By Danjuma Amodu | February 17, 2026
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has welcomed traditional and religious leaders to a summit aimed at advancing the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
The summit, themed “Role of Traditional and Religious Leaders in Advancing the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII)”, is part of the Renewed Hope Health Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Dr. Salako said the gathering was a historic milestone in the country’s journey towards a healthier and more prosperous nation.
He welcomed the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and other top functionaries to the summit, held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.
The Minister expressed gratitude to traditional and religious leaders for honouring the invitation, saying their presence was crucial to the success of the summit.
He highlighted the importance of combatting food insecurity, especially in hard-to-reach communities, and lauded the First Lady’s initiative, the National Community Food Bank Program.
“The National Community Food Bank Program demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the First Lady to achieve zero hunger in our country,” Dr. Salako said.
“The Minister added that this initiative promotes the health vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda by addressing the nutrition gap, safeguarding our children’s cognitive and physical development, and fostering community accountability.”
Dr. Salako outlined the objectives of the summit, including building awareness and ownership of the NHSRII, strengthening community engagement, and securing strategic partnerships between the government and traditional and religious leaders.
He cited examples of successful collaborations between traditional leaders and health agencies, including the 2024 polio outbreak response in Nigeria, where traditional leaders resolved 65% of reported vaccine refusals.
The Minister invited participants to engage in the summit through structured plenary and feedback sessions, panel dialogue, and defining action pathways.
He expressed confidence that the summit would yield a communiqué outlining collective actions for follow-through.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was praised for her commitment to the welfare of Nigerian families and her leadership in promoting food security and healthcare.
The summit aimed to transition from government-led reform to community-owned healthcare systems for better outcomes, with traditional and religious leaders playing a key role in promoting trust, accountability, and driving demand for healthcare services.
Dr. Salako said the expectation was that every leader in attendance would leave the summit as a strategic partner and champion of the NHSRII, committed to treating the health of every Nigerian as a matter of urgent right.
The summit is another first under President Tinubu, aimed at strengthening community engagement and accelerating Nigeria’s journey towards universal health coverage.
