The federal government on Tuesday launched a series of digital platforms, training equipment, and regulatory tools to strengthen nursing and midwifery education and improve maternal and newborn health outcomes nationwide.

The initiative, supported by the Gates Foundation, World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Health Information Systems Advisory (HISA), was unveiled at the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN)’s headquarters in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the new resources represent “a renewed commitment to the health and well-being of all Nigerians, especially women, newborns, and families,” noting that the country continues to face one of the world’s highest maternal mortality burdens.

Represented by the Director, Human Resources for Health at the ministry, Tetshoma Dafeda, the minister warned that the severe shortage and continued migration of trained nurses and midwives have worsened gaps in maternal care, especially in rural communities.

To address this, the minister revealed his approval of the central placement of nurse interns, a move expected to ease internship bottlenecks and boost workforce availability.

“I am deeply honoured to be present at this significant ceremony marking the official launching of support received from the Gates Foundation for procurement of midwifery training items, development of Mandatory Professional Development Programme module on Post Partum Haemorrhage, review of various curricula of nursing and midwifery programmes, and development of an Electronic Learning Management Platform through Telleosis and Charles Darwin University, Australia.”

Others include Organisational Capacity Assessment (OCA) through capacity Connect, development of Students’ Record of Instructions (RIN) booklets for Neonatal and Gerontology Nursing, and ongoing training of educators on simulation through the Laerdal Global

Health Information Systems Advisory (HISA), formerly HWMA, for the development of National Procedure Guides for Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health Nursing Programmes.

The minister said that support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) includes the development of the Electronic Accreditation Management System (EAMS) and the National Preceptorship Manual for Preceptors of Nursing Students and Interns.

Prof. Pate also acknowledged the WHO for the provision of thirty (30) tablets for the implementation of the developed Electronic Accreditation Management System (EAMS) and the provision of numerous supports to thirteen (13) Nursing and Midwifery Training Institutions.

He said these investments will “elevate the standard of midwifery education” by expanding access to modern learning materials, simulation tools, digital accreditation, and competency-based training.

With over 80 per cent of maternal deaths occurring in settings without skilled birth attendants, Prof. Pate said the supports would directly contribute to saving mothers and babies.

He urged all training institutions receiving the materials to “put them to judicious use,” adding that strengthened midwifery competencies are key to achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

NMCN Registrar, Alhassan Ndagi, thanked the minister for helping the council secure Gates Foundation support and promised that beneficiary institutions will be monitored for proper use of the tools.

He said the partnerships have already helped the council undertake digital transformation, strengthen its curriculum, and build workforce capacity, steps critical to boosting Nigeria’s human resources for health.

In her remarks, WHO’s representative, Mary Nana Ama Brantuo, commended Nigeria for prioritising regulatory reforms and digital innovation in nursing education.

She said the new Electronic Accreditation Management System will strengthen transparency and quality assurance across training institutions.

“These coordinated investments bring Nigeria closer to universal health coverage,” she noted.

Also present at the event were registrars and directors-general of sister regulatory councils and agencies, as well as representatives of development partners