The former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has commended Nigerian nurses for their efforts and sacrifices, saying their resilience keeps Nigeria alive.
Obi stated this while commemorating International Nurses Day on Tuesday, May 12, themed “IND 2026: Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives.”
“Every day, nurses both save and improve lives, and their impact is greatest when they are properly empowered. At a moment of extraordinary global pressure, this year’s IND theme focuses on making the structural changes needed to harness the power of the nursing workforce,” the International Council of Nurses (ICN) said.
Paying tribute to Nigerian nurses on the occasion, Obi expressed gratitude to nurses and midwives across the country, noting that they hold a special place and play critical roles in Nigeria’s health sector.
“As one who has been on the vanguard of investing in our critical sectors of human and national development, I have always maintained that you, our dear nurses, are the heart of our health sector. Over the years, I have traversed different corners of our nation supporting different schools and colleges of nursing and midwifery because I understand the inevitable role you play in our healthcare delivery.
“As you mark this special day, I wish to, firstly, thank you for all your efforts and sacrifices. Your compassion, sacrifice, and resilience keep our nation alive. And secondly, I wish to encourage you not to relent in your service to humanity,” he stated.
Obi pointed out that Nigerian nurses work under some of the toughest conditions with dignity and courage, including physical and mental stress, high patient-to-nurse ratios, lack of equipment, and poor working environments, emphasising that their resilience keeps the country’s health sector going.
He stressed that beyond the shores of the nation, Nigerian nurses have continued to distinguish themselves on the global stage — from leading next-generation research in nursing practice to championing excellence in clinical care.
While celebrating their professionalism, Obi noted that many of them have written their names in the sands of time and lifted the nation’s banner high.
“My firm commitment to you all remains this — we will build a New Nigeria where your hard work and sacrifices will never go unnoticed. We will invest in your education and training to ensure that you remain competitive on the global stage. Happy World Nurses Day to you all,” he added.
