FG Launches Five-Year Blueprint to Transform Nursing and Midwifery as Health Minister Declares “Nurses Are the Lifeblood of Our Health System”
By Onwe Wisdom|Pan Afric Reporters
Abuja, Nigeria
The Federal Government has launched the Nigeria Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery (NSDNM) 2025–2030, a transformative five-year plan designed to strengthen nursing and midwifery services nationwide as part of efforts to achieve universal health coverage.
Speaking at the National Nursing Summit in Abuja during the official rollout of the NSDNM, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare,Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate described the occasion as “a landmark moment in our health journey as a country.”
According to him, “Nurses are at the core of the resilience of Nigeria’s health system. Nurses and all other health professionals are the lifeblood of the health system, and we are profoundly appreciative of the role and function they play.”
The Minister maintained that the newly launched NSDNM aligns with the Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery of the World Health Organization (WHO) and serves as “a blueprint for transformation.”
“It is not meant to be a document sitting on shelves, but a practical guide that will shape reforms, investments, and innovations in nursing and midwifery over the next five years,” he said.
The Minister further commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his leadership and consistent commitment to strengthening the health workforce, recalling that the African Union in February 2024 appointed him as its Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership.
“This administration, under His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has consistently demonstrated unwavering commitment to uplifting the nursing and midwifery profession,” he stated.
He noted that the President’s Open Agenda aims to “bring patient-centeredness into how we orient our health system to focus on the needs of our patients first and holistically.”
“It also seeks to improve population health outcomes through high-quality, accessible, and affordable care; unlock the healthcare value chain; and strengthen health security and resilience, with digital transformation as a cross-cutting enabler,” the Minister added.
Highlighting significant strides in workforce development, the Minister announced an unprecedented expansion in nursing and midwifery education capacity.
“The enrollment quota for training institutions, which stood at 28,000 in May 2023, has now been scaled up to 115,000 for the 2025 academic year,” he revealed.
Describing it as a “groundbreaking milestone,” he said the initiative would “ensure that we train more nurses and midwives, more pharmacists, more laboratory scientists, and more medical students harnessing the potential of Nigeria’s youth to deliver essential health services.”
The Minister emphasized that creating an enabling environment for healthcare professionals is crucial for long-term sustainability.
“No matter how well-trained or passionate a health worker is, they need infrastructure, equipment, and commodities to practice effectively,” he stated. “Government must therefore create that enabling environment not just training, but the conditions that allow professionals to meet their intrinsic aspiration to serve others effectively.”
Through the government’s Sector-Wide Approach, he disclosed that more than 69,000 frontline health workers have been retrained across the 36 states of the federation in the last 20 months.
“The President has graciously authorized the acceleration of recruitment waivers for health workers in federal facilities at least 20,000 workers, 60 percent of whom are in the nursing and midwifery professions,” the Minister said. “This demonstrates that our efforts are not just about talk but about tangible action.”
Nigeria, he said, is now the first country in West Africa to implement the Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO) model, launched in January 2025 in partnership with the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario.
“This initiative embeds evidence-based nursing and midwifery practice across health facilities, raising professional standards, improving maternal and neonatal outcomes, and elevating the quality of care delivered to Nigerians,” the Minister explained.
He added that the model reflects the Federal Government’s “determination to equip nurses and midwives with the professional environment, recognition, and tools they deserve.”
The Minister concluded with a call for unity and collaboration among all stakeholders in the health sector.
“The success of this ambitious plan cannot rest on our Ministry alone,” he said. “I encourage all of us—including other ministries, state governments, academic institutions, professional associations, civil society, and development partners to adopt a pro-social stance and take collective ownership of this mission.”
“Our shared responsibility will rebuild Nigeria’s health system in the days ahead. I therefore call on all stakeholders to align with this mission and commit to its full implementation to improve health, reduce mortality, and ensure the resilience of our nation.”
