Nigeria urgently needs a stronger primary healthcare system to deliver tangible results for its citizens, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has said ahead of the 2025 National Health Dialogue. He is set to lead the major national conversation on health sector reforms.
The annual dialogue, organised by Premium Times in partnership with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), will hold on Thursday, 27 November 2025, at Fraser Suites, Abuja. The event will convene senior government officials, global health institutions, civil society groups, journalists, and health innovators for a full day of discussions on improving Nigeria’s health system.
This year’s sessions will focus on how evidence, innovation, and sustainable financing can drive reforms, with special emphasis on primary healthcare, accountability mechanisms, and service delivery across the country, according to the agenda released by the organisers.
Prof. Pate is scheduled to lead a fireside discussion exploring Nigeria’s health reform priorities, the future of primary healthcare, and systemic changes needed to enhance outcomes nationwide.
Other top officials expected at the event include the WHO Nigeria Country Director, the Director-General of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). Several state commissioners of health will also join sessions addressing state-level financing and performance gaps.
The dialogue will open with a health journalism showcase, featuring documentaries and reporting highlights from Premium Times, alongside presentations from Nigeria Health Watch and Punch Newspapers. The session aims to highlight the critical role of investigative reporting in identifying system weaknesses and shaping evidence-based health policies.
Speaking ahead of the dialogue, Idris Akinbajo, Managing Editor of Premium Times, said, “Over the years, Premium Times has led powerful investigations to ensure Nigeria’s health system is strengthened. This dialogue is our way of bringing the news from the pages of the newspaper to stakeholders, so we can jointly chart a new path to support sustainable health financing.”
Throughout the day, discussions will assess primary healthcare performance, state-level budget implementation, and the challenge of mobilising sustainable financing amid declining donor support. A health innovation showcase will feature technology founders working in maternal health, digital care, and service-delivery monitoring.
CJID’s Executive Director, Akintunde Babatunde, said the dialogue marks the beginning of a wider national effort to strengthen health systems across Nigeria.
“Following this conversation, we will take these engagements to regions where health services are declining, so we can work with stakeholders on practical steps to improve outcomes,” Babatunde said.
Organisers described the National Health Dialogue as a neutral platform for policymakers, researchers, journalists, civil society actors, and development partners to review evidence, identify gaps, and propose practical reforms. The event is supported by the Gates Foundation and other national and international partners.
