NUJ President Alhassan Abdullahi Yahya Pays Courtesy Visit to Health Minister.
By Raymond Enoch
The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Abdullahi Yahya, led a delegation of senior union officials—including the National Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Hajia Aisha Ibrahim—on a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate, on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja.
The meeting centred on areas of mutual interest, national development, and avenues for strategic collaboration between the NUJ and the Federal Ministry of Health.
In his remarks, Comrade Yahya expressed sincere appreciation to the Minister for granting audience on short notice, noting that the gesture was deeply valued. He commended Dr. Pate for his outstanding leadership and impactful reforms in the health sector since assuming office.
The NUJ President particularly applauded the Minister’s commitment to revitalising the Primary Health Care programme, especially in underserved rural communities. He also acknowledged Dr. Pate’s timely support for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which, he noted, has contributed significantly to reducing maternal mortality rates across the country.
As part of efforts to ensure sustainable health sector financing, Comrade Yahya proposed the establishment of a Special Health Trust Fund. He further pledged the support of journalists nationwide in amplifying the Ministry’s health reforms, citing the recent uptick in health insurance scheme enrollment as a testament to the Minister’s transformative agenda.
Additionally, the NUJ President sought a partnership with the Ministry to facilitate capacity-building initiatives—such as training and workshops—for journalists. He stressed that such collaboration would enhance both the professional development of media practitioners and the visibility of the Ministry’s programmes and interventions.
In response, the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate, welcomed the NUJ delegation and applauded the union’s vital role in national development. He underscored the importance of the media in performing what he described as the “4As”: Awareness, Advocacy, Accountability, and Action.
Dr. Pate also highlighted a recent milestone achieved by the Ministry—the launch of a first-of-its-kind continent-wide vaccination campaign targeting 100 million children against preventable diseases. He described the initiative as one of the landmark achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Reiterating his commitment to collaboration, the Minister directed his team to immediately begin engagement with the 37 NUJ State Councils across the country to actualize the resolutions of the meeting.
The visit concluded with an informal interactive session and a group photograph to mark the occasion.
