FG unveils plan to boost midwifery workforce

The Federal Government has unveiled a new national strategy to address Nigeria’s estimated shortage of 30,000 midwives, in a renewed push to curb the country’s high maternal and infant mortality rates.

The plan, titled Nigeria Strategic Direction for Midwifery 2025–2030, was launched in Abuja as part of activities marking the 2026 International Day of the Midwife, according to a statement by the Assistant Director, Press, at the Federal Ministry of Health, Ado Bako, on Wednesday.

Speaking at the event, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said the government was implementing “deliberate and strategic initiatives to bridge the gap in shortage of midwives to strengthen the midwifery workforce and improve outcomes for mothers and newborns.”

Represented by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr Abisola Adegoke, Pate said the roadmap would expand training institutions, increase student intake, and modernise midwifery education in line with global standards.

“The Ministry is expanding training institutions and increasing student intake for midwifery programmes, while also standardising and modernising education,” he said.

He added that the strategy would create employment opportunities, remove recruitment bottlenecks, and ensure equitable deployment of midwives, particularly in rural and underserved communities where maternal deaths are most prevalent.

According to the minister, the government will also scale up competency-based training and continuous professional development, while targeting high-burden areas through the Maternal Mortality Reduction Initiative.

Pate stressed that midwives remain central to the country’s healthcare system.

“No health system can provide optimal maternal and child health services without an adequate number of skilled midwives,” he said.

Despite ongoing interventions, Nigeria continues to account for a significant share of global maternal and child deaths.

The Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Dr Ndagi Alhassan, warned that urgent investment in workforce development and quality education is critical to reversing the trend.

“On a global scale, Nigeria ranks among the highest in maternal and infant mortality,” he said.

Citing data from the World Health Organization and the World Bank, Alhassan noted that one in every four maternal deaths globally occurs in Nigeria.

He emphasised that beyond training, improving working conditions and empowering midwives to practise at full capacity are essential.

“We must create an enabling environment where midwives can work with autonomy, dignity, and the right tools,” he said.

Also speaking, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Haruna Mamman, put the national shortfall at about 30,000 midwives.

Represented by the FCT Chairman of the association, Jama Medan, Mamman attributed the deficit to underfunded training programmes and weak support systems.

“Lack of adequate attention to midwife training is one of the challenges we face. Training is underfunded, alongside other critical resources,” he said.

He urged authorities to prioritise improved welfare, noting that better working conditions and sustained investment in education would significantly reduce maternal deaths.

The 2026 International Day of the Midwife, themed “One Million More Midwives,” highlights the global shortage of skilled birth attendants and the urgent need for increased investment in the profession.

Health experts say expanding the midwifery workforce remains one of the most cost-effective ways to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

For Nigeria, stakeholders say the success of the new strategy will depend on sustained implementation and political will to close the widening workforce gap and prevent avoidable deaths during childbirth.