Vice President Kashim Shettima has commended Nigerian women in the healthcare sector, describing them as the “silent custodians of the nation’s survival unseen, uncelebrated, but always indispensable” in safeguarding the health and continuity of the country.
Speaking at the second annual conference of the Women in Healthcare Network (WIHCN), themed “Rooted in Wellness, Rising with Purpose,” Shettima, represented by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Health, Dr. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, praised the dedication and sacrifices of female healthcare workers who have 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. 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 said.
Shettima paid glowing 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.
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The Women in Healthcare Network (WIHCN) 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.
Chair of the WIHCN Board of Trustees and CEO of Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre, Professor Modupe Elebute-Odunsi, 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 grown into a vibrant community of more than 300 members across Nigeria and beyond, with active chapters in Lagos, Abuja, and the United Kingdom.
The Network also partners with national initiatives such as the Renew Her Program, spearheaded by the 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.
Speaking, Dr. Steinacker emphasised the importance of self-care and wellness among healthcare professionals
She urged women to prioritise their health as a foundation for leadership and service.
To be rooted in wellness is to recognise that we cannot pour from an empty cup, that rest, reflection and self-care are not luxurious, but foundations of purpose,” she said.
“When we rise with purpose, grounded in wellness, we are unstoppable. We become innovators, advocates, and changemakers who can transform not only our professions, but the systems that shape health for millions of women and families across Nigeria and beyond.
“Through the partnership with the Women in Healthcare Network, we are working to ensure that your voices, your expertise, and your leadership are at the heart of this transformation. To every young woman in this room, your dreams are valid, your brilliance is needed, and your purpose is bigger than you can imagine.”
Also speaking, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a healthcare system that is inclusive, accessible, and driven by wellness, empathy, and innovation.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Special Adviser, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, praised women healthcare professionals for their transformative impact, 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.