By Peter Omopo
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, and Director of Nutrition, Mrs. Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, have been named among the world’s most influential health leaders in the 2025 TIME100 Health list.
The recognition was announced in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Health, Mr. Alaba Balogun.
The TIME100 Health list celebrates 100 global figures whose work is shaping the future of healthcare. It honors leaders, innovators, and advocates who are transforming health systems and improving lives worldwide.
Balogun noted that the inclusion of two Nigerians from the same institution highlights the country’s growing prominence in global health leadership.
Professor Pate was recognized for his longstanding commitment to health equity, primary healthcare reform, and system strengthening. His role in implementing President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has driven key reforms aimed at improving health governance, expanding access, and enhancing health security.
Under Pate’s leadership, the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative has taken center stage. The initiative, driven by a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), ensures coordinated efforts among government agencies, development partners, and the private sector.
Key priorities under his tenure include revitalizing primary healthcare facilities, expanding the community health workforce, and scaling up maternal and child health services to reduce preventable deaths.
