It is with great honor and optimism that I welcome you to this important gathering held under the theme “Nursing the Future: Workforce, Wellbeing, Sustainability.” This theme speaks directly to the heart of nursing in Africa today and to the responsibility we share in shaping a resilient, empowered, and future-ready nursing workforce.

Nurses form the backbone of our health systems. Across Africa, they are often the first point of contact, the constant presence in care delivery, and the driving force behind community health outcomes. Yet, the challenges facing the profession — workforce shortages, migration, burnout, and underinvestment — demand bold, coordinated, and forward-thinking action.

Our first subtheme, Empowering and Retaining Africa’s Nurses, calls for renewed commitment to creating supportive work environments, strengthening professional development, and recognizing the value of nurses not only as caregivers but as leaders and innovators. Retention is not simply about keeping nurses in the system; it is about enabling them to thrive, grow, and find purpose within it.

Through Investing in Nurses, we acknowledge that sustainable health systems cannot exist without strategic investment in education, skills development, fair remuneration, and safe working conditions. Investment in nursing is an investment in population health, economic growth, and social stability.

The subtheme Shaping Nursing Policy for a Sustainable Future challenges us to ensure that nurses have a strong voice in policy formulation and decision-making. Evidence-informed policies, aligned with local realities and global commitments, are essential to building health systems that are equitable, resilient, and responsive to future needs.

Finally, Leading Change: Policy, Practice, and Healthcare of the Future emphasizes the critical role of nurses as change agents. As healthcare evolves, nurses must be supported to lead innovations in practice, influence policy, and embrace new models of care that prioritize quality, equity, and sustainability.

As Chair, I encourage all participants to engage openly, share experiences, and collaborate across disciplines and borders. The discussions, partnerships, and ideas that emerge from this forum have the potential to shape the future of nursing and healthcare across our continent.

Together, let us commit to nursing the future — by strengthening the workforce, safeguarding wellbeing, and building sustainable systems that serve generations to come