Minister engages global donors to boost investment in Nigeria’s health sector

By Matthew Denis

Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has taken significant steps to secure international investment in the country’s health sector.

During a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington D.C., Prof. Pate met with top global philanthropies and donors to outline strategic avenues for future investments and cooperative financing aimed at maximizing benefits for the Nigerian population.

One of the key engagements included a bilateral meeting with the incoming President of the World Health Assembly.

According to Prof. Pate, the outcome of that meeting was the establishment of a mission to the Asia-Pacific region, aimed at attracting investment in localized health services manufacturing in Nigeria.

Highlighting the federal government’s commitment to revamping healthcare, Prof. Pate credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s comprehensive reform agenda and landmark investments in the health sector for sparking renewed global interest and cooperation.

This push for international support comes at a critical time, especially following past decisions such as former U.S. President Donald Trump’s disbandment of USAID’s support for health crisis responses, which significantly affected African countries’ capacities to handle disease outbreaks.

Prof. Pate’s efforts signal a renewed direction in Nigeria’s quest to build a resilient and self-sustaining health infrastructure through strategic international collaboration.