By Ojoma Akor
Over 150,000 applicants from across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) have applied for the National Health Fellows Program (NHF) 2.0.
The SWAp Coordination Office under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare disclosed this during the announcement of the commencement of the final interview stage of the NHF 2.0.
The National Health Fellowship program is a flagship initiative that provides a unique opportunity for a new generation of health system leaders, one from each LGA, to learn, observe, and actively participate in Nigeria’s ongoing health sector-wide reform.
The statement said the selection process has been thorough, inclusive, and merit-based, beginning with digital screening tools to optimize fairness and efficiency, followed by multiple layers of rigorous shortlisting.
It said, ” Now, the top-performing candidates are set to undergo in-person interviews in their respective states. Each state-level interview panel is composed of representatives from:
World Health Organisation (WHO) State Coordinator (Chair)
State Ministry of Health
State Primary Health Care Development Agency
Representative of the Academia
ALGON Chair per state
Representative of Traditional Leaders
SWAp Desk Officer (Secretary)
This multi-stakeholder structure reflects Nigeria’s firm commitment to equity, transparency, and inclusive governance in health leadership development.
According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, “This process is part of our nation-building. We commend the extraordinary interest shown by young Nigerians and reaffirm our commitment to fairness, transparency, and excellence. We look forward to meeting and empowering the finest candidates from each LGA, who will help drive the transformation of our health system.”
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said, “What we are witnessing through this program is a new model of talent discovery and human capital development for the health sector. It is encouraging to see so many young Nigerians rise to the call to serve. The integrity of this process will ensure that only the most committed are selected to lead change from the grassroots.”
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Kachollom S. Daju, said the program is helping to institutionalize a culture of transparency and excellence within our public service recruitment processes.
She said, “The Fellows we select will not only support health delivery—they represent the values and future we are building across the entire system.”
After the interviews, selected Fellows will proceed to a residential national training in Abuja, after which they will be deployed to their LGAs to champion innovation, accountability, and community-driven health interventions.
