Kwara, UNFPA sponsor 500 students to study midwifery
Kwara, UNFPA sponsor 500 students to study midwifery
The Kwara Government, in collaboration with the EU-SARAH initiative, under the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will sponsor 500 students to study Midwifery.
The Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam, stated this on Monday in Ilorin on the sidelines of the commemoration of the 2026 International Day of the Midwife.
Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) reports that the theme of the 2026 edition is ”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.
El-Imam, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Abdullahi Taoheed, stated that the first stream of 100 students had already commenced the programme in 2026.
She added that plans were firmly in place to onboard an additional 250 beneficiaries in 2027 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 captures the scale of the challenge before the nation and the urgency with which it must respond.
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“Sub-Saharan Africa bears the heaviest burden of this deficit. And it is against this backdrop that the activities we’re holding today carry not just celebratory significance, but deep strategic meaning,” she said.
He quoted the World Health Organisation as estimating that skilled midwifery care could prevent up to 83 per cent 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 the 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 noted that the day is set aside to commemorate and celebrate the invaluable contributions of midwives to maternal, newborn, and adolescent health.
“We recognise 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 that the 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 a shared vision of ensuring that every adolescent girl and woman has access to quality healthcare during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period, while also ensuring that no woman dies in the process of giving life.
Earlier, Dr Salamat Yusuf, the Provost of the College of Nursing, Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH) , enjoined the students to remain passionate and committed to the practice of the profession.
She emphasised that midwifery remains vital to the care of mothers and newborn.
VMT NEWS reports that highlights of the event included a quiz competition for students and presentation of prizes.
