Sanwo-Olu Calls for Ongoing Nurse Training to Keep Up with Innovations
Embracing the Future of Nursing Through Innovation and Collaboration
Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, First Lady of Lagos State, has emphasized the importance of continuous learning and adapting to new technologies for nurses and healthcare professionals. Her remarks were made during a one-day symposium organized by the West African Post Graduate College of Nurses and Midwives (WAPCNM), Lagos-Ogun branch, in Lagos on Thursday. The event was held to celebrate the 2026 Nurse’s Week, with the theme “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Modern Healthcare and the Future of Nursing Practice.”
Dr. Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Wydad Mustapha, wife of the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB), Ibrahim Mustapha, highlighted that “the future of nursing practice lies not in competition with technology, but in effective collaboration with it.” She praised the symposium as a demonstration of a shared commitment to shaping how technology serves people in need of care.
She expressed her passion for initiatives that promote quality health care, maternal and child health, mental health advocacy, and the well-being of vulnerable populations. Dr. Sanwo-Olu affirmed that through various interventions and partnerships, the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration will continue to support efforts aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and empowering healthcare workers.
Nurses and midwives are often the first point of contact for patients and families, providing compassionate care, comfort, and hope during some of life’s most difficult moments. Their dedication, resilience, and selfless service continue to strengthen the healthcare system and improve health outcomes for communities.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu encouraged nurses and midwives to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and compassionate care. She commended them for their unwavering commitment to advancing nursing education, professional development, research, and excellence in healthcare delivery across West Africa.
She noted that the theme of the event is particularly relevant in today's rapidly changing world. “Artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare globally, from disease prediction and diagnosis to patient monitoring, medical imaging, data analysis, and telemedicine. AI is revolutionizing the way healthcare services are delivered.”
Dr. Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the integration of technology into healthcare presents enormous opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, accessibility, and patient outcomes. She urged all stakeholders to work together as a government, professional bodies, academia, and the private sector to enhance the opportunities presented by AI while preserving the values of empathy, dignity, and patient-centered care that define the nursing profession.
The Role of Nurses in an AI-Driven World
Dr. Ayodeji Ogunmuyiwa, Provost, Lagos State College of Nursing, Midwifery, and Public Health Nursing, urged nurses to empower themselves for the role they have to play in the present era in AI and in the future, which is going to be radically advanced. She emphasized the importance of training nurses to play their role in the future and teaching them the rituals that will support them in making a difference.
According to her, “We need to work with other departments to ensure the quality of care that we demand from healthcare providers. We can collaborate with any department that has, whether direct care or indirect care, with the patient. We can also collaborate with people on how to design a suitable AI tool that nurses can utilize to improve their care.”
AI has come to stay, she said. “We need it.”
Chairman of the West African Post Graduate College of Nurses and Midwives (WAPCNM), Lagos-Ogun branch, Anthonia Ekwo, stated that the event demonstrated the shared commitment to shaping how technology serves people in need of care. She noted that AI is already moving from theory into practice across hospitals, clinics, and community health programs.
From triage and early-warning systems to image interpretation, predictive analytics, and automated administrative workflows, AI tools promise to improve efficiency, enhance clinical decision-making, and free nurses to spend more time on hands-on patient care. At the same time, these technologies raise urgent questions that nurses must lead on.
Ekwo charged nurses to invest time in understanding the basics of digital tools, data literacy, and human-centered design. She advised them to seek mentorship and bring their fresh perspectives to multidisciplinary teams. “Your voice will be critical in shaping systems that respect patients and support clinicians.”
To experienced nurses, Ekwo advised: “Your clinical insight and moral authority are indispensable. You will be the ones validating AI outputs, teaching others how to use new tools safely, and advocating for patients when technology falls short. Please continue to lead training, supervise implementations, and insist on systems that augment—not substitute—professional judgment.”
The Need for Government Support and Investment
Secretary of the event’s planning committee, Olubajo Bolajoko, noted that information in all sectors is key to advancement. “If you are not informed, you’ll be deformed. AI is the use of devices that aid activities in this dispensation. In fact, in the health sector generally, we talk about electronic health records, we talk about digital health, and this transforms to digital nursing. It’s all about information technology. And we are an information society. So, nursing ought not to be left behind.”
Urging the government to provide the needed devices for effective work, she said: “We encourage the government to please look into this aspect of need. One, increase the manpower and the renumeration of nurses, particularly the fellows of West Africa Presbyterian College of Nurses.”
While lamenting that most Nigerian nurses are going out to earn more money, she advised that the “government should provide the equipment in the hospitals, as well as employ nurses.”
