The Federal Government has launched a comprehensive national roadmap to strengthen midwifery services and improve maternal and newborn health outcomes across Nigeria.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this during a ministerial press briefing marking the 2026 International Day of the Midwife in Abuja.
This was contained in a statement on Wednesday, 6th May, 2026, by Ado Barko, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations Department.
Pate said the government is implementing deliberate and strategic initiatives to expand access to quality care, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Represented by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr Abisola Adegoke, the minister described midwives as the backbone of maternal and newborn healthcare, noting that no health system can deliver optimal outcomes without an adequate number of skilled professionals.
Central to the reforms is the rollout of the Nigeria Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery 2025–2030, a national framework aimed at strengthening education, workforce capacity, leadership, and service delivery.
He said the plan includes expanding training institutions, increasing student intake, modernising curricula to align with global standards, and creating more employment opportunities.
Pate added that the government is also promoting equitable deployment of midwives to hard-to-reach areas while prioritising continuous professional development through competency-based and life-saving skills training.
To further tackle maternal mortality, the minister highlighted targeted interventions such as the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), alongside the Basic and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care programmes (BEmONC and CEmONC).
These efforts, he said, are designed to improve healthcare delivery and national health indices.
Describing the global theme, “One Million More Midwives,” as timely, Pate acknowledged the shortage of midwives worldwide and stressed the urgency of scaling up Nigeria’s workforce.
He noted ongoing partnerships to equip midwives with essential tools, improve welfare, and strengthen retention.
The government, he said, will continue to boost midwife production, strengthen primary healthcare systems, invest in digital health solutions, and deepen community engagement to promote skilled birth attendance.
In her remarks, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom, represented by Dr Okpako Okpikpi, said the event underscored the need to reinforce the health system while recognising the vital contributions of midwives.
She reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to improved training, better working conditions, and sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure, noting that midwives remain central to ensuring safe pregnancies and healthy families nationwide.