Health Minister to Lead Nigeria’s Delegation to 78th World Health Assembly, deepen Global Health Co-operation
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate will lead Nigeria’s official delegation, comprising six senior Ministry officials, to the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 19 to 27 May 2025.
In addition to the government delegation, representatives from across Nigeria’s health ecosystem including the private sector, development partners, and donor agencies will actively participate in technical sessions and side events.
A statement signed by the Ministry’s Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr Alaba Balogun noted that these engagements align with this year’s WHA theme, “One World for
Health,” which underscores the importance of global solidarity in addressing shared health challenges and building resilient health systems.
Convened annually by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Health Assembly serves as a premier platform for shaping international health policy and advancing global health priorities. Member States will deliberate on critical issues such as sustainable health financing, workforce development, and accelerating progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC), all of which are central to Nigeria’s ongoing health sector reforms.
The nation’s participation is expected to provide valuable insights that will inform policy review, planning, and implementation, while reinforcing alignment with global best practices. The delegation will engage in high-level discussions and contribute to agenda items of particular significance to Nigeria and the African region
Nigeria’s key areas of engagement will include:
Commitment to Sustainable Healthcare Financing
Strengthening Human Resources for Health
Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including Diabetes
Nigeria’s Position Paper on Poliomyelitis Eradication
Nigeria’s Position Paper on Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
Nigeria’s Position Paper on Mental Health and Social Connection
Nigeria’s Position Paper on the Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination
Advancing Oral Health
Enhancing Local Production of Medicines and Health Technologies
Addressing Skin Diseases and
Adverse Cosmetic Events
As the country advances implementation of the Health Sector’s Strategic Blueprint under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the outcomes of WHA78 are expected to strengthen evidence-based decision-making, deepen multilateral partnerships, and inform national strategies that enhance health security, equity, and service delivery.
