The Federal Government has reminded prospective applicants for the second cohort of the National Health Fellows (NHF) Programme to finalise their registrations before the November 30, 2025 deadline.
The NHF Programme, implemented through the Sector Wide Approach Coordination Office under the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, is designed to strengthen primary healthcare and expand the national health workforce. Through the initiative, fellows are recruited, trained, remunerated, and equipped to support community-level healthcare delivery across all 774 local government areas.
According to a statement released on Wednesday, the first cohort—admitted in January 2025—has completed its training and is already deployed nationwide, contributing to community health interventions, disease surveillance, and grassroots primary healthcare strengthening.
Applications for the second cohort are open to Nigerians aged 25 to 35 with degrees in health sciences, information technology, social sciences, or related disciplines. Candidates are expected to demonstrate readiness to serve in community-based settings and contribute to public health improvement.
The selection process is merit-driven and involves application screening, competency evaluation, and interview assessments. Successful fellows receive structured training in public health, community engagement, disease prevention, leadership, and data reporting, followed by supervised field placements in primary healthcare facilities.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said the programme aims to nurture a new generation of healthcare leaders through capacity building, hands-on field experience, and ongoing professional development. He added that the achievements of the first cohort underscore the potential of young Nigerians to drive national development when given purposeful opportunities.
The government reiterated that admission into the programme will remain strictly merit-based and urged interested applicants to complete their submissions before the November 30 deadline. Additional information is available on the programme’s official communication channels.