By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
President Bola Tinubu has credited the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, with securing over $5 billion in project pipeline for Nigeria’s healthcare value chain, as he marked the minister’s birthday with commendations for reforms carried out under his watch.
The Presidency disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, 6 September, 2026, congratulating Pate on his birthday and describing him as a distinguished, globally acclaimed health professional who had driven significant transformation in Nigeria’s health sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Tinubu specifically commended him for facilitating investments in the nation’s healthcare value chain and pharmaceuticals through the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), which has secured more than $5 billion in project pipeline so far.
Beyond the investment drive, the President highlighted several achievements recorded under Pate’s ministry, including the revitalisation of over 3,100 primary healthcare centres and the reorganisation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which he said had enabled more than 37 million Nigerians to access basic healthcare.
Tinubu also pointed to the establishment of three oncology centres across the country’s geo-political zones to reduce outbound medical tourism, as well as the recruitment of over 20,000 health professionals into federal tertiary hospitals to cushion the effects of brain drain in the sector.
On workforce development, the President noted that more than 78,000 frontline health workers had been trained to improve the quality of primary healthcare delivery, while over 17.1 million adolescent girls had received HPV vaccination to protect them against cervical cancer, among other initiatives recorded under the minister’s tenure.
“President Tinubu commends Professor Pate for his efforts to facilitate the needed investments in the nation’s healthcare value chain and pharmaceuticals through the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, with over $5 billion in project pipeline secured so far,” the statement read.
The President rounded off the message by joining Pate’s family, friends and associates to wish him good health and renewed strength as he continues to serve the nation.
