About NISONM

Our History

Founded by passionately committed neonatal paediatricians, NISONM has spent over a decade advancing policies, practice, and partnerships that improve outcomes for every Nigerian newborn.

Driving Purpose Behind Every Action

NISONM was borne out of the need to commit technical skills to strengthening the implementation process of reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality in Nigeria.

01
Our Vision

Be a Key Player

To be recognised as a key player in reducing Maternal and Neonatal mortality rates in Nigeria.

02
Our Mission

Accelerate Reduction

Consistently contribute to accelerating the reduction of newborn mortality rates in Nigeria — one community, one hospital, one newborn at a time.

From Inception to National Impact

What began as a gathering of concerned neonatal physicians has grown into Nigeria's foremost society for newborn health.

June 2008

Inaugural Meeting — Chida International Hotel, Abuja

60 participants gathered at Utako, Abuja: neonatal physicians, paediatric residents, nurses, and other health workers from across Nigeria. NISONM was formally constituted with a founding executive.

2008 – 2010

Policy Review & Awareness Creation

As key stakeholders in newborn health, NISONM members played key roles in the review of policy documents relating to newborn care — creating awareness on maternal and newborn health status and identifying factors that impact newborn survival.

2009

National Situation Analysis & Action Plan

Facilitated production of the Situation Analysis and Action Plan for Newborn Health in Nigeria, launched by the then First Lady of the Federal Republic as part of the IMNCH strategy.

Ongoing

Annual General & Scientific Meetings (AGSM)

NISONM holds annual meetings that bring together specialists, researchers, and policymakers — building partnerships and linkages that strengthen newborn care at every level of Nigeria's health system.

A Five-Pillar Approach

NISONM's work is built on five strategic pillars that together create sustainable, measurable change for Nigerian newborns.

Advocacy
Amplifying the voices of neonatologists in government policy spaces, driving legislation and budget allocation for newborn health.
Social Mobilisation
Engaging communities, families, and frontline health workers to raise awareness and demand for quality newborn care.
Capacity Building
Training neonatologists, nurses, and healthcare workers through CME workshops, mentoring schemes, and the Essential Newborn Care Course.
Best Practices
Developing and disseminating evidence-based guidelines, consensus statements, and clinical protocols across all levels of care.
Partnerships
Collaborating with PAN, UNICEF, WHO, FMOH, and international partners to leverage resources and amplify impact for Nigerian newborns.
Measurable Impact
Over two decades, these pillars have delivered policy change, clinical breakthroughs, and community-level improvements across all 36 states.

Annual General & Scientific Meetings

NISONM has become well-poised as advocates and a beacon of care and support — building partnerships and linkages for the survival of every Nigerian newborn. This commitment is reinforced and celebrated at our AGSM, held annually to bring together Nigeria's leading voices in neonatal medicine.

Founding Executive Members

These distinguished individuals constituted NISONM's inaugural executive at the June 2008 meeting in Abuja.

RO
Professor Raphael Oruamabo
President
MI
Professor Mukthar Ibrahim
Vice President
CE
Professor Chinyere Ezeaka
Secretary
NI
Dr Nnena Ihebuzor
Assistant Secretary
AO
Professor Angela Okolo
NISONM Advisor
MM
Dr Myria Muktar
Treasurer
BI
Dr Bede Ibe
Ex Officio
WO
Prof William Ogala
Ex Officio

Partnerships That Multiply Impact

NISONM does not work in isolation. Our strategic relationships extend our reach and deepen the quality of newborn care across Nigeria.

Parent Body

Relationship With PAN

Our relationship with the parent body, Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), has been cordial — demonstrated by the PAN-NISONM collaboration with MCSP on the Essential Newborn Care Course (ENCC).

This collaboration has equipped hundreds of healthcare providers across Nigeria with the skills needed to deliver quality essential newborn care at the point of birth.

Quality Improvement

PAN/NISONM Mentoring Scheme

The mentoring scheme is a key PAN/NISONM initiative to improve the coverage and quality of MNCH services at facility level.

  • Strengthens primary and secondary health facilities in underserved areas.
  • Monthly supportive supervision visits to improve service quality.
  • Focused on sustainable, measurable improvements in newborn care delivery.

Be Part of the Story

Join over 850 neonatologists, paediatricians, and newborn health advocates who are writing the next chapter of neonatal medicine in Nigeria.

Join NISONM Meet Our Executives