The Federal Government has commenced final interviews for young professionals in Ogun State selected under the National Health Fellows 2.0 programme, a flagship initiative aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s health system through youth-driven public health interventions.
The interview exercise, which took place at the Ogun State Ministry of Health in Abeokuta, is part of a nationwide process involving 774 shortlisted candidates across the country between January 12 and 16, according to the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Office of the Federal Ministry of Health.
Speaking during the session, the SWAp Desk Officer in Ogun State, Dr. Olamide Agunbiade, said the initiative was conceived by the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare to harness the energy, skills and innovation of young Nigerians in addressing public health challenges at the community level.
Dr. Agunbiade explained that the programme targets unemployed and underemployed youths, equipping them with foundational public health knowledge while empowering them to identify gaps in healthcare delivery and design practical, locally driven solutions.
He noted that successful fellows would undergo structured virtual and physical training on health systems strengthening, be attached to experienced mentors and participate in hands-on activities, including fieldwork, technical meetings and operational engagements within the State health sector.
According to him, the first cohort of fellows made significant contributions to Ogun State’s health programmes, including participation in the development of the 2026 Annual Operational Plan, technical support for the launch of the MAMII initiative and engagements with the Primary Healthcare Development Board.
“The performance of the first cohort shows that this initiative has largely achieved its objectives and demonstrated the value of youth involvement in health system strengthening,” Dr. Agunbiade said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Odeda Local Government Area and Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Ogun State Chapter, Honourable Afolasade Adeyemo, commended the Federal Government for the initiative, describing it as a strategic intervention that strengthens healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
She praised the conduct of the ongoing interview process, noting that it was digitised, transparent and merit-based, with panel members drawn from relevant sectors. Adeyemo added that she was impressed by the quality and competence of candidates shortlisted for the final stage.
Two shortlisted candidates, Oluwasegun Shotunde and Paulina Ademola, described the interview as rigorous but fair, expressing optimism that the programme would enhance their professional capacity and provide a platform to contribute meaningfully to sustainable healthcare development in their respective local government areas.
The National Health Fellows 2.0 programme is expected to deploy successful candidates across all 20 local government areas of Ogun State, reinforcing efforts to build a more resilient, community-focused health system.