By: Lekan Tajudeen
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated 774 Nigerians, including Yakub Shukurat, a young Nigerian from Ilorin South, Kwara State, as National Health Fellows, urging the young fellows to serve with honour, humility, and courage, assuring them that the government will work to secure their career paths.
The President made this statement on Tuesday, during the first National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit on Health in Abuja, where he described the fellows as the driving force towards achieving the Renewed National Health Alliance.
President Tinubu charged the fellows to work with traditional and religious leaders to ensure effective service delivery, and urged them to bring structures where systems are weak, data where decisions lack clarity, and energy where communities seek hope. He also urged traditional and religious leaders to support government efforts to achieve universal health coverage, emphasizing the importance of hope in achieving this goal.
The President praised the fellows, stating that they are proof that Nigeria’s future is bright, and thanked the ministry, state governments, and partners for keeping the vision alive.
Recalled that Yakub Shukurat, a standout participant in this cohort, was a pioneer ambassador for girls’ education during her service year and is now a fellow of the National Health Fellow Program. A dedicated community development practitioner and patriotic Nigerian, Shukurat was recognized for her exceptional contributions to community development, earning her an award as an outstanding corps member.
Sharing her experience, Shukurat lauded the federal government’s focus on the health sector, particularly at the grassroots level. She highlighted that the government not only provided comprehensive training but also furnished participants with essential resources, including laptops, conducive learning environments, and expert facilitators. ‘This demonstrates President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to prioritizing the people’s welfare,’ she noted.”
The event was attended by traditional rulers and religious leaders from across Nigeria, who committed to championing community healthcare coverage in their spheres of influence.
The National Health Fellows, selected from each of Nigeria’s 774 local governments, through rigorous and systematic process, is part of a programme championed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to boost healthcare delivery nationwide.
