The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoHSW), will convene a High-Level National Policy Dialogue on Healthcare Financing with a focus on accelerating Nigeria’s path toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The four-day event is scheduled for September 1–4, 2025.
The Dialogue, themed “Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria,” will bring together senior government officials, policymakers, development partners, civil society, academia, and private sector leaders to chart innovative and sustainable financing mechanisms that guarantee equitable access to quality healthcare for all Nigerians.
Building on Nigeria’s continental leadership in UHC, the forum follows the 2019 African Leadership Meeting (ALM) in Addis Ababa, where Nigeria and other AU member states pledged to scale up domestic health financing. That landmark ALM Declaration reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to stronger, more resilient, and self-reliant health systems.
Highlighting Nigeria’s next chapter of reforms, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said the government remains focused on transforming healthcare delivery through targeted investments and national strategic reforms.
“At the heart of our next phase of transformation is a simple but urgent mission: to save lives, reduce both physical and financial suffering, and deliver health for all Nigerians, without leaving anyone behind. Through the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the Sector-Wide Approach, and our Strategic Plan, we are aligning government, partners, and resources behind a shared vision of equity, accountability, and sustainability,” Pate stated.
Similarly, the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, reiterated the Authority’s commitment to expanding insurance coverage and strengthening financial protection for citizens.
According to him, the Policy Dialogue will:
Review findings from the State of Health Financing Report,
Build consensus on nationally supported, politically feasible strategies to expand and sustain domestic health financing,
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And outline actionable reforms to ensure sustainable progress toward UHC.
The Dialogue is expected to set the tone for Nigeria’s long-term health sector transformation, ensuring that financing reforms translate into real, equitable access for citizens across the country.
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