The Federal Government, in collaboration with Ogun State, has initiated the conclusive interview phase for the second cohort of the National Health Fellows programme. This critical exercise aims to select young professionals who will represent the state's 20 local government areas.
Nationwide Recruitment Drive for Health System Strengthening
This activity is part of a nationwide process coordinated by the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Office of the Federal Ministry of Health. According to the office's earlier announcement, a total of 774 health fellows are scheduled for interviews across all states between January 12 and 16, 2026.
The interview session in Ogun State was held on Monday at the State Ministry of Health in Abeokuta. Dr. Olamide Agunbiade, the SWAp Desk Officer for the state, addressed the purpose of the initiative. He stated that the National Health Fellows programme was created by the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare. Its core mission is to offer a platform for young Nigerians passionate about public health to play a substantive role in reinforcing the nation's health infrastructure.
Empowering Youth for Community Health Solutions
Dr. Agunbiade elaborated on the programme's design, explaining it targets both unemployed and under-employed Nigerian youth. It seeks to equip them with fundamental public health knowledge. More importantly, it empowers them to pinpoint health challenges within their immediate communities and develop actionable, practical solutions to address them.
He detailed the post-selection pathway for successful fellows. They will undergo a structured blend of virtual and physical training focused on health systems strengthening. Each fellow will be paired with an experienced mentor for guidance. Furthermore, they will gain hands-on experience through various engagements, including:
- Fieldwork in local communities.
- Participation in technical meetings.
- Involvement in operational activities within the state's health sector.
Highlighting the success of the first cohort, Dr. Agunbiade said, “Fellows from the first cohort played active roles in key state health interventions, including contributing to the development of the 2026 Annual Operational Plan, supporting the launch of the MAMII initiative and engaging technically with the Primary Healthcare Development Board, and I can confidently say that the initiative has largely achieved its objectives.”
Commendations from Local Government and Candidates
Also present at the session was Hon. Afolasade Adeyemo, Chairman of Odeda Local Government Area and the Ogun State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON). She praised the impact of the first set of fellows, particularly their contributions at the grassroots level. She described the programme as a commendable Federal Government intervention that directly bolsters healthcare delivery at the local level.
Hon. Adeyemo noted that the ongoing interview process was thorough, digitised, and strictly based on merit. The interview panel comprised members drawn from relevant sectors to ensure a robust selection. She expressed her satisfaction with the high quality and evident competence of the candidates who made it to the final stage.
Two shortlisted candidates, Oluwasegun Shotunde and Paulina Ademola, shared their experiences after the interview. They described the process as rigorous yet transparent. Both expressed optimism that being selected for the programme would significantly enhance their professional skills. They also looked forward to using the platform to contribute to sustainable healthcare development in their respective local communities.
