In a significant leadership transition, the Lagos State Ministry of Health has officially welcomed Dr. Dayo Lajide as its new Permanent Secretary. The event, held on 3 January 2026 at the ministry's conference room in Alausa-Ikeja, marked a strategic redeployment ordered by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
A Strategic Homecoming for Leadership
Dr. Lajide was redeployed from her previous role at Lagos Health District II to the Ministry of Health in December. Her reception was attended by top government officials, ministry management, staff, and representatives from Health District II, highlighting the move's importance.
Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, described Lajide's return as both timely and strategic. He noted their professional relationship spans nearly two decades, built on a shared commitment to excellence in public service.
Abayomi used the occasion to reveal a striking statistic about the state's healthcare landscape. He stated that Lagos is home to over 20,000 traditional medicine practitioners alongside approximately 7,000 medical doctors, underscoring the vast and diverse health sector the ministry oversees.
Emphasis on Unity and Readiness
The Commissioner stressed that the Ministry of Health is one of the government's most critical arms, with duties extending far beyond public hospitals. He reflected that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the enormous leadership demands placed on the ministry and its accounting officers.
"The office of the Permanent Secretary requires constant readiness, swift decision-making, and unity of purpose," Abayomi asserted. He assured the new PS of full support from the ministry's leadership, directors, agencies, and partners in fulfilling the mandate to keep Lagos residents healthy.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, commended the acting Permanent Secretary, Dr. Folashade Oludara, for her effective stewardship during a sensitive transition period, which included budget defence and year-end processes.
New PS Pledges Open-Door, People-Centred Administration
In her response, Dr. Dayo Lajide thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for the opportunity to serve and expressed gratitude to the commissioner and special adviser for their support. She described her redeployment as an honour and a call to greater responsibility.
Lajide urged staff to prioritize focus over distractions, emphasizing self-development, hard work, and commitment as pathways to growth. She assured both senior and junior staff of an open-door policy and a supportive work environment.
"Progress has clearly been made since I last served here," Lajide observed. She expressed confidence that with unity and focus, the leadership and workforce can elevate the Lagos State Ministry of Health to greater heights.
The event concluded with goodwill remarks and prayers for the ministry's leadership, signaling a hopeful new chapter for healthcare administration in Nigeria's most populous state.
