Tinubu Wins Healthcare Award, Becomes Second Nigerian After Babangida

President Bola Tinubu has received a prestigious fellowship from the West African College of Physicians (WACP) in recognition of his administration’s healthcare reforms.

With the award, he becomes only the second Nigerian leader to receive the honour after former military Head of State Ibrahim Babangida.

Tinubu received the fellowship on Thursday at the State House in Abuja.

He urged medical professionals across West Africa to develop practical solutions to the growing challenge of healthcare workers leaving the region for better opportunities abroad.

The president called on the leadership of the West African College of Physicians to use its forthcoming conference to address the migration of skilled medical professionals, warning that the development continues to put pressure on healthcare systems across the sub-region.

According to him, the departure of trained doctors and other healthcare workers reduces access to essential medical services and increases the workload of those who remain in their home countries.

Tinubu spoke shortly after taking the oath as a Fellow of the college, expressing appreciation for the recognition and reaffirming his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

“We are more challenged in Africa than anywhere else; you know, and with the outbreak of Ebola now we’re looking for a preventive action that will eliminate all these problems and infections. So, I wish you the best. As I pledge to behave myself, I will continue to do whatever I can do for this honourable profession,” the president said.

He urged medical experts to work towards finding sustainable solutions to the challenges confronting healthcare systems in West Africa, particularly the shortage of skilled personnel and the need to strengthen disease prevention.

Tinubu also reiterated his administration’s commitment to comprehensive healthcare reforms aimed at making medical services more accessible, affordable and efficient for Nigerians.

He acknowledged the contributions of medical professionals to society, particularly their roles in medical research, disease prevention, life-saving interventions and the development of healthcare systems capable of responding to emerging and existing public health threats.

The president thanked the leadership of the West African College of Physicians for considering him worthy of the fellowship.

The college said the award was given in recognition of Tinubu’s contributions to healthcare development and his administration’s commitment to reforms in the sector.

The College President and Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Dr Mamadou Mourtala Ka, explained that the fellowship was reserved for presidents whose policies and actions had made a significant impact on healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of people across West Africa.

“This award is given only to presidents who have made a mark in health care delivery and affected the health of the West African people,” Ka said.

Professor Musa Dankyau, Secretary-General of the West African College of Physicians and spokesperson for the delegation, said the decision to confer the fellowship on Tinubu reflected the college’s assessment of his administration’s healthcare reforms.

Dankyau disclosed that the fellowship had been awarded only eight times in the college’s 50-year history, making it a rare distinction among political leaders in the region.

He identified former Gambian President Dawda Jawara as the first recipient and said Babangida was the only previous Nigerian leader to receive the honour, having been recognised in 1991.

Tinubu’s recognition therefore places him alongside Babangida as the second Nigerian leader to receive the fellowship from the medical institution.

Dankyau also highlighted investments in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, saying the government had committed substantial resources to improving medical services and strengthening public health preparedness.

“At the last count, over $2.2 billion had been invested in that area for the health of the Nigerian people. We’ve also seen significant strides in disease prevention, immunisation and public health preparedness. Just a couple of days back, the health minister had also announced that we are ready and prepared to face Ebola. And so, we were able to reassure our colleagues,” he said.

The president also referred to the Ebola outbreak in his remarks, stressing the importance of preventive action and coordinated efforts to tackle infections and other health threats.

The fellowship ceremony was attended by several senior government officials, including Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, and Special Adviser to the President on Health Matters Dr Salma Ibrahim Anas.

The announcement was issued on Thursday, October 22, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.