The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare proudly announces that Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, CON, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and Mrs. Ladidi K. Bako-Aiyegbusi, mni, Director of Nutrition, have been named to the 2025 TIME100 Health list a prestigious compilation of the world’s 100 most influential figures shaping the future of global health.
The TIME100 Health list honours visionaries, reformers, and advocates who are transforming health systems, advancing medical science, and improving lives globally. The inclusion of two Nigerian leaders from the same institution underscores Nigeria’s growing prominence in global health leadership.
This recognition was announced in a press statement signed by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, on Thursday.
Prof. Pate’s selection celebrates his decades-long dedication to health equity, system reform, and strengthening primary healthcare. Under his leadership — in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda — Nigeria’s health sector is undergoing a landmark transformation aimed at delivering better governance, improved health outcomes, revitalised healthcare value chains, and enhanced national health security.
At the heart of these reforms is the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, driven by a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) that fosters strategic collaboration among government agencies, development partners, and the private sector to ensure impactful and transparent investments.
Key priorities under Prof. Pate’s leadership include:
Revitalising primary healthcare by upgrading frontline facilities and expanding the community health workforce.
Scaling up maternal, newborn, and child health services to reduce preventable deaths.
Accelerating malaria elimination through expanded interventions, including the introduction of the malaria vaccine.
Promoting local production of essential health commodities.
Strengthening the health workforce to build system resilience.
Mrs. Ladidi K. Bako-Aiyegbusi was recognised for her pioneering leadership in advancing national nutrition policy and leading systemic food and nutrition reforms. Her contributions have significantly improved maternal and child nutrition and reduced malnutrition among vulnerable populations through evidence-based, multisectoral strategies.
Her landmark initiatives include:
Implementation of the National Nutrition Policy to drive improved outcomes nationwide.
Rollout of the Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) programme, providing pregnant women with 15 vital nutrients to combat anemia and support healthy pregnancies.
Expansion of large-scale food fortification initiatives.
Advocacy for nutrition-sensitive, gender-responsive social protection policies to address the root causes of malnutrition.
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The full TIME100 Health list, along with tributes to this year’s honorees, will appear in the May 26, 2025 issue of TIME, available on newsstands from Friday, May 16, and online at time.com/time100health.
This dual recognition not only honours the individual achievements of Prof. Pate and Mrs. Bako-Aiyegbusi but also highlights Nigeria’s bold strides in health sector reform, nutrition leadership, and its growing influence in the global public health arena.
