Nigeria urges applicants to register for the National Health Fellows Programme, strengthening primary healthcare and youth workforce development.

ABUJA, Nigeria, 27 November 2025– The Federal Government of Nigeria has urged applicants for the second cohort of the National Health Fellows Programme (NHF Programme) to complete their registrations ahead of the November 30, 2025, deadline.

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The NHF Programme, domiciled in the Sector Wide Approach Coordination Office under the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, is designed to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and expand the capacity of Nigeria’s health workforce.

The programme recruits young professionals, provides remuneration, and equips them with the tools needed to drive positive change across local health systems.

Fellows are trained and deployed to serve in all 774 local government areas, addressing community-level healthcare gaps and supporting grassroots interventions.

The first cohort, admitted in January 2025, successfully completed structured training and has been deployed nationwide to assist with disease surveillance, community health initiatives, and primary healthcare strengthening.

Applications for the second cohort are open to Nigerians aged 25 to 35 who hold degrees in health sciences, information technology, social sciences, or related fields.

Candidates must demonstrate the capacity and willingness to serve in community environments and contribute to public health improvement.

The selection process is merit-based and transparent, involving application screening, competency reviews, and interviews.

Fellows receive structured training in public health principles, leadership, community engagement, disease prevention, and data reporting, followed by supervised field placements in primary healthcare settings.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, said the fellowship is “designed to develop a new generation of healthcare leaders through capacity building, practical field engagement, and sustained professional development.”

He added that the success of the first cohort highlights the potential of young Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to national development when given structured opportunities.

The government emphasised that admission remains strictly merit-based and encouraged interested applicants to complete their applications ahead of the November 30 deadline.

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Further information is available through the official channels of the National Health Fellows Programme.