The Kogi State Ministry of Health has warmly welcomed the National Executives of the Fellowship of Christian Nurses of Nigeria (FCNN) during a courtesy visit ahead of their 2025 Annual National Conference, which the state will host for the third time.
The delegation was received by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Stephen Momoh, who represented the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adams Abdulazeez. Also in attendance were Directors from key departments, including Administration, Nursing, Finance, and Planning, Research and Statistics, along with other senior officials.
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner, Mr. Momoh praised the Fellowship for its dual commitment to professional nursing excellence and spiritual care. He expressed pride in the state’s nursing workforce, led by the Director of Nursing, Mrs. Martina Oguche, whom he commended for exemplary leadership. He assured the visitors that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administration remains committed to improving the welfare of nurses and strengthening healthcare delivery across the state.
Highlighting the government’s ongoing healthcare projects, the Commissioner revealed that construction is underway for about 70 new primary healthcare centres spread across Kogi State as part of a long-term strategy to ensure accessible and quality healthcare for all citizens.
The courtesy visit coincided with preparations for the Fellowship’s Annual National Conference, themed “Making Presence Count in Nursing Practice” (Luke 10:33), reflecting the organisation’s mission to care for the “total man — spirit, soul, and body” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The event, scheduled to run from Tuesday, August 12, 2025, to Friday, August 15, 2025, will take place at Knowledge of Truth Ministry, Lokoja, bringing together nursing professionals from across Nigeria for a blend of professional training and spiritual renewal.
National President of the Fellowship, Evangelist Abalis Dasat, appreciated the Ministry for hosting the delegation and for supporting the conference. He emphasised the Fellowship’s interest in government policies, particularly those relating to maternal and child healthcare, and expressed concern about the link between poverty and health challenges in the current economic climate. He commended the state government’s interventions in tackling health issues, describing them as timely and impactful.
Kogi State Zonal President, Maha Benjamin, appealed to the state government to recruit more nurses in line with the World Health Organisation’s recommendation of one nurse to every eight patients. She explained that the conference will include a rich programme of activities such as seminars, career talks, counselling sessions, spiritual programmes, and entertainment, all designed to strengthen nurses’ competence and compassion.
In her remarks, Mrs. Martina Oguche, Director of Nursing in the Ministry, described the conference as a “life-transforming experience” for nurses, promising that it would inspire greater compassion in caregiving and elevate professional standards in the state. She prayed that the visiting delegates’ stay in Kogi would be enriching and memorable.
Also present at the meeting were other members of the National Executive, including Rev. Fali Wajauba (National Vice President), Mrs. Martha Kolo (National Treasurer), Mr. Shadrach Hammayaji (National Auditor), Mr. Joshua Maigandi (National Prayer Coordinator), Dr. Peter Elisha Maji (Executive Director), Pastor Anthony Ojie (Director of Training), and Elder Lazarus Ekpenyong (Calabar Liaison Officer).
Delivering the vote of thanks, Mr. Johnson Aiyedogbon, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, commended the Fellowship’s vision and reiterated the Ministry’s readiness to collaborate on initiatives that will improve healthcare service delivery in Kogi State.
