Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi has described nurses and midwives as the “true backbone” of Nigeria’s healthcare system, praising their resilience and sacrifices in keeping the sector functional despite mounting challenges.
In a statement issued to mark World Nurses Day, Obi said nurses are not just participants in healthcare delivery but the “very foundation upon which patient care rests.”
According to him, hospitals would struggle to function, communities would find it harder to heal, and countless lives could be lost without the dedication of nurses and midwives.
Obi reiterated his longstanding position that no country can build a sustainable healthcare system while neglecting the workers who sustain it. He noted that his continued support for nursing and midwifery institutions across Nigeria is rooted in the belief that investing in nurses is directly linked to national growth and survival.
He described World Nurses Day as both a moment of appreciation and an opportunity to reflect on the state of Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
“Our nurses continue to work under extremely difficult conditions — overcrowded hospitals, inadequate equipment, poor remuneration structures, and overwhelming patient loads — yet they show up daily with uncommon strength, compassion, and professionalism,” Obi stated.
The former Anambra State governor added that Nigerian nurses continue to make silent sacrifices that hold the country’s health system together despite deep systemic problems.
He also highlighted the growing global recognition of Nigerian nurses, saying they have continued to distinguish themselves internationally in clinical practice, research, and healthcare leadership, thereby boosting Nigeria’s reputation within the global medical community.
Calling for reforms, Obi advocated for a “New Nigeria” where nurses and other healthcare workers are properly trained, adequately empowered, fairly paid, and globally competitive.
“We must build a system that works for those who make the system work. Healthcare workers must be treated as national assets, not afterthoughts,” he said.
Obi concluded by saluting nurses and midwives across the country for their commitment and service, describing them as “those holding Nigeria together.”
