President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday charged traditional and religious leaders across the country to take ownership of the campaign against preventable diseases, saying improved healthcare delivery requires collective action beyond government efforts.
Tinubu gave the charge while addressing participants at the National Summit of Traditional and Religious Leaders on Health and Well-being held at the State House in Abuja.
He said the fight against preventable illnesses such as maternal and newborn complications, vaccine-preventable diseases and malnutrition could only be won if community leaders actively mobilise their subjects and congregations.
“The war against preventable diseases is the responsibility of all of us, and I am here as a leader to respectfully say that the responsibility is also yours as traditional rulers,” the President said.
Describing the summit as an intergenerational and interfaith convergence of wisdom and courage, Tinubu noted that traditional and religious leaders remained critical partners in driving behavioural change at the grassroots.
According to him, no health reform initiative by his administration would succeed without their buy-in and advocacy.
“No health reform in Nigeria can succeed without you. Your trusted voices are bridging the gap between government and the people. Communities listen to you before they listen to the government,” he added.
The President recalled the expansion of the Universal Health Coverage Compact to accommodate traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups and the private sector, stressing that inclusive participation was central to strengthening the country’s healthcare system.
He identified maternal and newborn health, routine immunisation, outbreak response, nutrition and food security as priority areas requiring intensified grassroots engagement.
Tinubu also urged traditional rulers to monitor the state of primary healthcare facilities within their domains and promptly escalate deficiencies to relevant authorities.
“Check the wards in your areas. Look at the neighbourhood health facilities, and if they do not exist or are not functional, write to the local government, the state government and the Federal Government. We will respond,” he assured.
The President highlighted the National Health Fellowship Programme introduced in 2025, through which young professionals were deployed to all the 774 local government areas to strengthen primary healthcare services and reduce maternal and child mortality.
“In 2025, we introduced the National Health Fellowship Programme, selecting the brightest young Nigerians from all 774 local government areas to support service delivery,” he said.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to transparency and inclusive development, Tinubu called for sustained collaboration among all stakeholders to build a healthier and more prosperous nation.
He commended the traditional and religious leaders for pledging to champion improved health outcomes in their communities, noting that their influence remained indispensable in achieving universal health coverage.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the summit drew participants from across the country, cutting across different faiths and traditional institutions.
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