The Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mariya Mahmoud, has reiterated the commitment of the FCT Administration to strengthening the nursing and midwifery profession as a cornerstone of efficient healthcare delivery.
According to a statement issued by her Senior Adviser on Media, Austine Elemue, the Minister made the commitment while speaking at the Biennial Conference of the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation, held at the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre.
Mahmoud described nurses and midwives as the backbone of healthcare systems, highlighting their critical role in frontline service delivery and improving patient outcomes.
“As a medical practitioner, I recognize that nurses and midwives are often the first point of contact for patients and, in many cases, the most consistent providers of care. Their dedication, compassion, and professionalism continue to save lives daily,” she stated.
She noted that the conference comes at a pivotal time when global health systems are facing complex challenges, including evolving disease patterns, workforce shortages, and increasing demand for accessible and quality healthcare.
The Minister emphasized the need for sustained investment in capacity building, improved welfare, and stronger institutional support for healthcare professionals.
She further assured that the FCT Administration remains focused on implementing policies and programmes that promote workforce development and expand access to modern healthcare infrastructure, noting that empowering nurses and midwives is key to achieving universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mahmoud also commended the Federation for its consistent advocacy and efforts in promoting professional excellence and collaboration across member countries.
She urged participants to utilize the conference as a platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and partnership-building aimed at strengthening healthcare systems across the Commonwealth.
In his remarks, the National President of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Haruna Mamman, praised the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in facilitating the hosting of the global event.
He noted that ongoing efforts to strengthen primary healthcare, expand health insurance, and improve the welfare of health workers are already yielding positive outcomes.
Mamman described nurses and midwives as indispensable to every health system and expressed optimism that the conference would serve as a catalyst for meaningful reforms and global collaboration in the sector.