The Federal Government has commenced the final interview stage of the National Health Fellows (NHF) Programme 2.0, a flagship initiative aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s health system by grooming a new generation of leaders drawn from all 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the country.
The final interviews, coordinated by the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Coordination Office under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, are scheduled to begin nationwide on Monday, January 12, 2026, following a highly competitive and transparent selection process that attracted over 150,000 applicants from across the federation.
According to a press release issued by the Communications Desk, SWAp Coordination Office, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Health Fellows Programme is designed to select one fellow from each LGA, providing young professionals the opportunity to learn, observe and actively participate in Nigeria’s ongoing health sector-wide reforms while contributing to improved healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
The selection process, the ministry said, has been thorough, inclusive and merit-based, beginning with an open public call and the deployment of digital screening tools to enhance fairness and efficiency, followed by multiple layers of rigorous shortlisting. The final stage involves in-person interviews conducted in candidates’ respective states.
Each state-level interview panel is composed of representatives of key stakeholders, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) State Coordinator as chair, the State Ministry of Health, State Primary Health Care Development Agency, academia, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), traditional institutions, and the SWAp Desk Officer serving as secretary.
Speaking on the exercise, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, described the programme as a critical nation-building initiative, noting the unprecedented response from young Nigerians.
“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,” Pate said.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said the fellowship represents a new approach to talent discovery and human capital development in the health sector.
“What we are witnessing through this programme 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,” Salako stated.
On her part, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Kachollom S. Daju, mni, said the programme is institutionalising transparency and excellence in public service recruitment.
“The Fellows we select will not only support health delivery; they represent the values and future we are building across the entire system,” she said.
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Successful candidates will proceed to a residential national training programme in Abuja after the interviews, after which they will be deployed to their respective LGAs to champion innovation, accountability and community-driven health interventions.
Further details on the programme are available at www.healthfellows.ng and via the official social media platforms @healthfellowsng.
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