Abuja, Nigeria – October 10, 2025
The University Graduates of Nursing Science Association (UGONSA) has lauded the
Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoH&SW) for unveiling the
Nigeria Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery (NSDNM) 2025–2030,
developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other
partners. The landmark document, officially launched on Thursday, October 9,
2025, at the NAF Conference Center, Kado, Abuja, outlines strategic reforms
across education, job creation, leadership, and service delivery to reposition
the nursing and midwifery professions in Nigeria.
In a statement jointly signed by its National President, Nurse Opeyemi Ojo and
its National Secretary, Nurse Philip Eteng, UGONSA described the NSDNM as “a
bold and progressive step” towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that nurses and midwives
form over 50% of Nigeria’s health workforce and remain the backbone of the
country’s healthcare system. The association emphasized that successful
implementation of the policy will determine whether the lofty vision translates
into tangible improvements in healthcare delivery.
“While commending the Federal Ministry for aligning the strategy with global
frameworks, UGONSA highlighted critical implementation gaps. The association
observed that Nigeria’s nursing density of 94.1 per 100,000 population (1:1063)
is far below the recommended threshold to meet national health needs. It also
expressed concern that between 2018 and 2024, more than 42,000 nurses and
midwives migrated abroad, worsening workforce shortages and undermining service
delivery.
“UGONSA called for the creation of a National Nursing Workforce Observatory to
monitor employment trends and manage migration effectively. It further urged
the Ministry to establish a dedicated funding mechanism to strengthen nursing
education, upgrade training infrastructure, and recruit more qualified faculty.
The association also recommended the institutionalization of a National Nursing
Leadership Academy under the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) to
build leadership competencies and foster research-based policy engagement.
On service delivery, UGONSA stressed the need for measurable performance
indicators, digital health integration, and safe workplace environments to
enhance patient outcomes and accountability.
The association reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with the Federal
Ministry, NMCN, WHO, and other stakeholders to ensure that the strategies
outlined in the NSDNM are effectively implemented and sustained.
“We commend this visionary step but urge the government to back the strategy
with measurable targets, robust funding, and transparent monitoring mechanisms.
Only through full implementation can Nigeria’s nurses and midwives be empowered
to drive the nation’s health goals,” the statement concluded.
Signed
Nurse Opeyemi Ojo, National President, UGONSA
Nurse Philip Eteng, National Secretary, UGONSA
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