By Our Correspondent
ABEOKUTA — Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has called on traditional, mission and community-based birth attendants to embrace best practices and shun harmful or outdated procedures in order to reduce preventable maternal and neonatal deaths across the state.
Speaking at the 2025 Annual Birth Attendants’ Conference held on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, the Governor described the gathering as a critical platform for strengthening grassroots healthcare delivery, especially in rural and underserved communities where birth attendants remain the first point of contact for many expectant mothers.
The conference, organised by the Ogun State Alternate Medicine Board, was held under the theme “The Role of Birth Attendants in Safe Deliveries.” Governor Abiodun commended the leadership of the Board, particularly its Chairman, Balogun Nurudeen Olaleye, for sustaining the initiative and aligning its activities with the state’s healthcare development agenda.
He stressed that pregnancy and childbirth require skill, discipline and sound judgment, noting that birth attendants occupy a central place in safeguarding the lives of mothers and newborns. According to him, continuous training and retraining are indispensable for equipping practitioners with modern skills, ethical standards and the confidence needed to deliver safe maternal care.
The Governor, however, warned against practices that endanger lives, declaring that no individual or group would be allowed to operate under the guise of tradition to perpetrate harmful or illegal activities.
“Our culture, as Yoruba people, is grounded in the values of Omoluabi — integrity, diligence, patience and respect for human life,” he said, quoting the popular adage, “Ìṣẹ̀ l’ọ̀gún ìṣẹ̀; ìṣẹ̀ là fi ń di ẹni gíga,” to emphasise the importance of hard work and good character in professional conduct.
Prince Abiodun noted that since the inauguration of the Ogun State Alternate Medicine Board in 2020, the government had consistently supported initiatives aimed at strengthening community-based and alternative healthcare, while maintaining firm standards of safety, professionalism and legality.
He disclosed that feedback and reports from previous conferences indicated encouraging outcomes, with noticeable improvements in maternal and neonatal health indicators across the state, attributing the progress to sustained training, collaboration and stronger regulatory frameworks.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment under the “Building Our Future Together” agenda to strengthen community healthcare systems, equip frontline health workers, deepen partnerships with key stakeholders and expand opportunities for continuous professional development for birth attendants.
“Our goal is clear: to make Ogun State one of the safest places to give birth in Nigeria,” he declared.
He reminded participants that their responsibility went beyond technical competence, describing them as “guardians of life at its most delicate moment,” and urged them to carry out their duties with pride, discipline and deep respect for humanity.
The conference attracted traditional birth attendants, faith-based midwives, community health practitioners and other stakeholders from across the state.
Governor Abiodun formally declared the 2025 Annual Birth Attendants’ Conference open and called for collective commitment to protecting lives and ensuring that no mother or child is lost to preventable causes in Ogun State.
He concluded the event with the state’s rallying call: “Ìgbégà Ìpínlẹ̀ Ogun, Àjọṣe Gbogbo Wa Ní.”
