The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, has announced a major expansion in nursing and midwifery enrolment across Nigeria, increasing from 28,000 in 2023 to 115,000 in 2025.
Speaking in Abuja during the launch of the National Strategic Direction for Nursing and Midwifery (NSDNM) 2025–2030, Professor Pate said the move is part of government efforts to tackle workforce shortages and improve healthcare delivery nationwide.
He disclosed that 69,000 frontline health workers have been retrained, while 20,000 new workers have been recruited, with 60% of them being nurses and midwives. According to him, this initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening human resources for health.
“Our fight for a stronger health system cannot succeed without empowering nurses and midwives,” Professor Pate stated. He further noted that Nigeria is the first country in West Africa to adopt the Best Practice Frontline Organisation Model, developed with the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, Canada, to enhance leadership and retention among frontline workers.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Saleh Garba highlighted that nurses and midwives account for nearly 60% of the global health workforce, but Nigeria continues to face a severe shortage. He revealed that one nurse currently serves about 1,260 people, far below the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of one nurse to 1,000 people.
He described the new strategy as a lifeline for the profession, which has been hit by brain drain and poor working conditions. “Without investment in human resources, infrastructure, and fair pay, we cannot retain our talent,” Garba said, emphasising that the plan is vital to achieving universal health coverage and reducing maternal and child mortality.
Representing WHO, Dr Mary Brantuo said the global shortage of nurses could reach 4.8 million by 2030, with Africa expected to be the hardest hit. She described Nigeria’s strategy as timely and pledged WHO’s continued technical and policy support for its implementation.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollum, represented by Teshoma Dafeta, Director of Human Resources, said the plan is a living document aimed at reforming nursing education, creating jobs, and building leadership across all levels. Mrs Dafeta called for collaboration among states, professional bodies, and universities to achieve real progress.