FCTA Inaugurates National Health Fellows Selection Committee

By: Badaru Yakasai & Doris Jonah

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has inaugurated the FCT National Health Fellows Selection Committee.

The initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s efforts to recruit Health Fellows nationwide.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Committee, the Mandate Secretary of Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, said that the initiative is a strategic investment in human resources for health.

Fasawe stated that the inaugration of the Committee is part of the Federal Government’s continued efforts to upgrade existing Primary HealthCare (PHC) centres and establish new ones across the country.

She added that this initiative aligns with the commitment of the FCT Administration under the leadership of Nyesom Wike, to provide a strong and functional healthcare system for the residents of Abuja.

The Mandate Secretary further stated that the newly recruited Fellows would play a vital role in overseeing activities at these facilities, offering feedback to the government, and performing other key tasks to enhance the nation’s healthcare.

The Mandate Secretary urged the Committee members to be diligent, fair, and impartial in the selection process to ensure that only the most qualified candidates are chosen.

Her words: “The selected Fellows will undergo training in leadership, public health, financial management, problem-solving, and monitoring and evaluation, all aimed at achieving the objectives of the initiative”.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary of HSES, Dr. Baba Gana Adam, who serves as the Vice Chairman of the Committee, commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its commitment to improving the health sector.

He expressed gratitude to the FCT Administration for the opportunity to contribute to efforts toward achieving Universal Health Coverage and addressing the health challenges facing both the FCT and the country at large.

Earlier, the FCT State Coordinator for the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Kumshida Yakubu Balami, explained that the programme is housed under the Sector Wide Action Plan (SWAP) Secretariat in the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

According to her, the Committee will operate in line with WHO-issued guidelines to ensure the programme’s smooth coordination.

“One of these guidelines mandates the establishment of a seven-member National Health Fellows Selection Committee, a requirement that the FCT has fully complied with. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the entire selection process, screening candidates, and submitting a semi-final list to the SWAP Coordinator’s office”, she said.

Members of the Committee include Acting Director Public Health Department, Dr. Dan Gadzama, Dr. Teresa Nwachukwu (SWAP Desk Officer), and Dr. Aderonke Akande.

Others are Mrs. Maimuna Abdullahi and Mr. Danladi Chiya.

The inauguration marks a significant step in advancing Nigeria’s healthcare system by fostering a new generation of health leaders and ensuring better healthcare service delivery nationwide.

Abuja Digest reports that In January 2025, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, announced that President Bola Tinubu had approved and established the National Health Fellows Programme.

The programme is expected to engage young Nigerian Fellows across all 774 Local Government Areas under a sector-wide approach.