FCT inaugurates national health fellows selection committee

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through its Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), has inaugurated the FCT National Health Fellows Selection Committee.

This initiative aligns with the Federal Government of Nigeria’s efforts to recruit Health Fellows nationwide.

In January 2025, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, announced that President Bola Tinubu had approved and established the National Health Fellows Programme.

This programme aims to engage young Nigerian fellows across all 774 Local Government Areas through a sector-wide approach.

Speaking at the inauguration of the committee in her office, the Mandate Secretary of HSES, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, emphasized that the initiative is a strategic investment in human resources for health.

She described it as part of the Human Capital Opportunity for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Programme, designed to recruit talented youth and early-career professionals as vanguards of the health sector.

Dr. Fasawe emphasized the Federal Government’s continued efforts to upgrade existing Primary Health Care (PHC) centers and establish new ones across the country.

She added that this initiative aligns with the FCT Administration’s commitment, under the leadership of His Excellency, Bar. Nyesom Wike, to provide a strong and functional healthcare system for the people of Abuja.

She further stated that the newly recruited fellows would play a vital role in overseeing activities at these facilities, offering feedback to the government, and performing other key tasks to enhance the nation’s healthcare.

The Mandate Secretary also urged committee members to be diligent, fair, and impartial in the selection process to ensure that only the most qualified candidates are chosen.

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The selected fellows will undergo training in leadership, public health, financial management, problem-solving, and monitoring and evaluation, all aimed at achieving the objectives of the initiative.

The Permanent Secretary of HSES, Dr. Baba Gana Adam, who serves as the Vice Chairman of the committee, commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its commitment to improving the health sector.

He also expressed gratitude to the FCT Administration for the opportunity to contribute to efforts toward achieving Universal Health Coverage and addressing the health challenges facing both the FCT and the country at large.

Earlier, the FCT State Coordinator for the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Kumshida Yakubu Balami, explained that the programme is housed under the Sector-Wide Action Plan (SWAP) Secretariat in the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

She outlined WHO-issued guidelines to ensure the programme’s smooth coordination. According to Dr. Balami, one of these guidelines mandates the establishment of a seven-member National Health Fellows Selection Committee, a requirement that the FCT has fully complied with.

The committee is responsible for overseeing the entire selection process, screening candidates, and submitting a semi-final list to the SWAP Coordinator’s office.

Members of the committee include Dr. Dan Gadzama, Dr. Teresa Nwachukwu (SWAP desk officer), Dr. Aderonke Akande, Mrs. Maimuna Abdullahi, and Mr. Danladi Chiya.

The inauguration marks a significant step in advancing Nigeria’s healthcare system by fostering a new generation of health leaders and ensuring better healthcare service delivery nationwide.