours from the University of Ilorin before undertaking specialist neurosurgical training at the National Hospital Abuja and the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital.
Her relocation has once again drawn attention to the growing exodus of Nigerian doctors.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has repeatedly warned that thousands of Nigerian-trained doctors have left the country in recent years, citing poor remuneration, inadequate facilities, insecurity, and limited opportunities for career advancement as key drivers of the migration.
Reports circulating online claim that a consultant neurosurgeon in Nigeria earns around ₦820,000 per month, roughly $594 at current exchange rates, or about $7,100 annually, although salaries vary depending on grade level, years of service, allowances, and employer.
According to the Medscape Physician Compensation Report, the average U.S. pediatrician earns approximately $260,000 per year, equivalent to about $21,700 per month before taxes and other deductions.
Although Dr. Salamat Aliu-Ibrahim now practices as a pediatrician rather than a neurosurgeon, her annual earnings in the United States could be more than 35 times what a consultant neurosurgeon typically earns in Nigeria, depending on her employer, experience, and compensation package.
Significantly, Dr. Aliu-Ibrahim’s move represents more than the departure of a distinguished physician.
It reflects the continuing challenge Nigeria faces in retaining highly trained specialists after investing years in their education and clinical training.
This a trend that experts warn could further strain access to specialized healthcare across the country.
