Unity, strong leadership, and urgent healthcare reforms took centre stage at the 10th Annual Health Week Symposium organised by the University of Lagos Nursing Students’ Association (NUNSA), held at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). With the theme “Mentes fortes, Ductus fortes: Strong Minds, Strong Leaders – Passing the Torch to a New Era,” the event convened healthcare professionals, students, and policymakers to envision a stronger, more equitable healthcare system in Nigeria.
Keynote speaker and Director of Nursing Services for Lagos State, Mrs. Olusola Aketi, emphasised the importance of professional unity across nursing specialities and raised concerns about inadequate remuneration, internal discord, and a lack of recognition. She urged nurses to maintain high ethical standards and warned of the potential regulatory consequences for misconduct and malpractice. Dr Pamela Ajayi, Chair of Bridge Clinic and former President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, called for harmonised salaries, standardised work conditions, and a central regulatory body to enforce compliance and improve service quality across health institutions. She decried the systemic deficiencies forcing professionals abroad and advocated for stronger national health insurance structures.
Both speakers emphasised the importance of digital innovation, artificial intelligence, and leadership by young professionals as key drivers of long-term transformation.
NUNSA Vice President and Health Week Chairperson, Olawee Grace Deborah, noted that the symposium offered more than dialogue—it presented a forward-looking roadmap for sustainable change in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
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