Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Ministry of Education and healthcare regulators like the Nursing and Midwifery Council has strategically expanded nurses and midwives education scaling up enrollment from 28,000 in May 2023 to 110,000 in 2024/2025 academic year.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR disclosed this during opening ceremony of inaugural Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation Conference, held on 21st April 2026 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Center, Abuja.
Represented by the Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor, Muhammad Ali Pate, the President said that his administration has prioritized health sector transformation as a critical component of the Renewal Hope Agenda and a pillar for national development.
On this note, the President said that federal government embarked on far-reaching reforms under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, aimed at strengthening the health institutions, expanding access to quality healthcare, investing in the whole workforce to sustain the system, and working closely with all the 36 state governors, as well as the 774 local governments and development partners.
He emphasized that nurses and midwives are central in government efforts to rebuild and strengthen the healthcare system, noting that in alignment with this agenda, deliberate investments have been prioritized in the workforce, particularly in nursing and midwifery.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu further explained that his administration has consistently demonstrated unwavering commitment to uplifting the healthcare professions through the sector-wide approach, a coordinated platform that aligns Federal government, states, local governments, partners, and stakeholders to plan better, allocate resources, and strengthen accountability in healthcare delivery.
Under this initiative, he noted more than 70,000 frontline health workers have been retrained, with nurses and midwives benefiting from the enhanced capacity development across all the states and local governments, adding that more than 20,000 health workers have been recruited in federal facilities in the last 24 months alone, majority being nurses and midwives.
Another stride, Tinubu pointed out is the adoption of best practice frontline organization model launched in January 2025, in partnership with the Registered Nurses Association of Nigeria, stands as a pioneering achievement, adding that this initiative is embedding evidence-based nursing and midwifery practice across our health facilities, raising professional standards, improving maternal and newborn outcomes, and elevating the quality of care delivered to Nigerians.
He said Nigeria is proud to be the first country in West Africa to implement this global innovation, “demonstrating our determination to equip our nurses and midwives with the professional environment, recognition, and the tools that they deserve”. Additionally he said Nigeria has supported the development and launch of the Nigerian Strategic Direction for Nursing and Midwifery, which provides a comprehensive roadmap for strengthened nursing and midwifery practice in Nigeria.
“This strategic framework allows key priorities for professional development, workforce planning, leadership advancement, research, and improved service delivery, ensuring that nurses and midwives are better positioned to contribute to national health goals’ he stressed.
He revealed that the reform also strengthened primary health care facilities, expanded essential health services, improved immunization, maternal and child health services, and outcomes for millions of Nigerians, where more than 45 million Nigerians utilize these services every quarter, and the health insurance has aggressively moved from 16 million at the inception of this administration, to almost 22 million to improve the affordability of health care services.
On the challenges facing global health systems, Mr. President, said they require greater international collaboration and shared learning, therefore urged the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation to continue playing an important role in strengthening professional collaboration, advancing nursing leadership, and advocating for policies that support nurses and midwives globally.
The chairman of the occasion, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, Honorable Minister of Federal Capital Territory, represented by the State Minister of FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, reiterated that the dedication, compassion and professionalism of nurses and midwives have continued to save lives and improve outcomes daily.
He added that the conference comes at a critical time when global health systems are still adapting to emerging challenges, including evolving disease, workforce shortages and the growing demand for equitable and also quality healthcare services, hence the need for continuous investment in capacity building, strengthening institutional support and creating an enabling environment for nurses and midwives to thrive.
The Minister, while commending Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation for their unwavering commitment, advocacy, professional development and also promotion of the best practices across member countries, he reaffirmed that the Federal Capital Territory Administration remains committed to supporting healthcare professionals through policies and programs that promote workforce development, improve working conditions and access to modern healthcare infrastructure.
Earlier in his remarks read by the Permanent Secretary Desiginate and Director Health Planning Research and Statistics, Dr. Kamil Shoretire the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Professor Muhammad Ali Pate said the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation Conference has provided a platform for structured collaboration across countries facing similar challenges, through exchange of experience on workforce planning, education, practice and regulation and supports alignment with international standards.
He said the theme”Towards Excellence: Nurses and Midwives Working Together Towards Excellence in Education, Practice, And Regulation” aligned with Nigeria’s reform direction, focused on ensuring that those who deliver care are available, well-trained, properly regulated and supported to perform consistently.
In his welcome remarks, the president, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) Comrade Haruna Mamman, described the event as an opportunity for nurses and midwives to recharge, learn, advocate, and to reaffirm their vital role in shaping health and the health of society.
He acknowledged the unwavering support and endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making the hosting of this global event a reality, adding that the exceptional leadership of the Coordinating Minister of Healthand Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, is also commendable.
Ado Bako
Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations
23/4/2026.
