Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has called for continuous learning, capacity building, and adaptation of nurses and health care professionals to emerging innovations to enable them remain relevant and effective in this new era.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu made the call during a one-day symposium organized by fellows of the West African Post Graduate College of Nurses and Midwives (WAPCNM), Lagos-Ogun branch, in Lagos on Thursday, to mark the 2026 Nurse’s Week, themed: “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Modern Healthcare and the Future of Nursing Practice.”
Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Wydad Mustapha, wife of the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB), Ibrahim Mustapha, noted that the “future of nursing practice lies not in competition with technology, but in effective collaboration with it,” adding that the symposium demonstrated a shared commitment to shaping how technology serves people in need of care.,
Dr. Sanwo-Olu said that she “remains passionate about initiatives that promote quality health care, maternal and child health, mental health advocacy, and the well-being of vulnerable populations.”
She affirmed that through various interventions and partnerships, the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration “shall continue to support efforts that are aimed at strengthening health care delivery and empowering health care workers.”
Saying that the healthcare profession that remains the backbone of every health care system, Sanwo-Olu added: “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 our health care system and improve health outcomes for our communities.”
She encouraged nurses and midwives to continue to uphold the highest standard of professionalism, ethics, and compassionate care, and commended them for their “unwavering commitment to advancing nursing education, professional development, research, and excellence in health care delivery across West Africa.”
Saying that their commitment have become even more evident in the face of evolving health challenges globally and locally, Sanwo-Olu added: “Your work saves lives, promotes wellness, and sustains families and communities.”
She said that the theme of the event cannot be more appropriate in view of the rapidly changing world, “Artificial intelligence is transforming health care globally, from disease prediction and diagnosis to patient monitoring, medical imaging, data analysis, and telemedicine. AI is revolutionizing the way health care services are delivered.”
Dr. Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the “integration of technology into health care presents enormous opportunity to improve efficiency, accuracy, accessibility, and patient outcomes,” adding: “As we embrace this technology advancement, we must remember that health care remains fundamentally human-centered.
She urged all stakeholders to “work together as a government, professional bodies, academia, and the private sector to enhance the opportunity presented by AI while preserving the values of empathy, dignity, and patient-centered care that define the nursing profession.”
Dr. Ayodeji Ogunmuyiwa, Provost, Lagos State College of Nursing, Midwifery, and Public Health Nursing, who was the keynote speaker, urged nurses to “start empowering themselves for the role they have to play in the present era in AI,” as well as in the future, that is going to be radically advanced.
According to her: “It is important to train them to play their role in the future. And it’s also important to teach them the rituals that will support them in making a difference.”
Speaking on the need for collaboration with others to improve sector, she said: “We need to work with other departments to ensure the quality of care that we demand from the health care 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. We need it.”
Chairman, West African Post Graduate College of Nurses and Midwives (WAPCNM), Lagos-Ogun branch,,” Anthonia Ekwo, said that the event demonstrated the shared commitment to shaping how technology serves people in need of care.
According to Ekwo: “Artificial intelligence is already moving from theory into practice across hospitals, clinics, and community health programmes.
“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 we as nurses must lead on.”
Ekwo charged the nurses to invest time in understanding the basics of digital tools, data literacy, and human-centered design.
“Seek mentorship and bring your fresh perspectives to multidisciplinary teams. Your voice will be critical in shaping systems that respect patients and support clinician,” She stated.
To the 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 judgement. ”
Secretary of the event’s planning committee, Opaleye Temitope, noted that information in all sectors is key to advancement, adding: “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 of 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.”