Experts and traditional leaders have called on the Federal Government to formally recognise, train and coordinate indigenous midwives, warning against attempts to abolish their practice in the name of modernisation.
The call was made during an X Space organised by the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) on Friday as part of activities marking World Indigenous Peoples Day 2026.
Speaking on the theme, “Celebrating Indigenous Midwives: Preserving Abuja Original Inhabitants Identity in a Changing World,” the speakers stressed that indigenous midwives continue to play an important role in communities where formal healthcare facilities are overstretched.
HRM Ayedoo Gloria Luka, professional nurse, medical practitioner and Queen of Kwali, said indigenous midwifery should not be abolished but strengthened through formal recognition, capacity building and collaboration with the formal healthcare system.
She noted that many local women feel safer using indigenous midwives because of language, cultural familiarity and affordability. However, she stressed the need to train them to identify danger signs, understand their limitations and make timely referrals in emergency situations.
Luka, the Queen of Kwali also called for greater involvement of traditional rulers and other stakeholders in strengthening safe motherhood practices and ensuring that indigenous midwives receive the support and cultural respect they deserve.
Also speaking, Prof. Matthew Sunday Dada, Director of the Centre for Indigenous Studies and Community Development, University of Abuja, emphasised the need for research to identify the gaps and challenges confronting indigenous midwifery.
Prof. Dada expressed concern over reported cases of rejection of referrals from indigenous midwives by some professional health workers, stressing that proper engagement, coordination and collaboration—not rejection—would provide a better solution.
He said research findings could help government develop practical policies to guide the practice, preserve indigenous knowledge and ensure its responsible transfer to future generations.
Similarly, Hon. Dr. Rifkatu Adamu Chidawa, retired educator and former Commissioner for Tourism in Niger State, said indigenous midwifery remains an important part of Nigeria’s cultural heritage and should be preserved through training, skills development and proper documentation.
She called for proper documentation, a comprehensive database of indigenous midwives to establish their numbers, locations and other relevant demographic information. She also urged stakeholders to create greater public awareness about their activities while clearly defining the limits of their practice.
The speakers agreed that indigenous midwives can complement Nigeria’s overstretched healthcare system if they are properly organised, trained, monitored and integrated into relevant health interventions.
The X Space forms part of activities leading to the World Indigenous Peoples Day 2026 celebration scheduled to take place on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the University of Abuja, New Site.
The event is organised by CHRICED in partnership with the University of Abuja and Abuja Original Inhabitant Organisations, with support from the MacArthur Foundation.
The X Space was highly engaging, with participants from across the country interacting with the speakers. Participants broadly agreed on the important role indigenous midwives can play in complementing formal healthcare services and addressing Nigeria’s maternal and child mortality challenges.
