Nigeria Unveils 2025-2030 Roadmap For Nursing, Midwifery Development

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has unveiled the Nigeria Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery (NSDNM) 2025–2030, which is a policy framework aimed at strengthening the nursing and midwifery professions across the country.

Unveiled on Thursday at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja, the policy is a national roadmap to improve education, regulation, workforce development, and leadership within the nursing and midwifery sectors.

Theme “Strengthening Nursing and Midwifery Services in Nigeria for Universal Health Coverage through implementation of NSDNM)”, it is expected to guide the planning and implementation of sustainable interventions that will improve health outcomes and strengthen Nurses and midwives.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, while unveiling the NSDNM, commended the resilience of Nurses in Nigeria while assuring them of the government’s unwavering commitment to providing the enabling environment for them to thrive in the country.

Pate expressed gratitude following the attendance of the remarkable stakeholders at the event, including the executives, the legislators, and development partners, among others.

He noted that the initiative aligns with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery, which aims to ensure nurses and midwives optimally contribute to achieving universal health coverage and population health goals.

Speaking further, he said the NSDNM 2025-2030 will focus on expanding training opportunities to address critical gaps in specialist skills for nurses and midwives, creating employment opportunities, managing migration, and retaining healthcare professionals in areas of greatest need.

The Minister added that the initiative will also strengthen nursing and midwifery leadership throughout health and academic systems. Ensuring nurses and midwives are supported, respected, and equipped to deliver high-quality care.

However, he pointed out that by implementing these strategic directions, Nigeria can potentially improve healthcare outcomes, increase access to quality healthcare services, and reduce the shortage of skilled healthcare professionals.

“Given the global shortage of 4.5 million nurses and 0.31 million midwives projected by 2030, this initiative is both timely and crucial for Nigeria’s healthcare development,” He said.

Also speaking, the Senate Committee Chairman on Health, Dr. Senator Ipalibo Banigo, assured the gathering of the lawmakers’ readiness to support the NSDNM with the needed policy for a smooth implementation.

Banigo commended Pate for giving attention to the plights of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, adding that the policy document is a roadmap to strengthen healthcare delivery and transform the nursing profession nationwide.