Abuja, Nigeria – In a major boost to Nigeria’s healthcare development, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the TY Danjuma Foundation have signed a landmark $2.26 million agreement aimed at strengthening national health priorities over the next decade.
The signing of agreement was formalized at the WHO Country Office in Abuja on Tuesday, the fully flexible funding will support WHO’s operations in Nigeria through December 2034. The initiative targets improved access to integrated health services, especially for women, children, and vulnerable populations in Taraba, Edo, and Enugu states.
Described as a model for African-led philanthropy, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to sustainable development. “We are proud to partner with WHO to advance Nigeria’s health priorities,” said Lieutenant General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the TY Danjuma Foundation. “This agreement reflects our dedication to improving lives and fostering sustainable development in our communities.”
Key stakeholders at the signing included Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, along with representatives from government agencies, diplomatic missions, civil society, and traditional and religious institutions. Professor Pate welcomed the initiative as a vital step toward health equity in Nigeria.
The partnership will be spotlighted during a high-level visit to Taraba State on June 3, where delegates will tour the TY Danjuma Foundation Medical Centre and commission the newly built Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria Hospital in Takum. These facilities, donated by the Foundation, will be assessed for quality of care and potential scale-up of community services.
“This long-term, flexible support could not be more timely,” said Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa. “It strengthens our ability to support national leadership, serve communities and drive impact where it is most needed.”
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Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Representative in Nigeria, emphasized that the collaboration sets a new benchmark for strategic partnerships in health. “The shared vision and flexible funding will help us achieve real progress, especially among Nigeria’s most underserved populations.”
The agreement underlines growing efforts to harness domestic philanthropic capital for health and development, even as the global health sector faces shrinking donor resources.
