Nurses urge government support to strengthen healthcare, economy

By Kunle Sanni –

Nurses in Nigeria have called on governments at all levels to prioritize investment in nursing education, welfare, infrastructure, and safer workplaces, stressing that the health and wellbeing of nurses are directly tied to national productivity and economic growth.

The call was made on Monday by Alhassan Ndagi, Registrar/CEO of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, during the 2025 International Nurses Week celebration and the unveiling of the seventh edition of the State House Nurses Magazine, held at the State House Medical Centre in Abuja.

Delivering his keynote address, Mr. Ndagi urged authorities to place nurses at the centre of ongoing health reforms. He emphasized that nurses play a crucial role in managing work-related health issues, conducting surveillance, and responding to emergencies.

“Supporting nurses’ wellbeing is a sure path to improved patient safety, lower rates of medical errors, higher productivity, and stronger workforce retention,” he said.

This year’s theme, “Our Nurses, Our Future: Caring for Nurses, Strengthens Economies,” underscores the connection between a healthy nursing workforce and stronger economies, while also spotlighting challenges such as workforce shortages, mental health strain, and inadequate support systems.

Chairman of the occasion, businessman Arthur Eze, represented by Brig.-Gen. I.U. Babangida (rtd), praised Nigerian nurses for their resilience despite difficult conditions. He urged governments to improve their welfare, warning that the country risks losing skilled professionals to migration.

In her welcome address, Nurse Taiwo Thompson-Olatigbe, Head of the Nursing Department at the State House Medical Centre, described nurses as the “backbone and fulcrum” of efficient healthcare delivery.

His Royal Highness, Etsu Kwali, Luka Ayedoo Nizassan III, who unveiled the magazine, also stressed that only a healthy and emotionally stable nurse can provide quality care, which in turn supports economic productivity.