Pate, Nutrition Director Make 2025 TIME100 Health List

By Bukola Kayode with additional reporting from NAN

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate and the Director of Nutrition, Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, have made the 2025 TIME100 Health list.

According to a statement issued by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr Alaba Balogun, on Friday in Abuja, Pate and Bako-Aiyegbusi made into the TIME100 Health, a prestigious recognition of the 100 most influential individuals shaping the future of global health.

The list honours leaders, innovators, advocates, and change-makers whose work is transforming health systems, advancing medical science, and improving lives worldwide.

According to Balogun, the recognition of two Nigerians from the same institution underscores Nigeria’s rising influence in global health leadership.

Balogun said, “Pate’s selection acknowledges his decades-long commitment to health equity, system reform, and primary healthcare advancement.

“Under his leadership and aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is undergoing a historic transformation in its health sector focused on improved governance, better health outcomes, unlocking healthcare value chains, and bolstering health security.

“A cornerstone of this reform is the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, anchored by a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) that promotes strategic coordination among government institutions, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to ensure impactful and accountable investments.”

Under Pate’s leadership, he said, strategic priorities include revitalising primary healthcare by strengthening frontline health facilities and expanding the community health workforce.

Others are scaling up maternal, newborn, and child health services to reduce preventable mortality.

He’s also being recognised for accelerating malaria elimination efforts, including the introduction of the malaria vaccine.

Promoting local production of health commodities and strengthening the health workforce for national resilience.

Bako-Aiyegbusi was honoured for her pioneering leadership in advancing national nutrition policy and driving systemic food and nutrition reforms.

“Her work has been instrumental in improving maternal and child nutrition outcomes and reducing malnutrition across vulnerable populations through multisectoral, evidence-based strategies.

“She has led several high-impact initiatives, including: the implementation of the National Nutrition Policy, targeting improved nutrition outcomes for all Nigerians

“The rollout of the Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) programme, providing pregnant women with 15 essential vitamins and minerals to combat anemia and support healthier pregnancies,” the statement added.

Bako-Aiyegbusi is also being recognised for the expansion of large-scale food fortification programmes.

The publication also recognises her input in the advocacy for nutrition-sensitive, gender-responsive social protection policies to address the root causes of malnutrition.

This dual recognition not only honours the individual achievements of Pate and Bako-Aiyegbusi but also celebrates Nigeria’s bold strides in health reform, nutrition policy, and global leadership in advancing public health.