By Our Reporter
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Barely two months after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu launched the National Health Fellows (NHF) programme—deploying one fellow to each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas—the initiative is gaining nationwide momentum as part of the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate has said.
Disclosing this on his X account handle on Sunday, Pate said the NHF programme, a flagship of the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), is designed to strengthen primary healthcare through youth leadership, data-driven decision-making, and sustainable human capital development.
As of April 30th, 2025, 73.61% of all planned learning modules in leadership, public health, and data analytics have been completed by the fellows, with asynchronous training supported by live sessions to reinforce practical application. The initiative is coordinated by the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Secretariat and is steadily integrating young professionals into local health governance structures.
He further stated that to enhance learning outcomes, each fellow is matched with one of 155 seasoned mentors from across the health sector. By the end of April, over 2,145 structured mentoring sessions had taken place, alongside more than 6,000 follow-up calls aimed at addressing challenges and maintaining programme responsiveness.
The Minister highlighted that the programme has been embraced by key stakeholders, including State Commissioners for Health, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), and traditional leaders, who have helped ensure fellows are fully embedded in their communities.
With the fellowship now transitioning to its next phase, attention is turning to capstone projects. Fellows are already identifying local health challenges and co-developing innovative solutions with stakeholders, pointing to the rise of a new generation of public health champions.
As the initiative progresses, the health sector remains committed to delivering on President Tinubu’s vision by equipping these fellows to reshape Nigeria’s health system from the grassroots up, Pate added.
