The permanent secretary of the ministry of women affairs, Maryam Keshinro, has described nurses as vital contributors to Nigeria’s economy due to their critical role in healthcare delivery.

She said this on Monday in Abuja during the commemoration of the 2025 International Nurses Week at the State House Medical Centre (SHMC), themed “Our Nurses, Our Future: Caring for Nurses Strengthens Economies.”

Ms Keshinro emphasised that the health of Nigerians was a prerequisite for economic productivity, noting that ill health resulted in lost manpower hours and negatively impacted the nation’s economy.

“The nursing profession is a vital contributor not only to healthcare but also to the economy, both in Nigeria and globally,” she said.

She further urged society to go beyond celebrating nurses’ hard work and also recognised the empathy and compassion they brought to their roles.

Also speaking, the head of nursing at SHMC, Taiwo Thompson-Olatigbe, stated that caring for nurses was not an act of charity but a strategic economic investment.

According to her, nurses often carry the physical, emotional, and mental burden of the health system, particularly during emergencies.

“Caring for nurses is a sound economic strategy.

“When we protect their rights, ensure fair wages, provide safe working conditions, and invest in training and mental health, patient outcomes improve, healthcare costs reduce, productivity rises, and the economy grows stronger,” she said.

She added that studies had shown that a well-supported nursing workforce led to fewer hospital readmissions, improved maternal and child health outcomes, and more resilient health systems overall.

Mrs Thompson-Olatigbe also called for improved staffing levels, decent wages, career growth opportunities, mental health support, respect, and greater involvement of nurses in policy decisions affecting their work and patients.

She urged policymakers, employers, and the public to prioritise nurses’ well-being in legislation, budgeting, and workplace policies, describing them as “investments with high returns.”

On his part, President Bola Tinubu’s personal physician, Sikiru Tinubu, represented by Dike Obalum, chairman, medical advisory committee at SHMC, hailed nurses as the “backbone and engine room of healthcare.

“You can’t have a healthcare industry in any part of the world without nurses.

“In the most admired centres globally, nurses are not only essential, they are also well remunerated,” he said.

He also called for improved remuneration across the entire healthcare workforce.

is celebrated annually to recognise the contributions of nurses and advocate for improved welfare and working conditions worldwide.

A key highlight of the event was the unveiling of the seventh edition of the ‘Rising Star’ State House Nurses Magazine.

(NAN)