The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening Primary Health Care, advancing Universal Health Coverage, improving maternal and child health outcomes, and ensuring inclusive access to healthcare services.
Coker also lauded the Federal Government’s National Health Fellowship Programme, describing it as a bold initiative under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu that has significantly strengthened primary healthcare delivery across the state.
She noted that under the initiative, young professionals were deployed to support service delivery, enhance accountability, drive innovation and reinforce health systems at the grassroots across the 774 local government areas in the country.
The commissioner disclosed this on Monday during the graduation ceremony of the first cohort of 20 health fellows deployed across the 20 local government areas of the state, as well as the onboarding of the second cohort of the federal government initiative.
“Over the past year, our fellows have worked diligently across 20 local government areas and nine key thematic impact areas. Their work has not been abstract or ceremonial; it has been practical, measurable and deeply people-centred,” she said.
Coker explained that through targeted medical outreaches, over 5,000 residents were reached, with hundreds treated for malaria, hypertension and diabetes, while essential medicines were distributed free of charge.
“With the support of the health fellows, safe deliveries were facilitated and funded. Lives were not merely touched — lives were saved,” she added.
She further disclosed that thousands benefited from water, sanitation and hygiene interventions, public health facilities were renovated, and sanitary materials were distributed in schools. Community sensitisation campaigns, she said, improved hygiene practices among students and market populations, reinforcing prevention as the first line of defence in public health.
In the area of maternal and child health, Coker revealed that more than 500 women were educated on nutrition, antenatal care and safe delivery practices, while digital innovations such as MamaReach were developed to improve emergency referrals and reduce maternal mortality.
“These are not just projects — they are lifelines for vulnerable families,” she said.
The commissioner added that the fellows played critical roles in the success of the National Immunisation Plus Days and the Measles-Rubella vaccination drive by enhancing coverage monitoring across local governments and ensuring that no child was left behind.
Beyond service delivery, she noted that the fellows invested in their professional growth through structured Learning Management System modules covering leadership, public health, financial management, data analysis and systems thinking. This was complemented by global exposure through the McKinsey Forward Programme and dedicated mentorship.
Addressing the graduating fellows, Coker said, “You came as young professionals. You leave as tested leaders. You have demonstrated that when young Nigerians are empowered with knowledge, mentorship and responsibility, they can transform systems from within.
“As we welcome Cohort 2.0, you are stepping into a programme that has already set a high bar. You are also stepping into a state that believes in innovation, accountability and measurable results. Be ready to make your mark in strengthening qualitative healthcare services at the grassroots.”
She commended development partners and the foresight of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for initiating the programme, noting that it has revolutionised primary healthcare delivery across the 20 local government areas of the state.
Coker also announced cash rewards for outstanding fellows, with N200,000 awarded to the best-performing fellow, N150,000 to the second, and N100,000 each to three others who distinguished themselves in projects undertaken during the training.
Earlier, the Coordinator of Health Fellows in the state, Dr Olamide Agunbiade, said the initiative was designed to strengthen primary healthcare nationwide. He described the fellows as bridge-builders between the Federal Government and local governments, tasked with supporting the development of qualitative healthcare services at the grassroots.
