A prominent medical academic, Professor Ofem Enang, a specialist in Internal Medicine at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), has officially declared his candidacy for the presidency of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). He announced his entry into the race on 12 January 2026, positioning himself as a reformer aiming to fix the deep-rooted crises plaguing the medical profession in Nigeria.
A Blueprint for Change: Renaissance 2026
Professor Enang directly addressed the multitude of challenges facing Nigerian doctors, framing them as symptoms of a larger breakdown. He identified poor welfare, insecurity, mass emigration, eroded earnings, and government's failure to honour agreements as clear signs of systemic failure, not just isolated issues.
His campaign is built around a detailed reform agenda titled "Renaissance 2026 – The Rebirth of Excellence." This blueprint serves as his comprehensive framework for rebuilding the NMA, restoring doctors' confidence, and repositioning the medical profession for a sustainable future.
Five Pillars for a New NMA
Enang's plan is structured around five key pillars, with the welfare of doctors forming the non-negotiable foundation. He has pledged to make this his top priority and to collaborate closely with the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to resolve critical issues.
His specific welfare commitments include:
- Clearing salary arrears and promotion backlogs.
- Addressing unsafe, excessively long working hours.
- Correcting distortions in various allowances.
- Ensuring the full implementation of all collective bargaining agreements with the government.
Confronting Insecurity and Long-Term Welfare
On the critical issue of attacks on healthcare workers, the presidential aspirant declared a zero-tolerance stance. He argued that a nation incapable of protecting its doctors cannot effectively safeguard the health of its citizens.
Looking beyond immediate concerns, Enang promised to tackle the perennial problems of housing and retirement. His proposals include:
- Advocating for national mortgage schemes for doctors at single-digit interest rates.
- Establishing predictable and reliable pension systems.
- Securing post-retirement health insurance coverage.
- Creating dignified exit pathways for senior medical practitioners.
Economic Empowerment and a Bank of Medicine
To strengthen the overall healthcare delivery system, Enang outlined measures to support private practitioners, who form a significant part of the sector. These include pushing for tax reliefs, fair electricity tariffs, and incentives for adopting renewable energy solutions in private hospitals.
Perhaps his most ambitious proposal is the plan to champion the establishment of a Bank of Medicine. This specialised financial institution would provide low-interest funding to doctors for critical needs such as hospital expansion, modern medical equipment acquisition, and support for healthcare innovation.
Professor Ofem Enang's entry into the NMA presidential race signals a push for a fundamental overhaul. His campaign presents a structured response to the frustrations driving the brain drain, aiming to reset a system he describes as broken and restore excellence to the medical profession in Nigeria.
