The Federal Government has announced the commencement of a fresh mass recruitment of National Health Fellows as part of its expanding empowerment and health-sector reform efforts. The new phase aims to scale up the program following the successful deployment of 774 fellows earlier this year to Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the country.
The expansion follows what the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, described as the fellows’ visible impact in improving transparency, strengthening accountability, and supporting the revitalisation of Nigeria’s primary healthcare system.
Announcing the new recruitment on his X handle, Pate said: “Earlier this year, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we launched the National Health Fellows Program (NHF), a bold step towards building the next generation of healthcare leaders in Nigeria. From over 360,000 applications nationwide, 774 outstanding young Nigerians were meritoriously selected, and their collective impact has been remarkable across all 774 local government areas.”
Pate confirmed that applications for the second cohort opened on November 1 and will close on November 30, urging young Nigerians from all disciplines to seize the opportunity. “For details of the application process, visit healthfellows.ng,” he said.
The expansion comes months after President Tinubu approved automatic employment for all 774 pioneer fellows earlier in the year.
According to Pate, the fellows will reinforce accountability in PHCs and serve as oversight officers for the planned construction of 8,800 new primary healthcare facilities across the country. Their role, he noted, “is crucial in ensuring the fiduciary integrity and operational excellence of each facility within their domains of responsibility.”
He added that the selection process will include a state-level, multi-stage screening exercise in each local government area. The program, he said, targets young Nigerians from all 774 LGAs, helping reduce unemployment while accelerating grassroots health-sector reforms.
The initiative aligns with the federal government’s broader Four-Point Agenda for overhauling healthcare delivery. Since 2023, more than N100 billion has been disbursed to PHCs nationwide under the revitalized Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), including N50 billion released in Q1 2025 and N32.9 billion approved in October 2025. The funds support infrastructure upgrades, essential medicines, operations, and the expansion of quality PHC services.
Pate described the National Health Fellows Programme as central to these reforms, saying: “This is a Nigerian renaissance in full motion and in real time.”
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, he noted that the expanded program would both strengthen the healthcare workforce and provide meaningful employment opportunities for young professionals.
“With this expansion, we are not only creating jobs,” Pate said, “we are building a new generation of leaders who will help deliver a healthier, stronger, and more resilient Nigeria.”
