The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to training and supporting nurses, not only to guarantee quality healthcare delivery but also to strengthen their role as advocates for patients’ rights and safety.
Mrs. Olusola Aketi, Director of Nursing Services at the Ministry of Health, stated this at a two-day Nurses Assembly held at the Folarin Coker Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, with the theme “Nursing: Leading with Purpose.”
Aketi described the theme as “a call to action,” stressing that nurses are central to the health sector and must remain compassionate, resilient, and dedicated in delivering quality services through their knowledge and expertise.
“Nurses are very important in the scheme of things in the health sector. We must continue to be compassionate and dedicated, using our training and knowledge to deliver quality care while leading with purpose,” she said.
She added that the ministry, in collaboration with professional associations, is intensifying efforts to curb quackery while urging nurses to commit more strongly to patient safety and advocacy.
In her goodwill message, Mrs. Ololade Fadipe, Commissioner at the Health Service Commission, encouraged nurses to lead by example through advocacy, lifelong learning, and collaboration, noting that these values would enhance the profession and improve patient outcomes.
Other facilitators, including Mrs. Yetunde Awe, a lawyer, and Dr. Oluwole Daini, underscored the critical role of nurses as advocates. They emphasized that nurses are not only providers of healthcare services but also champions of patients’ safety and rights.
The annual Nurses Assembly, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Health, is designed to build capacity, uphold ethical standards, and motivate nurses across the state.