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LAGOS – The Vice President, Kashim Shettima has said women in healthcare are the indispensable custodians of wellness and the reason for the continuity of purposes, visions and life expectancy in the country, describing them as unseen, uncelebrated, but always indispensable in safeguarding the health and continuity of the country.
The Vice President echoed these commendations at the Women in Healthcare Network (WIHN) Second Annual Conference, themed ‘Rooted in Wellness, Rising with Purpose’, held on Friday at the Continental Hotel, Lagos.
The Vice President who was represented by Dr. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, the Senior Special Adviser to the president on Public Health, added that female healthcare workers have sacrificially served the nation through decades of medical challenges often under difficult and dangerous conditions.
“For those who heal are the custodians of a nation’s continuity,” he said.
“The story of our nation’s survival through the storms of diseases and despair is written in the quiet heroism of women who have chosen to serve even when the odds were cruel.”
The Vice President paid tribute to women who have made historic contributions to national health emergencies, including the late Dr Stella Adadevoh, who helped contain the Ebola outbreak in 2014, and Dr. Amarachukwu Allison, who detected Nigeria’s first COVID-19 case in 2020.
“We saw it again when Dr. Amarachukwu Anderson identified the first COVID-19 case in Nigeria and helped avert a larger catastrophe. And we continue to see it every day when nurses, doctors, midwives, and community health workers show up not just with knowledge, but with the will to serve,” he added.
Shettima said the establishment of the Women in Healthcare Network represents a bold new chapter in Nigeria’s healthcare ecosystem, where women are no longer on the margins but “at the center of its design.”
“You have come together to find the road that goes beyond culture, geography, and institution to empower, educate, and inspire,” he said.
“This movement ensures that no young woman in this sector ever feels unseen or unheard.”
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to building a healthcare system that not only delivers quality service but also protects and uplifts those who serve within it.
“Our commitment must be moral as much as it is administrative,” Shettima stressed. “We must create systems that reward excellence, policies that protect those who serve, and institutions that inspire the next generation of caregivers.”
He described the Women in Healthcare Network as a vision of the future one where “policy meets empathy and leadership is measured not by titles, but by impact.”
He concluded by charging the women to continue rising with purpose, noting that their strength sustains the nation.
“You are the pulse of this nation,” Shettima declared. “When you rise, the country breathes easier. When you thrive, our communities become stronger. And when you lead, you remind us that purpose is the highest form of art.”
“Let this be our collective commitment to build a nation where wellness is a promise for all, and where every Nigerian feels the touch of a system that truly cares.”
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a healthcare system that is inclusive, accessible, and driven by wellness, empathy, and innovation.
In his speech, presented by Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser on Health, Sanwo praised women healthcare professionals for their transformative impact on Nigeria’s health system, describing them as “unwavering pillars of strength, innovation, and compassion.”
“Healthcare is more than just a job. It is a calling that connects deeply with our humanity,” he said.
“Real wellness is about finding balance and wholeness not just the absence of illness, but the harmony of body, mind, and spirit.”
Sanwo-Olu highlighted the state’s achievements in improving healthcare delivery, including the Lagos State Health Scheme, which aims to make quality medical services more affordable, and the Eko Social Health Alliance (EkoSHA), designed to support the most vulnerable citizens.
He added that government is upgrading general hospitals and primary healthcare centres across all local governments while training thousands of healthcare professionals to ensure Lagos residents have access to high-quality care.
“Our mission is straightforward to create a healthcare system that serves everyone,” he said. “We are investing in preventive care because real health starts not in hospitals, but in our homes, workplaces, and communities.”
The governor stressed that wellness initiatives including physical fitness, mental health awareness, maternal and child health, and environmental hygiene remain central to the administration’s THEMES+ Agenda, particularly under the pillars of Health and Environment.
Sanwo-Olu urged women healthcare professionals to continue mentoring younger colleagues, particularly young girls aspiring to careers in health, saying their voices and leadership are vital to the sustainability of the system.
“Your voices are powerful, your purpose is noble, and your wellbeing is vital for the sustainability of the healthcare system you support,” he noted.
Commending the Women in Health Network for its dedication to mentorship, advocacy, and professional empowerment, Sanwo-Olu said the group’s vision aligns with Lagos State’s commitment to equity and excellence in healthcare.
“You are fostering a movement that is genuinely rooted in wellness and driven by purpose,” he said. “As a government, we will continue to collaborate with networks like yours to enhance capacity, promote inclusion, and build a system that reflects our shared values of empathy, equity, and excellence.”
He concluded by calling for continued collaboration between government and professional networks to create a Lagos and a nation where every woman in healthcare feels empowered, every citizen has access to quality care, and communities thrive in health and purpose.
Also at the conference; Professor Modupe Elebute-Odunsi, CEO of Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre and Chair of the WIHCN Board of Trustees, said the group was founded with a “simple but powerful vision” to create a community where women in healthcare can connect, learn, unlearn, and be empowered to lead.
Founded just two years ago by 15 women, the Network has rapidly grown into a dynamic movement of over 300 members across Nigeria and beyond, with active chapters in Lagos, Abuja, and the United Kingdom.
“Our contributions as women in healthcare often go unrecognised,” Prof. Elebute-Odunsi said.
“The Women in Healthcare Network exists to change this narrative to celebrate women’s impact, amplify their voices, and foster leadership across the health ecosystem.”
The conference highlighted WIHN’s strides in building a supportive platform for women professionals through impactful initiatives including virtual learning sessions, mentorship programs, and wellness campaigns.
Earlier this year, the Network launched a series of wellness-focused events such as walking challenges, nutrition and menopause talks, and a session on “the sacredness of rest” led by beauty entrepreneur Tara Fela-Durotoye. Prof. Elebute-Odunsi stressed that self-care is vital for healthcare providers:
“If you are not well, you cannot give the care and attention others need. We must be rooted in wellness to lead effectively,” she noted.
One of the group’s most successful initiatives, the Speed Mentoring Program, drew over 120 participants and has inspired a new multi-generational mentorship model that encourages younger professionals to mentor their seniors, a move aimed at fostering dynamic, cross-generational learning.
The Network has also partnered with national initiatives such as the Renew Her Program spearheaded by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Health, Dr. Adanna Steinacker which aims to improve the lives and well-being of women across Nigeria.
Prof. Elebute-Odunsi expressed gratitude to the Network’s executive and founding members for their dedication, as well as to keynote speaker Professor Magda Rosenmoller of IESE Business School, Barcelona, who attended the event in person.
Looking ahead, WIHN plans to expand its chapters, strengthen mentorship structures, and advocate for increased female representation in healthcare leadership and policy.
“Women in Healthcare is not just a network; it is a movement,” Prof. Elebute-Odunsi declared. “We are building a future where women in medicine, nursing, research, innovation, and finance rise with purpose well, strong, and leading together.”
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, praised Nigerian women for their vital contributions to the nation’s health sector, describing them as the backbone of the country’s healthcare system.
Dr. Salako who was represented by Dr Tomi Coke the Ogun state commissioner of Health, commended the platform for empowering, celebrating, and elevating women who are shaping the future of healthcare in Nigeria. He said the gathering was not only significant but necessary, given women’s central role in sustaining the health workforce.
“Over 90% of our health workforce doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, and community health workers are men and women who work tirelessly, often under challenging conditions, to preserve and protect the health of our citizens,” Salako said.
“This conference is a time to celebrate, empower, and reaffirm our commitment as women to hold our healthcare system together.”
The minister acknowledged the leadership of women in both the public and private sectors, noting their impact as clinicians, innovators, policymakers, and administrators.
He particularly commended Professor Modupe Elebute-Odunsi and the Women in Health Network (WIHN) for their steadfast commitment to mentorship, collaboration, and professional growth.
“The vision of WIHN to empower women through education, networking, and support aligns perfectly with President Bola Tinubu’s transformative agenda for the health sector under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative and Investment,” he added.
Dr. Salako explained that one of the key pillars of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative is strengthening the human resource workforce, including the continued development of women who form the backbone of the health system.
He urged stakeholders to create more opportunities for women to lead in diverse spaces beyond hospitals and laboratories including research, governance, and policymaking.
“Leadership in healthcare is not about titles; it is about service, courage, and compassion,” he said.
“We must build structures that enable mentorship, work-life balance, and equitable advancement for women in health.”
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to partnering with the Women in Health Network and other organisations to promote gender inclusion, professional growth, and wellness among women in the sector.
“When women rise, healthcare rises with them,” Dr. Salako declared. “As we reflect on the theme, ‘Protecting Wellness, Rising with Purpose,’ I encourage every woman here to remain grounded in compassion, integrity, and service to humanity while boldly leading and innovating to transform healthcare in Nigeria.”
He concluded by wishing participants a productive conference, expressing confidence that the event would inspire renewed commitment to improving health outcomes nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Women in Healthcare Network (WIHN) has reaffirmed its mission to connect, empower, and celebrate women across all sectors of the healthcare ecosystem, with a renewed focus on wellness, mentorship, and leadership development.
