Each year, International Nurses Week gives us an opportunity to honour the vital role nurses play in shaping global health.
This year’s theme—“Our Nurses. Our Future.”—resonates deeply, particularly in Africa, where nurses are often the first and most trusted point of care in rural communities and urban hospitals.
At the Institute of Nursing Research in Nigeria, we know that investing in nursing is not just a moral imperative—it is a strategic one.
When we care for our nurses, when we create systems that support their education, well-being, leadership, and ability to innovate, we are not only building stronger healthcare systems—we are building stronger economies.
Caring For Nurses Is An Investment In Economic Growth
It’s easy to talk about healthcare in clinical terms, but we must also talk about its economic impact.
According to the World Health Organisation, health investments contribute directly to economic development by improving productivity and reducing the financial strain of preventable illness. And who is at the center of that system in Nigeria (or anywhere on earth)? Our nurses.
Despite the daunting challenges of staffing shortages, burnout, and infrastructural limitations, Nigerian nurses continue to deliver care under immense pressure, showcasing their resilience and dedication.
Imagine the transformative outcomes—both in health and economy—if we fully realisedrealised the potential of our nurses through comprehensive investment.
Stronger support for nurses means:
- Lower disease burden through preventive care.
- Reduced healthcare costs through early intervention.
- Increased workforce productivity due to better national health.
- Enhanced trust in public health institutions.
Put simply, nurses drive health, and health drives development.
The Power Of Nursing Research In Nigeria
One of the most undervalued tools in our fight for better healthcare in Africa is nursing-led research.
For decades, research has often been concentrated in urban teaching hospitals or led by disciplines outside nursing. However, frontline nurses have firsthand experience with the gaps, inefficiencies, and needs in our health system—and they bring solutions that are practical, culturally relevant, and sustainable.
At the Institute of Nursing Research Nigeria, we’re proud to champion nurse-led research in areas such as:
- Maternal and child health interventions in underserved regions.
- Community-based mental health strategies.
- Innovations in mobile health and tele-nursing.
- Data-driven models for rural health worker training.
When nurses lead research, we don’t just improve care—we inform policy and drive systems change.
This International Nurses Week, we reaffirm our commitment to empowering more nurses with the tools, mentorship, and funding they need to lead groundbreaking research.
Nursing Leadership Is Nation Building
Too often, leadership in healthcare policy is divorced from the voices on the ground. Yet nurses make up the largest portion of the healthcare workforce. In Nigeria, they are often managing health centres, training junior staff, and leading patient safety initiatives—without formal leadership titles or recognition. Their experience and insights are invaluable and should be actively sought in shaping healthcare policies and strategies.
We need to change that. Nursing leadership is essential if we want health reforms to be effective and rooted in lived realities. We must ensure nurses are not only present at decision-making tables but are actively shaping the agenda.
This means:
- Expanding leadership development programmes
- Including nurse leaders in federal and state health committees
- Supporting post-graduate education and executive training
- Elevating nurses into roles as hospital CEOs, public health directors, and health policy advocates
At our Institute, we are building pathways for emerging nurse leaders to rise—with confidence and competence—into the positions that will shape Nigeria’s health future.
The Economic Imperative of Supporting Nurses
Nigeria faces a significant shortage of healthcare workers, with only 1.83 skilled health workers per 1,000 people, far below the WHO’s recommendation of 4.45 per 1,000. This deficit hampers our ability to provide adequate healthcare services and undermines economic productivity.
Moreover, the migration of healthcare professionals exacerbates this issue. Between 2021 and 2024, approximately 42,000 nurses left Nigeria seeking better opportunities abroad. This “brain drain” results in increased healthcare costs and a loss of valuable human capital.
Investing in nurses through improved working conditions, competitive remuneration, and professional development opportunities can enhance retention, reduce healthcare costs, and contribute to economic growth.
Innovation From The Front Lines
Innovation doesn’t always mean new technology. Sometimes, it’s a better workflow, a smarter community outreach programme, or a creative solution to chronic understaffing. And more often than not, these innovations are coming from nurses.
We’ve seen nurses in Nigeria design local solutions to improve maternal referrals, track child immunisations with mobile apps, and even create culturally adapted health education materials in local languages.
But these solutions need more than admiration—they need investment. Imagine what’s possible if we funded more pilot projects, created nurse-led innovation labs, and built a national registry of successful grassroots interventions.
When we treat nurses as innovators—not just implementers—we unlock new potential for nationwide health transformation.
A Call To Action For Nigeria
This International Nurses Week, we challenge all stakeholders—government, NGOs, academia, and the private sector—to move beyond slogans and invest in action.
Here’s how we care for our nurses and our economy at the same time:
- Fund nursing research through targeted grants and scholarships.
- Prioritise nurse inclusion in health leadership and policymaking.
- Protect nurses’ rights, safety, and mental health in the workplace.
- Build infrastructure that supports ongoing professional development.
- Recognise and reward nurse-led innovations in health delivery.
At the Institute of Nursing Research Nigeria, we believe that the Future of health in Africa is being written today—by nurses. But for that Future to be strong, equitable, and prosperous, we must start by caring for the people who care for us all.
Our Nurses. Our Future. Our Responsibility.
Happy International Nurses Week from all of us at the Institute of Nursing Research, Nigeria.
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