Fellow Nurses Africa Publication, 29 July, 2025.
Solidarity Across Borders: A Letter to Nigerian Nurses on the Brink of Change
As I pen this from abroad, where I now practice nursing, my heart stays rooted in Nigeria—in the bustling wards, the relentless struggles, and the unshakable resilience I see in you. Nurses like me, scattered across borders, stand with you as the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) guides you toward a pivotal moment.
The 15-day ultimatum expired at midnight on July 29, 2025, thrusting you to the edge of a nursing strike in Nigeria that could redefine our profession. I can’t join you on the picket lines, but I feel every pulse of this battle. This isn’t just about missing circulars from a few state chapters—it’s a stand against years of injustice, neglect, and a healthcare system that’s driven you to your limits. It’s about your lives, your dignity, and a future where the nursing profession in Nigeria thrives.
I left Nigeria because of the very challenges you face today—nurses’ wages so low they belittle your sacrifice, career progression that stalls despite your commitment, and working conditions for nurses that drain your soul. A Nigerian nurse earns roughly ₦100,000 ($50) monthly; abroad, I’ve seen nurses make $6,000. That disparity isn’t just numbers—it’s a robbery of your ability to live and support your families.
I recall the stagnation, the overcrowded wards, the faulty equipment, and the crushing patient loads that turned caregiving into a losing battle. Leaving was my escape, but I know it’s not an option for all. This nurses’ strike is your lifeline—a chance to demand a system that respects your worth and lets you keep serving a profession you cherish.
This struggle echoes beyond Nigeria’s borders. Nurses globally see your fight and recognize it as theirs. From the UK to the US, where I now work, we understand that underpaid, overworked nurses weaken healthcare everywhere. Your strike isn’t just for you—it’s for the patients you serve.
I’ve lived the exhaustion of being stretched too thin; it breeds burnout, errors, and poorer care. Studies confirm this: understaffed hospitals face higher mortality rates and compromised patient safety. By striking, you’re not abandoning your patients—you’re fighting for a future where you can care for them fully. Better conditions for you mean safer, stronger healthcare for them. That’s a reality I saw crumble too often in Nigeria, and it’s why I support you now, from afar.
Yet, I hear murmurs of division—senior nurse leaders or Directors of Nursing Services mulling skeletal services, or rival factions within NANNM tugging in opposite directions. I get the pressure and the longstanding rivalries, but please, don’t let this moment fracture. Our profession hangs in the balance. I’ve seen division derail a cause—don’t let it sap yours. Unite, bridge the gaps, and fight as one. Your power is in your nursing solidarity.
NANNM, you’ve sparked something incredible. Nurses in 26 states—Jigawa, Niger, Delta, Benue, and more—are poised to strike. That’s 26 out of 36 states rising, while others waver and Borno and Ekiti retreat. You’ve lit a fire for healthcare reform in Nigeria, but it’s yours to fuel. Don’t settle for less than these nurses deserve. They’re counting on you to turn their grit into lasting change.
To the silent states—Ondo, Imo, Kaduna, and others—I won’t judge. Your challenges are real. But this transcends any single chapter. Every nurse in Nigeria feels this strain. Joining now strengthens the whole; staying out risks watering it down. Borno and Ekiti may have stepped back, but you can still step up. Show the government—and the Tinubu administration—that you’re a united front they can’t dismiss.
And to you, Nigerian nurses—I became a nurse to heal, to help, to save lives, just like you. But Nigeria’s neglect shattered that dream for me, so I left. You’re still there, holding firm, and this strike is your shot to forge a future where you’re valued enough to keep doing what you love. You’re not alone. Nurses worldwide are rooting for you, inspired by your bravery. I won’t march with you, but I’m watching, cheering, and believing in you. This is your brink of change—stand together, demand what’s yours, and reshape healthcare in Nigeria for generations.
In solidarity,
Kenny Oluwatosin,
RN, BSc, MSc, Healthcare Leadership
CEO, Fellow Nurses Africa
Fellow Nurses Africa is the independent voice of African nursing, we educate, inform and support the nursing profession.
