Allegations of ethnic bias, unbalanced recruitment at Nigeria Institute of Medical Research spark controversy

February 10, 2025

A recent social media post by Arabirin Moremi Ola has raised questions about the recruitment process at the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in Lagos.

According to Ola, who shared her experience at the institute, “I’ve been visiting this institute for my medical check-ups. So, my last visit, I had a misunderstanding with one of their nurses, so while we were trying to understand one another, I asked her if there’s a Yoruba nurse that I can speak with.”

Ola expressed her surprise that her request for a Yoruba nurse became an issue, stating, “How can I be asking for a Yoruba nurse became an issue on Yoruba soil?”

She further stated, “Over the years, more than 80% of nurses and doctors I’ve crossed paths with in this medical institute are from a particular ethnic group. Yeah, more than 80% of nurses and doctors and others are from that ethnic group working in a federal institute on Yoruba soil.”

Ola questioned the recruitment process at NIMR, asking, “Is it that Yoruba don’t have enough qualifying medical unemployed graduates with good grades?”

She also expressed concerns about the dominance of a particular ethnic group in the institute, stating, “Even down to their IT medical students… From their tones, one can tell they just moved to Lagos from the village to occupy a job position that is meant for indigenous people of the land first.”

Ola’s allegations have raised a wider debate about ethnic balance and representation in federal institutions, particularly in regions outside of the dominant ethnic group.

As Ola concluded in her post, “World people, please, I need answers. Help me. Is this normal anywhere in the world?”