The coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Muhammad Pate and the director of nutrition, Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, have made the 2025 TIME100 Health list.

A statement by the federal health ministry said on Friday.

TIME100 Health is 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.

The recognition of two Nigerians from the same institution underscores Nigeria’s rising influence in global health leadership, said the health ministry.

“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,” the statement explained.

It noted that Mr Pate’s 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.

Mr Pate was also recognised for accelerating malaria elimination efforts, including introducing the malaria vaccine, promoting local production of health commodities and strengthening the health workforce for national resilience.

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

The ministry stated, “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 anaemia and support healthier pregnancies.”

Ms Bako-Aiyegbusi was recognised for the expansion of large-scale food fortification programmes.

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

The health ministry stated that the full TIME100 Health list and accompanying tributes will appear in the May 26 issue of TIME.

(NAN)