The Federal Government has called on applicants interested in the second cohort of the National Health Fellows Programme to complete their registrations before the November 30, 2025 deadline. The NHF Programme is a government initiative created to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and expand the national health workforce.
According to information available on the programme’s website, the initiative is domiciled in the Sector Wide Approach Coordination Office under the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. Fellows recruited under the scheme will be trained, equipped, and supported with the necessary tools to drive improvements in the health sector.
The programme was established to address gaps in community-level healthcare by recruiting, training, and deploying young professionals to serve across all 774 local government areas in the country. A statement made available to Nigeria Startup News on Thursday explained that the first cohort, admitted in January 2025, completed its training and has been deployed nationwide. They are currently supporting community health interventions, surveillance activities, and primary healthcare strengthening at the grassroots.
The statement also noted that applications for the second cohort are open to Nigerians between ages 25 and 35 with degrees in health sciences, information technology, social sciences, or related fields. It added, “Candidates must demonstrate the capacity and willingness to serve in community environments and contribute to public health improvement.”
It further explained that the selection process is merit-based and transparent, involving application screening, competency reviews, and interview assessments. “Only candidates who meet the required standards are admitted into the fellowship,” it said. Fellows admitted into the programme undergo structured training in public health principles, community engagement, disease prevention, leadership, and data reporting.
This training is followed by a supervised field placement designed to give fellows practical experience in primary healthcare settings. The model aims to build young professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to address Nigeria’s long-standing health challenges.
According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, the fellowship “is designed to develop a new generation of healthcare leaders through capacity building, practical field engagement, and sustained professional development.” He said the success of the first cohort shows the potential of young Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to national development when given structured opportunities.
The government stressed that the programme will remain strictly merit-based. “Interested candidates are encouraged to complete their applications ahead of the deadline of November 30, 2025,” the statement added. It also advised applicants to visit official channels for further details.
