 across Nigeria under the newly launched National Health Fellows Programme.){kind=link}
The Federal Government has announced plans to deploy 774 selected individuals to Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Nigeria under the newly launched National Health Fellows Programme.
The initiative, designed to strengthen health management functions and deliver essential development roles, aims to improve health outcomes across the country.
The programme, unveiled by the Federal Ministry of Health, falls under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative/ Sector Wide Approach (NHSRII/SWAp).
Its primary goal is to nurture a new generation of healthcare leaders through targeted capacity building, professional development, and hands-on experience.
Professor Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, emphasized that the fellowship is open to Nigerian professionals from a range of fields, including health, information technology, and social sciences.
“This programme will unite emerging professionals from diverse disciplines, contributing to the country’s health development,” Pate stated.
Dr. Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, the National Coordinator of NHSRII/SWAp, clarified that the fellowship does not aim to address the migration of healthcare workers. Instead, the fellows will focus on supporting management functions and enhancing critical development roles in the health sector, rather than working as clinical staff in health facilities.
“The fellowship will involve the recruitment, training, and mentorship of 774 fellows, with one fellow assigned to each local government area,” explained Dr. Umar-Sadiq.
“Our goal is to cultivate a new generation of leaders in public health and development, contributing both locally and globally to health progress.”
Although the exact stipend for the fellows is yet to be finalized, Dr. Umar-Sadiq indicated that it would align with the national minimum wage. Fellows will also be provided with tools and resources to enhance their productivity during their tenure.