Your Excellency, the First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Buhari; Chairman, Mrs. Selina Akunna Enyioha; Secretary Mrs Mary Ebedi; Mr Samuel Leda Madaki; Alhaji Jalal A. Arabi; Aishatu Gambo Jakada; Executive Members of the State House Nurse Cooperative Housing Estate Society Ltd, Ladies and Gentlemen. I would like to express my sincere thanks for the gracious invitation to join you today as Her Excellency, the First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Buhari, performs the foundation laying ceremony. It is with deep regret that I am unable to attend and must instead send my apologies and this goodwill message. 

All our good wishes and thanks must go to the nurses from the State House Medical Centre, the National Hospital Abuja and professional colleagues practicing in Britain and the USA, as well as members of Staff of the State House, whose contributions went towards the purchase of this land. 

The Federal Government is also to be highly commended for the provision of housing for nurses and medical workers, and I hope that this laudable step will be replicated by State Governments across the nation. There can be no doubting the great and urgent need for housing, as our housing deficit lies at 17 million. 

I have advocated for midwives and frontline health workers as the key to improved health outcomes for decades and continue to do so in my role as the Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives. The supply of good quality and affordable housing for health workers is fundamental to solving the issue of the density of nurses, midwives and doctors in Nigeria, which according to the World Health Organization is still too low for essential health services to be effectively delivered. 

The motto of the State House Nurse Cooperative Housing Estate Society Ltd – Good Housing, Good Health! – is most appropriate, and as I commend this initiative I must also pay tribute to all those here today who keep Nigerians safe and in good health. Please accept my blessings on this momentous day and all good wishes for the future of this housing estate.