Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has paid glowing tribute to Nigerian nurses and midwives in celebration of the 2026 World Nurses Day, describing them as the backbone of the nation’s healthcare system.
In a message shared on his X handle on Monday, Obi praised healthcare workers for their dedication, sacrifice, and resilience despite the harsh working conditions many of them face across the country.
“On this World Nurses Day, I would like to take a moment to appreciate all the nurses and midwives in our dear nation, who occupy a very special place and play very critical roles in our health sector,” Obi stated.
The former Anambra State governor noted that nurses remain central to healthcare delivery and national development, stressing that he has consistently invested in institutions that train health professionals because of the important role they play in society.
“As one who has been on the vanguard of investing in our critical sectors of human and national development, I have always maintained that you, our dear nurses, are the heart of our health sector,” he said.
Obi acknowledged the difficult realities confronting many Nigerian nurses, including work pressure, poor facilities, inadequate equipment, and the growing burden of caring for large numbers of patients.
“Nigerian nurses work under some of the toughest conditions with dignity and courage. From physical and mental stress to high patient-to-nurse ratios, to lack of equipment and poor working environments, your resilience keeps our health sector going,” he added.
He also commended Nigerian nurses in the diaspora for making remarkable contributions to global healthcare and nursing research.
“And beyond the shores of the nation, our nurses have continued to make exploits on the global stage. From leading the next generation research in nursing practice to championing excellence in clinical practice—many Nigerian nurses have written their names on the sands of time and lifted our national banner high. I celebrate you all,” Obi said.
Reaffirming his commitment to healthcare development, the former presidential candidate promised continued support for improved education, training, and welfare for nurses under his vision of a “New Nigeria.”
“My firm commitment to you all remains this — we will build a New Nigeria where your hard work and sacrifices will never go unnoticed. We will invest in your education and training to ensure that you remain competitive on the global stage,” he stated.
He concluded the message with a goodwill note to healthcare workers across the country, saying, “Happy World Nurses Day to you all. A New Nigeria is POssible.”
