🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Osinbajo and healthcare stakeholders advocate innovative financing for African healthcare systems
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
Former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and healthcare stakeholders have called for innovative financing mechanisms to address funding challenges in Africa's healthcare systems. This call was made at a high-level roundtable in Lagos, organized by Future Perspectives, founded by Osinbajo, in partnership with the Gates Foundation. Osinbajo stated that government funding alone cannot meet the growing demands of healthcare and emphasized the need for alternative financing models to expand access and reduce reliance on patient out-of-pocket payments. He highlighted the necessity of stronger collaboration among government, private investors, financial institutions, and development partners to build resilient healthcare systems. Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, representing the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Pate, noted that limited insurance coverage, at 10 to 12 percent, is a major barrier in Nigeria, and expanding access requires significant investment and partnerships. He also pointed out that smaller healthcare providers struggle to access growth capital. Dr. Tolulope Adewole, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of MedServe, representing Aminu Umar-Sadiq, Managing Director of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, identified affordability as a key challenge affecting healthcare demand. Dapo Akisanya, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AfyA Care,
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Mrs. Angela Emuwa, Chairman of PUNCH Nigeria Limited, and Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC, were among 10 women honored at the third Extraordinary Women Advancing Healthcare EWAH Awards in Lagos. Mrs. Emuwa received recognition for her contributions to healthcare development, innovation, and community impact, particularly in deepening access to healthcare in Nigeria. Other awardees included Njide Ndili, President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria; Viviane Ihekweazu, Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch; and Dr. Amina Mohammed-Baloni, former Kaduna State Commissioner for Health. The EWAH Awards, which originated from the Commonwealth Institute, aim to acknowledge the impact of women in the health sector, provide visibility for their work, and encourage their efforts to strengthen healthcare systems and bridge the gender gap in healthcare leadership. Mrs. Emuwa stated that the award affirmed PUNCH's commitment to advancing healthcare in Nigeria through investigative journalism, focusing on areas such as maternal and child health, immunization, and public health awareness. She emphasized PUNCH's role in influencing policies and holding institutions accountable. Clare Omatseye, Chairman of the Board of Directors, EWAH Award Nigeria, highlighted that the awards seek to inspire transformation and meaningful contributions. Dr. Bisi Bright, Regional Representative for EWAH Awards Africa,
Must ReadOutstanding consumer credit in Nigeria decreased by N780bn in February 2026, reaching N3.03tn from N3.81tn in January. This decline, detailed in the Central Bank of Nigeria's CBN February 2026 Economic Report, is attributed to high borrowing costs impacting household demand for loans, despite improving macroeconomic conditions. The reduction was observed in both personal and retail loans. In contrast, total credit to the broader economy expanded by 0.82 percent to N57.88tn, driven by growth in agriculture, industry, and services sectors. The services sector accounted for 56.78 percent of total credit. Monetary conditions showed signs of easing in February, with a relaxation of the policy rate and cooling inflation, though lending rates remained high. The banking system experienced stronger liquidity, increasing by 23.69 percent to N3.08tn, due to fiscal injections and maturing Nigerian Treasury Bills and Federal Government of Nigeria Bonds. The domestic economy strengthened, with business activity rising to 56.40 in February, indicating faster expansion across various sectors. Inflationary pressures continued to ease, with headline inflation slowing marginally to 15.06 percent in February. However, headline inflation rose to 15.69 percent in April 2026, and food inflation increased to 16.06 percent. The CBN's Monetary Policy Committee MPC retained the benchmark interest rate at 26.5 percent, citing external risks and inflationary pressure. CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso noted a
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