By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The Kwara Government in collaboration with the EU-SARAH Initiative, under the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), will sponsor 500 students on study of Midwifery.
The Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam stated this on Monday in Ilorin on the sidelines of the commemoration of International Day of Midwife.
The theme of the day is entitled: “One Million More Midwives”, which addresses the global shortage of nearly one million midwives.
It serves as an urgent, shared demand for governments to invest in the education, fair pay, safe working conditions, and workforce retention of midwives.
In her address, El-Imam represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Abdullahi Taoheed stated that the first stream of 100 students has already commenced in 2026 and plans are firmly in place to onboard an additional 250 beneficiaries next year through the accredited College of Nursing in Kwara.
The commissioner emphasised that the theme of the day is apt, saying that the International Confederation of Midwives has given a theme that is both a rallying cry and an urgent demand.
According to her, the theme capture the scale of the challenge before us and the urgency with which we must respond.
“Sub-Saharan Africa bears the heaviest burden of this deficit. And it is against this backdrop that the activities we are holding today carry not just celebratory significance, but deep strategic meaning,” she said.
She quoted the World Health Organization estimates that skilled midwifery care could prevent up to 83 percent of all maternal and newborn deaths globally.
“Midwives are not simply birth attendants. They provide antenatal care, postnatal care, family planning counselling, nutrition guidance, detection of complications, emergency obstetric first response, and community health education,” she said.
El-Imam observed that the story of midwifery in Nigeria is one of extraordinary resilience in the face of formidable challenges.
“Nigeria accounts for a disproportionately large share of global maternal deaths, a reality that haunts our public health system.
“Yet, it is equally true that in every state, in every LGA, there are dedicated midwives working tirelessly,” she said.
The commissioner commended UNFPA for the collaboration, financial investment and technical support in strengthening maternal and reproductive health services in Kwara.
In her Goodwill message, the Sexual Reproductive Health Specialist, UNFPA,
Mrs. Gloria Enueze pointed out that the day is set aside to commemorate and celebrate the invaluable contributions of midwives to maternal, newborn, and adolescent health.
“We recognize midwives as the backbone of quality maternal and reproductive healthcare services.
“Their dedication, compassion, and professionalism continue to save the lives of women and newborns, especially in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
“Midwives are not only healthcare providers; they are advocates, counsellors, and trusted companions for women and families throughout the continuum of care,” she said.
Enueze said UNFPA remains committed to supporting governments and partners in building a resilient and skilled health workforce.
She added that the EU-SARAH project initiative reflects shared vision of ensuring that every adolescent and woman has access to quality care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period, and that no woman dies while giving life.
Earlier in her welcoming address, the Provost of the College of Nursing, Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH) , Dr Salamat Yusuf, enjoined the students to remain passionate and committed to the practice of the profession.
She emphasised that midwifery remains vital and important to the care of mothers and newborn.
Highlights of the event includes quiz competition for the students and awards of prizes.