KWSG Charges Community Midwifery Students on Academic Excellence

…Commends UNFPA Scholarship Initiative.

The Kwara State Government has charged beneficiaries of the Community Midwifery Scholarship Programme to remain dedicated, focused and committed to their studies in order to achieve academic excellence and justify the investment being made in their education.

The Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Mary Ronke Arinde, gave the charge on Wednesday during a monitoring visit to the Kwara State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Ilorin, to assess the progress of students enrolled in the Community Midwifery Programme sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Dr. Arinde disclosed that the state government, in collaboration with UNFPA, has successfully enrolled 100 students under the Community Midwifery Scholarship Programme aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities across the state.

According to her, the initiative is designed to address the shortage of skilled healthcare personnel, improve maternal and child healthcare services and enhance the overall quality of healthcare delivery in Kwara State.

The Commissioner explained that beyond the payment of tuition and other academic fees by UNFPA, each beneficiary of the scholarship programme also receives a monthly stipend of ₦30,000 throughout the duration of their studies to support their welfare and learning needs, urging the students to take advantage of the rare opportunity by demonstrating discipline, diligence and commitment to their academic pursuits.

"This scholarship programme is a major investment in your future and in the future of healthcare delivery in Kwara State. You must remain focused on your studies and strive for excellence in order to encourage our development partners to sustain and expand their support," she said.

Dr. Arinde further commended UNFPA for its continuous partnership with the Kwara State Government in advancing healthcare development and human capital growth across the state.

In her remarks, the Kwara State Focal Person, United Nations Population Fund, Mrs. Gloria Enueze, appreciated the Kwara State Government for providing an enabling environment that has allowed development partners to effectively implement impactful programmes across the State.

Mrs Enueze reiterated the commitment of UNFPA to supporting initiatives that improve access to quality healthcare services, especially in rural and underserved communities, disclosing that the organisation is considering sponsoring more students under the programme in subsequent years as part of efforts to tackle the persistent shortage of healthcare manpower in the state.

She also commended the management of the College of Nursing and Midwifery for its dedication to quality training and capacity building, noting that the institution has continued to produce competent healthcare professionals capable of meeting contemporary health challenges.

Also speaking, the Provost, Kwara State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Ilorin, Dr. Salmat Yusuf, expressed appreciation to the state government and UNFPA for their commitment to the successful implementation of the scholarship programme, describing the monitoring visit as a demonstration of the government's commitment to quality assurance, accountability and effective service delivery within the education and health sectors.

Dr. Yusuf assured stakeholders that the institution would continue to provide high-quality training and mentorship to the students to ensure the realization of the objectives of the Community Midwifery Programme.

The visit formed part of the state government's ongoing monitoring and evaluation efforts aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of development programmes and maximizing their impact on the lives of citizens.

Falade Gbenga Tayo, ANIPR,

Press Secretary,

Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.

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