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The Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onajaeme has described the National Health Fellowship Programme as a transformative initiative poised to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state, while providing a unique platform for young professionals to develop leadership skills and technical expertise.
Speaking during the screening of candidates for the programme’s second cohort in Delta State, the Health Commissioner highlighted the successes of the inaugural cohort, noting that fellows deployed to local governments last year made tangible improvements in health outcomes and community wellbeing.
“The first cohort went into their local governments, identified challenges, developed strategies, and provided consistent feedback. They worked under mentors and engaged directly with our office for guidance,” he said.
Speaking through the State SWAp desk officer, Dr. Samuel Oyawiri, the Health Commissioner observed that the second cohort has already shown heightened awareness and confidence, with enthusiasm significantly higher compared to the first year.
He emphasized that the programme aligned with the Delta State Government’s MORE Agenda, reflecting a robust collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Delta State Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
He further described the selection process, in which three candidates from each of Delta’s 25 local government areas were shortlisted from thousands of applicants nationwide as transparent and credible, noting that the best among the 75 candidates would ultimately be selected as fellows after the over three days of interview.
Speaking during the screening exercise, the State Coordinator and Head of the WHO Field Office in Delta State, Dr. Ibrahim Salisu, said the programme was designed to harness the talents of young public health professionals and deploy them directly to communities where they are most needed.
He said the World Health Organization (WHO), with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Delta State Ministry of Health, are working collaboratively in the screening of candidates from Delta State for the second cohort of the National Health Fellowship Programme, a flagship initiative aimed at strengthening grassroots healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
“We are here today to screen Delta State candidates for the National Health Fellowship Programme, an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare under the Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Pate,” Dr. Salisu said.
He explained that the fellowship targets young professionals aged between 25 and 35, with one fellow selected from each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
Dr. Salisu noted that the programme, now in its second cohort, builds on the successes recorded in 2025, when fellows worked across local government areas, contributing to improved health outcomes and community wellbeing.
Describing the selection process, the WHO official stressed that it is strictly merit-based and highly competitive, with strong external oversight to guarantee fairness.
