President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday charged young participants of the Federal Government’s National Health Fellowship Programme to serve the country with honour, humility and courage, assuring them of structured career support under his administration.
The President gave the charge in Abuja at the first National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit on Health, where he described the Fellows as critical drivers of the Renewed National Health Alliance.
The National Health Fellows, selected from each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, are currently in their second cohort. The initiative, championed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, is designed to strengthen healthcare delivery nationwide.
Addressing the Fellows, President Tinubu expressed confidence in the nation’s youth, stating that their performance reflects a promising future for Nigeria. He commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, state governments and development partners for sustaining the programme.
“We are working to secure your career paths through the federal structure and support from development partners,” the President said, noting that the Minister of Health and Social Welfare had requested state governments to organise befitting graduation ceremonies for the Fellows upon completion of their programme.
He urged the participants to uphold altruism in service, describing the Fellowship as a reflection of a “new Nigeria” where merit and competence enable young people to reach their full potential.
President Tinubu also called on the Fellows to collaborate closely with traditional and religious leaders to enhance service delivery at the community level.
“You are the operational backbone of this national health alliance. Bring structure where systems are weak, data where decisions lack clarity, and energy where communities seek hope,” he said, describing them as the youthful force behind Nigeria’s health transformation.
The President further appealed to traditional and religious leaders to support the government’s push towards universal health coverage, emphasising hope as a central pillar of his administration’s agenda.
Reaffirming his government’s resolve to tackle insecurity, he assured Nigerians that the country would ultimately prevail in the fight against security challenges.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Ali Pate, thanked the President for his policy leadership and presented the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report at the summit. He noted that the report formed the basis of discussions at the event, which drew Christian and Muslim leaders for broad-based engagement.
The Minister commended federal and state governments for advancing the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and promoting inclusiveness through the Health Sector Compact.
The summit attracted traditional rulers and religious leaders from the six geopolitical zones, including the Ooni of Ife, Olu of Warri, Emir of Zazzau and the Tor Tiv, among others.
Also in attendance were leaders of major faith bodies, including the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria and representatives of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, who pledged to champion community healthcare coverage within their constituencies.
