By Olokuta Rofiat
The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Abdullahi Yahya, has expressed the union’s readiness to partner with the Federal Ministry of Health to strengthen public health awareness, sector reforms, and media capacity building.
Yahya made this known when he led a delegation of the NUJ National Secretariat, including the National Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Hajia Aisha Ibrahim, on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Health, Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate, on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja.
The NUJ President commended Dr. Pate for his transformative efforts in restructuring Nigeria’s health sector, particularly his strides in revitalising Primary Health Care services across rural communities and ensuring timely approval of logistics for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
He noted that these measures have significantly reduced maternal mortality in the country.
Comrade Yahya proposed the establishment of a Special Health Trust Fund as an alternative funding mechanism for the sector.
He also pledged the union’s continued support for the minister’s reforms, noting that health insurance enrolment has grown remarkably under his leadership.
He further appealed for collaboration with the ministry in organising capacity-building workshops and training for journalists to enhance accurate health reporting and visibility of the ministry’s programmes.
Responding, Dr. Pate appreciated the NUJ leadership for the visit and acknowledged the vital role of the media in achieving the “4A functions” Awareness, Advocacy, Accountability, and Action within the health sector.
The minister highlighted that the ministry recently launched a historic vaccination campaign targeting 100 million children against preventable diseases, describing it as a major milestone under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Dr. Pate also directed ministry departments and agencies across the federation to engage NUJ councils in all 37 states to strengthen partnership and communication on health-related initiatives.
The meeting ended with an interactive session and a group photograph, marking a renewed commitment to collaboration between the health sector and the Nigerian media.
