Develop Yourselves Professionally, Mrs Akute Urges Nurses

Nurses have been encouraged to continuously equip themselves with modern technology and up-to-date practices to stay competitive and relevant in the global nursing profession.

This call was made by the Chairman of the Southwest Directors of Nursing Forum, Mrs. Yewande Akute, during the forum’s meeting, held at the Osun State Ministry of Health, State Secretariat, Osogbo.

Mrs. Akute expressed gratitude to God and to her fellow Directors of Nursing across the Southwest region for making the meeting a success. She emphasized that the forum provides an essential platform for addressing challenges facing the profession and for fostering the growth of individual departments.

She encouraged members to organize and participate in professional development courses, such as leadership and administrative training, to enhance their competencies and career advancement.

The chairman also urged members to adopt a culture of punctuality at meetings, describing it as a sign of seriousness and commitment to professional responsibilities.

Delivering her goodwill message, the Director of Nursing Services, Osun State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Toyin Adelowokan, advised nurses to uphold the ethics of their profession while protecting the interests of both nurses and midwives. She emphasized that nursing leadership plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the profession across the Southwest and the nation at large.

“As leaders, being the number one nurse in your institution comes with the responsibility of protecting, empowering, and advancing the professional development of your team,” she stated. “Your role goes beyond administration—it includes mentorship, advocacy for better working conditions, and ensuring adherence to ethical standards.”

Mrs. Adelowokan also expressed concern about the alarming rate of quackery in the profession, warning that it poses a significant threat to public health and the integrity of nursing. She called for decisive action, including collaboration with regulatory bodies to identify and eliminate unqualified individuals posing as nurses.

She advocated for strict enforcement of licensing regulations, continuous monitoring, and increased public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the dangers of patronizing unlicensed practitioners.

On the proliferation of private colleges of nursing, Mrs. Adelowokan noted that these institutions are springing up without appropriate checks, adding that the quotas given to nursing colleges differ significantly from those of other health professions such as medicine and pharmacy. She called for urgent regulatory intervention to safeguard the future of the nursing profession.

Earlier in his address of welcome, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Isiaka Adekunle said he was happy to receive the forum in Osun, wishing them a successful deliberations.

The forum was attended by Osun State NANNM Chairman, Comrade Waheed Oyeyemi, Directors of Nursing Services from Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, and Lagos States, reflecting a strong regional commitment to the advancement of the nursing profession.