President Bola Tinubu has approved automatic employment for all 774 Fellows of the National Health Fellowship (NHF) upon completion of their program.
Tinubu made the announcement on Thursday during the presidential launch of the program in Abuja.
Addressing the young fellows assigned to monitor Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across all 774 local government areas, he declared, “You are hired.”
The President stressed the program’s role in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system, describing it as a vital pillar of national development.
“This programme is designed to expose you to best practices and equip you with the knowledge and skills to transform the sector,” he stated. “Healthcare is critical to national prosperity—no country can thrive if its people are unhealthy. Sustainable development is only possible with a strong healthcare system, and you are the pillars.”
His announcement followed an appeal by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, who urged federal, state, and local governments to integrate the fellows into the workforce to support universal health coverage.
The National Health Fellows Scheme aims to drive innovation and meaningful change in the sector. The fellows were selected through a merit-based process from over 359,000 applicants.
The initiative is a key component of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to revitalise Nigeria’s primary healthcare system.
