By Ayomide Otitoju
Lagos State on January 12–13, 2026, hosted the physical interviews for applicants to the National Health Fellows (NHF) Programme, Cohort 2.0, as part of efforts by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Health, to strengthen Nigeria’s health system through strategic human capital development.
The two-day exercise, coordinated by the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) Desk Coordinating Office, took place at the World Health Organization (WHO) Lagos Office, Osborne Road, Ikoyi. It formed part of a nationwide process to select young professionals for deployment across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas.
Approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the NHF Programme aims to develop a new cadre of skilled health professionals to support service delivery, governance, policy implementation, and accountability at the sub-national and grassroots levels.
In Lagos, 60 shortlisted candidates—three from each of the state’s 20 LGAs—participated in the interviews. One fellow per LGA will be selected to ensure equitable distribution and impact across the state.
Speaking on the exercise, Dr. Oyeyemi Ogunjobi of the SWAp Desk Office said the programme reflects Lagos State’s commitment to building a capable, future-ready health workforce aligned with national reforms. She noted that candidates were assessed on motivation, leadership potential, teamwork, communication skills, and ethical values, adding that the final selection would significantly support the state’s health priorities under the SWAp framework.
Dr. Chinenye Okafor, WHO State Coordinator for Lagos, described the candidates as highly competent and committed, with diverse professional backgrounds. She expressed confidence that the programme would help build a pipeline of resilient health leaders if sustained over time.
From a regulatory perspective, Dr. Abraham Bethuel-Kasimu, Deputy General Manager of NHIA Lagos Zonal Office, said the process was objective and technologically driven, with real-time online scoring ensuring fairness and transparency.
Dr. Kehinde Ososanya, Deputy Director of Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, highlighted the programme’s role in strengthening primary healthcare delivery. Selected fellows will work closely with LGA health departments on service delivery, data analysis, community outreach, immunisation, antenatal care, and other critical maternal and child health services.
The interviews were conducted by a seven-member multi-sectoral panel comprising representatives from WHO, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), academia, and community-based organisations, with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and NHIA observing.
The final cohort of 20 National Health Fellows is expected to enhance health system coordination, service delivery, and reform implementation in Lagos State while contributing to national efforts to revitalise Nigeria’s health sector through the SWAp framework.
