The federal government has announced the commencement of a fresh mass recruitment of National Health Fellows, expanding the programme after 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.

Pate, who announced on his X handle on Monday, said, “Earlier this year, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR @officialABAT, 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 the 774 Local Government Areas @AlgonNationalHQ in Nigeria.”

Pate announced that applications for the second cohort will open on 1 November 2025 and close on 30 November 2025, urging young Nigerians from all disciplines to seize the opportunity. “For details of the application process, visit healthfellows.ng,” he added.

The expansion comes months after President Tinubu approved automatic employment for all 774 pioneer fellows in March.

According to Pate, the fellows are tasked with reinforcing accountability in PHCs and will serve as oversight officers for the planned construction of 8,800 new primary healthcare facilities across the country.

Their role, he said, “Is crucial in ensuring the fiduciary integrity and operational excellence of each facility within their domains of responsibility.

“There will be a State-level, multi-screening exercise in each Local Government Area of the Federation.

The successful applicants who are selected as fellows will serve as accountability officers who oversee the ongoing construction of 8,800 new primary health facilities nationwide over the next few years while ensuring the fiduciary integrity and operational excellence of each facility.”

The programme targets young Nigerians from all 774 LGAs, supporting government efforts to reduce unemployment while accelerating health sector reforms, he added, explaining that the initiative is part of the Federal Government’s broader Four-Point Agenda to overhaul healthcare delivery at the grassroots.

Since 2023, more than ?100 billion has been disbursed to PHCs nationwide under the revitalised Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).

This includes ?50 billion released in the first quarter of 2025 and ?32.9 billion approved in October 2025.

The funds are intended to modernise infrastructure, provide essential medicines, support operations and expand access to quality primary healthcare.

Pate described the National Health Fellows initiative as central to ongoing reforms, “This is a Nigerian renaissance in full motion and in real time,” he said, urging qualified Nigerians to submit their applications as soon as the portal opens. (The Nation)