The Nigerian government has officially launched the Southern Tradition Rulers Council Primary Health Care Committee, an initiative aimed at increasing immunisation uptake across southern communities.
The inauguration was attended by Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate, who described the committee as “vital to boost primary health‑care penetration throughout Nigeria.” He emphasized that engaging traditional rulers would help bridge gaps between health services and the populations they serve.
Dr Muyi Aina, Director General of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said the new body represents a “significant step” in building trust between the government and local communities. Aina highlighted the committee’s role in the national polio eradication effort, noting that, in line with global targets, Nigeria aims to be free of circulating vaccine‑derived poliovirus by the end of 2027.
Supporting the launch, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife (Ojaja II), pledged the backing of southern traditional leaders for the federal government’s basic‑health‑care agenda. “As a face of Southern Nigeria, you can see that we are all fully represented here across the board. … Honorable Minister, please rest assured. We are with you,” he said.
According to DAILY, the committee will be chaired by Oba Ogunwusi and will include the chairs of traditional rulers’ councils from Edo, Anambra, Delta, Abia and other southern states. The collective leadership is expected to mobilise community support for routine immunisation, maternal‑child health services and other primary‑care programmes.
Earlier, Dr Mahmud Zubaira, Head of Mission at the Centre for Well‑being and Integrated Nutrition Solutions (C‑WINS), assured the monarchs that stakeholders will provide the necessary support to strengthen primary health services nationwide.
The formation of the Southern Tradition Rulers Council Primary Health Care Committee aligns with Nigeria’s broader strategy to improve health outcomes by leveraging cultural authority and local governance structures. By incorporating traditional leaders into the health‑system framework, the government hopes to enhance vaccine confidence, reduce disease incidence and accelerate progress toward universal health coverage. The committee’s activities will commence immediately, with coordinated outreach planned for the upcoming immunisation campaigns.
