COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 21ST
NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE AND SCIENTIFIC UPDATE (NAPCON) OF THE
UNIVERSITY GRADUATES OF NURSING SCIENCE ASSOCIATION (UGONSA) HELD AT NURSES’
HOUSE, IGBATORO ROAD, AKURE, ONDO STATE, FROM OCTOBER 9TH TO OCTOBER 13TH,
2024.
Tag: Consolidation Summit
Theme: Innovative
Approaches towards Managing Nurses’ Emigration: What are the Unexplored
Paradigms?
Preamble
UGONSA greatly appreciates all our invited dignitaries that graced the official opening ceremony of the conference, notably, the chief guest of honour – His Excellency, Lucky O. Aiyedatiwa, the Executive Governor of Ondo State ably represented by the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the Governor on Health, Prof. Michael Odimayo; the Special guest of honour – Dr. Banji A. Ajaka - Hon. Commissioner of Health, Ondo State; Special guests - Board Members, Ondo State Hospital Management Board; Important invitee - Hon. (Nurse) Adamolekun Arinola, full-time Board Member of Ondo State Hospital Management Board; the Keynote Speaker, Prof. Omolola O. Irinoye – the Vice Chancellor of Achievers’ University, Ondo State; the Esteemed guest of honour, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (N&MCN) Alh. Dr. Ndagi Alhassan ably represented by the Ondo State N&MCN’s Zonal Officer, Nr. Olowofila Joshua; The Father of the Event, Comrade Michael Nnachi, The National President of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) ably represented by comrade Chidi Aligwe; Mother of the Event, and Nr. Franca Okafor (GANV), Director of Nursing Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja. Others were Mrs. Mary Aliu (The Director of Nursing Services, Ondo State); the Ondo State NANNM Chairman, Comrade Orobode Felix; and our main partner, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director, Ondo State office, Dr Sunday Dele David, ably represented by Dr. Ibraheem Adebayo. The association is also very thankful to the Government and the good people of Ondo State for providing a peaceful atmosphere for our 21st National Professional Conference and Scientific Update and to the Ondo State UGONSA State Administrative Council (SAC) Members, Local Organizational Committee (LOC) members, ably led by the Chairperson Mrs Olubunmi Jaiyeola and other members of Ondo State UGONSA for a well-organized hosting. Above all, the association is thankful to God Almighty for the safety granted to all the participants from different States to and fro the conference, and for His abundant grace throughout the conference.
The opening ceremony
The opening ceremony was held on Wednesday, October
9, 2024 in a well-decorated auditorium filled with participants from different
States and other invited guests, and the flag-off of the event was done by
the chief guest of honour – His Excellency, Lucky O. Aiyedatiwa, the
Executive Governor of Ondo State, ably represented by the Senior Special
Adviser (SSA) to the Governor on Health, Prof. Michael Odimayo. The event was
chaired by Nr. Opeyemi Ojo, UGONSA National President. All the dignitaries
presented goodwill messages to the association.
Publications
Book of Abstracts of the 21st
UGONSA Conference; and a press statement on nurses’ emigration vis-à-vis
advising the Nigerian federal government on curbing healthcare workers' emigration
and management of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) were among the key
conference publications.
Awards
Grand Ambassador of Nightingalic Virtues
(GANV) was awarded to five nurses (two University Dons and three past national
executive members of UGONSA), namely, Prof. Omolola O. Irinoye - the Vice
Chancellor of Achievers’ University and Prof. Ijeoma Ehiemere from University
of Nigeria (UNN) Enugu – the Editor –in – Chief of The Nursing Scope Journal. These two notable university Dons
contributed immensely to the growth and advancement of Nursing Education in
Nigeria and to the success of The Nursing
Scope Journal. Others were, Chief
(Hon.) Solomon E. O. Egwuenu - the immediate past National President of UGONSA,
Dr, Goodluck I. Nshi – the immediate past National General Secretary of UGONSA,
and Nr. Afoi Barry Baidy, the Immediate past National PRO and current Deputy National
President, Northern zone. The remarkable achievements of their tenure was the
registration of the association with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in
2014, revitalization of UGONSA Journal, The
Nursing Scope, and assurance of wide recognition and acceptance of UGONSA
in all the Universities in the country, initiation of the online membership
registration and data-base for the association. Their dogged dedication,
sacrifices, and selfless services, in conjunction with other notable
stakeholders in Nursing, saw to the realization of Internship for University Graduates
of Nursing degree holders and approval of Enhanced Entry Point for nurses with
B.N.Sc. Degree by the National Council on Establishment (NCE). GANV is the
highest award grantable to Nurses for distinguished services and outstanding
impact in advancing the collective aspiration of the Nursing Profession. All
the five awardees were also inducted into the prestigious Nursing Hall of Fame.
Proceedings
Those whose abstracts were accepted by the Abstract
Review Committee and listed for presentation, and who met the set criteria for
presentation were scheduled for presentation. While General Congress was on
Friday, October 11, 2024 co-presided over by Chief (Hon.) Solomom E. O. Egwuenu
and Nr. Opeyemi Ojo. The proceedings of the general congress of 20th
NAPCON held at Abakaliki 2022 was presented. The Conference aimed at
consolidating on the milestone achievements of the profession over the past ten
years, address Nurses’ Emigration and high incidence of Non-Communicable
Diseases.
Congress and Resolutions
1.
The Congress-in-Session adopted all the resolutions of the 20th
NAPCON Congress as presented
2.
The congress-in-session observed a minute of silence in honour of late
Nr. Onwusonye, Chioma Ume
(Ex-Officio Member) who died on November 27, 2023, and was buried on the 23rd
February, 2024 at her home town in Abia State.
3.
The congress-in-session congratulated
the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (N&MCN) under the leadership
of the former Registrar/CEO Alh. Faruk Umar Abubakar (Ph.D.) for approving 3 Continuing
Educational Units (3CEUs) for renewal of License for our 2024 NAPCON.
4.
UGONSA congratulates Mr.
Ndagi Alhassan for his emergence as the Acting Register/CEO of the Council and
urged him to eliminate every bottleneck hindering seamless verification of nurses’
certificate(s) by reverting to the old guidelines of Certificate(s)
verification.
5.
The congress-in-session appreciated Comrade Michael Nnachi Ekuma, the
National President of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives
(NANNM) (represented by Comrade Chidi Aligwe) for gracing our 2024 NAPCON, and
wished him and his team success in the forthcoming NANNM election, which he
seeks re-election.
6.
The congress-in-session appreciated the World Health Organization (WHO) for
their participation in our conference and urged the body to collaborate with
UGONSA for further capacity building of UGONSA members/Nurses for health
manpower improvement in Nigeria. The association strongly advised/advocated for
initiation of “Nurse Led Management of Non-Communicable Diseases to reduce the incidence of NCDs in the Country,
and called for institution of Nurse Led
Health Facility Policy immediately, taking into consideration the
Nigerian peculiarities.
7.
The congress-in-session urged Nigerian nurses and Nurse Leaders at all
levels to consolidate unity of the profession in order to achieve professional
growth.
8.
The congress-in-session called for integration of evidence-based research
into the clinical practice and create specialty practice concept anchored on
research in order to continue to improve the quality of nursing care provided to
the health service consumers.
9.
The congress-in-session called on the Nurses in Academics, Nurse
Administrators, Researchers, Nurse Clinicians, N&MCN, NANNM, and other
relevant Stakeholders to collaborate in policy formulation to improve and make
Nursing profession in Nigeria better.
10. The
congress-in-session advised the federal government to be kind to Nurses in
Academics/trainers and those in the clinical areas, and upgrade their welfare
packages to the level comparable with their counterparts overseas so as to
retain them in Nigeria to improve healthcare workforce.
11. In view of the
approved Enhanced Entry Point (proper placement) for university graduate nurses
by the National Council on Establishment, and the subsequent exemption of House
Officers and all Interns from Public Service Scheme of Service, the
congress-in-session agreed to work with the federal ministry of health to
propose and ensure a central and equal placement of all interns for their one
year internship service. And place all B.N.Sc. degree holders on Salary Grade
Level 10 (SGL-10) (C0NHESS 9 step 2), post NYSC, in the civil service. The
congress equally urged the Ministry and advocated that academic qualifications
(Ph.D, M.Sc., & B.N.Sc.) should be paramount consideration on Nurses’
placement and promotions. The congress reasoned that differentiated nursing
will motivate nurses to continually upgrade and update their skills, knowledge
and competence which will invariably add qualitative value to nursing services.
12. The congress-in-session
frowned at the continuous engagement of qualified nurses as Locum staff by the management of some health facilities, and advised that such practices should
stop forthwith. Congress demanded the appointment of all qualified and licensed
Nurses on a permanent basis according to labour laws and civil service rules. Congress
noted that it beggars belief that the government cry that there are shortages of
nurses in Nigeria, yet most of the available nurses have no guaranteed employment and
many that are engaged are appointed as locum.
13. The congress-in-session
urged the Government to look beyond minimum wage consequential adjustment and
embrace a more holistic approach towards managing nurses’ emigration as
contained in our press statement titled “Nurses to FG: The Solution to Nurses’
Emigration Brain Drain is Easy” that was published in National dailies, our
news website (https://www.ugonsa.com/2024/10/nurses-to-fg-solution-to-nurses.html), nairaland online
platform and others.
14.
The congress-in-session equally frowned at the spiralling inflation on
food items, skyrocketing electric tariff, and the burgeoning Premium Motor
Spirit (PMS) pump price hike which has impacted the lives of the citizens negatively
and called on the government to address the issues immediately by reviewing the
price of the product downward. The congress also advised the government to make
haste in revamping the local petrol refineries, strengthening security so that
farmers can go back to farms, and remove tariffs on essential commodities and
food items to cushion the suffering of the masse.
15.
The congress-in-session received reports from Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Akwa
Ibom States during the congress. The congress advised all State chapters to
employ lobbying strategy to drive home and achieve their demands from
management and government parastatals in their States.
16.
Congress advised that the President should convoke a stakeholder’s meeting
as soon as possible after the conference to reflect on the just concluded
conference in order to address all the challenges encountered in order to chart
a way forward. Congress-in-session also advised that the association should
pursue and strengthen their collaborations with international organizations to
derive benefits for her members
17.
Congress recommended that henceforth, all the NAC/NEC members should
arrive at the hosting states two days before the official opening to ensure
that necessary modalities are in place before the arrival of other
participants.
18.
The vote of thanks to the host state was offered by Akwa Ibom State
Chairperson, Mrs. Ukpe, Enoh, while the motion for adjournment was moved by Dr.
Chijioke O. Nwodoh and seconded by Dr. (Mrs.) Aina, Folasade O.
19. The next UGONSA NAPCON
was zoned to the Northern Zone, and to be hosted by Nasarawa State in 2025.
COMMUNIQUE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Nr. Eteng,
Philip Okori - - National
General Secretary
Dr. Chijioke
Oliver Nwodoh - - Deputy National
President/Eastern Zone President
Nr. Adewale Kola
- - - Assistant
National Secretary, Western Zone
Nr. Ugo, Francis
N. - - - State
Secretary, Ebonyi State
Nr. Lucy Ogor- - -
- State Secretary, Enugu State
Nurse
Ojo Opeyemi
Nurse Philip O. Eteng
National President National
Secretary
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