The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through its Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), has officially inaugurated the FCT National Health Fellows Selection Committee. This move aligns with the Federal Government’s initiative to recruit Health Fellows across Nigeria under the National Health Fellows Programme, spearheaded by the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative/Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) within the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The program aims to cultivate a new cadre of healthcare leaders through strategic capacity building, professional development, and hands-on fieldwork, engaging young Nigerian fellows from all 774 Local Government Areas.
At the committee’s inauguration, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, the Mandate Secretary of HSES, underscored the initiative as a strategic investment in human resources for health. “This programme is part of the Human Capital Opportunity for Prosperity and Equity Programme, designed to recruit talented youths and early-career professionals as vanguards of the health sector,” she stated in a release by her Special Adviser on Media, Bola Ajao.
Dr. Fasawe highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to upgrading and establishing new Primary Health Care centres nationwide, aligning with FCT Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike’s vision for a robust healthcare system in Abuja. She explained that the fellows would be pivotal in managing these facilities, providing feedback, and executing other essential tasks to improve national healthcare.
She called on the committee members to ensure a diligent, fair, and impartial selection process. “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 statement detailed.
Baba Gana Adam, the Permanent Secretary of HSES and Vice Chairman of the committee, praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its dedication to enhancing the health sector. He thanked the FCTA for the opportunity to contribute to the push towards Universal Health Coverage and tackling the health challenges in FCT and across Nigeria.
Dr. Kumshida Yakubu Balami, the FCT State Coordinator for the World Health Organisation, elaborated on the program’s structure under the SWAp Secretariat. She noted that the WHO’s guidelines include forming a seven-member National Health Fellows Selection Committee, a requirement the FCTA has met. This committee, which includes members like Dan Gadzama, Teresa Nwachukwu, Aderonke Akande, Maimuna Abdullahi, and Danladi Chiya, will manage the selection process, screen candidates, and forward a semi-final list to the SWAp Coordinator’s office.
“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,” the statement concluded.