 The involvement of physicians in active politics will benefit not only policy makers and health care practitioners but also patients and communities. And those are the words of the Commissioner for Health, Lagos State Professor Akke, a biome at this year's edition of the Nigerian Medical Association Eldest Forum hosted by the Lagos State brand, Emmanuel Olubabakon. This year's forum, organized by the Nigerian Medical Association Lagos State branch, affords both the young and elders in the medical profession an opportunity to interact and also examine the state of the health sector by analyzing possible challenges and providing solutions. The theme of the event is physicians' involvement in politics, navigating the intersection of medicine and politics. The governor of Lagos State, Babajdi Songolu, is well represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akke, a biome. He said physicians are highly respected and educated individuals play a crucial role in community leadership and by activism they can help secure elected physician-friendly politicians to the agenda of medicine in the country. I'm a physician and I stepped into the den of politics. You know, it was a very interesting phenomenon for me to go from academia, private sector and step into politics. But as they say, if you're not at the table, then you're not in a position to make policy and to impact. And I encourage all the doctors in Nigeria to start thinking about being involved in governance and being involved in politics because in that position you can make a tremendous impact. In his welcome address, the chairman of the Nigerian medical station, Lagos State Chapter, Dr Benjamin Olujibutu, said physicians' involvement in politics both in state and national representation is essential for achieving priorities, he goes. When physicians step into the political arena, they bring a wealth of expertise and first and knowledge of the challenges plaguing our healthcare system. This insider perspective empowers them to champion policies that not only rotate in evidence-based practice. Amongst the elders at the event was a 90-year-old retired medical practitioner who is still a consultant, Dr Grace Braytwit. She has expressed a displeasure over the excessive migration of medical practitioners from Nigeria to other parts of the world, urging the leaders to tackle the trend. It is really a shame and I hope it will not last this long. I didn't know it will last long. I thought it was just one off. But it seems to be staying there and it doesn't make me happy at all because I know what it takes to study to be a doctor. It's not an easy job. But for you to train yourself to make sure your child becomes a doctor soon. And instead of the child helping the father and the mother, you have to go. We are having a wonderful event today because it's bringing together elders of the medical profession in Lagos. As you can see, we are interacting together, bringing the older ones. We just heard not a 91-year-old consultant radiologist, also heard not a 90-year-old lady today. They are all happy. Facetions I encourage to utilize their community status to advocate for political changes which promote human wellbeing and advocacy is just one way that they can fulfill their social responsibility. Hello, hope you enjoyed the news. Please do subscribe to our YouTube channel and don't forget to hit the notification button so you get notified about fresh news updates.