NANNM Congratulates UBTH First Female CMD, Seeks Stronger Partnership

By Rosemary Okoduwa

The Edo State Chapter of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has called for stronger collaboration with the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) to promote continuous training and professional development of nurses.

The association made the call on Thursday, September 10, 2026, when its leadership paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, to congratulate her on her appointment as the first female to head the tertiary health institution.

The NANNM Edo State Chairman, Comrade Otaigbe Stella, who led the delegation, said the association was willing to deepen its partnership with the hospital through sponsorship, training and retraining programmes aimed at strengthening nursing practice and improving healthcare delivery.

Otaigbe who was accompanied on the visit by Comrades Julius Emasalumen, Esan Stella and Patrick Esangbedo, described Prof. Ize-Iyamu as a goal-getter and role model whose achievement would inspire generations of nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Receiving the delegation alongside members of the hospital’s management team, Prof. Ize-Iyamu expressed appreciation to NANNM for the visit and congratulatory gesture. She emphasised the importance of collaboration among healthcare professionals and stakeholders in advancing quality patient care and strengthening the capacity of health workers.

The CMD noted that continuous professional development remained essential to maintaining high standards of clinical practice and ensuring better outcomes for patients.
The visit also provided an opportunity for NANNM and the hospital management to discuss areas of mutual support and partnership, particularly in human capacity development.

NANNM is a professional and trade union organisation recognised under the Trade Unions (Amendment) Act of 2005. It represents trained, registered and licensed nurses and midwives working across Nigeria’s primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare sectors in both public and private institutions.