The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening preventive healthcare and promoting healthy lifestyles among Nigerians as a national priority.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja to commemorate the 2025 National Health Promotion Day, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, emphasized that health promotion remains central to achieving universal health coverage, reducing disease burden, and enhancing national productivity. He was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, mni.
This year’s celebration, themed “Health Promotion: The Catalyst for Sustainable Health and Well-being of Nigerians 2.0” and carrying the slogan “Promoting Healthy Choices for Healthy Lifestyles,” underscores the role of prevention and community awareness in building a healthier nation.
“Our slogan is a call to action for every Nigerian to make informed decisions about what we eat, how we live, and how we care for our environment,” Prof. Pate said.
He highlighted that the government is prioritizing health promotion as the foundation of preventive care, noting that many life-threatening diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and other non-communicable illnesses can be prevented through healthy lifestyle choices and sustained community awareness.
According to the Minister, Nigeria became the first country in the world to institutionalize October 29 as National Health Promotion Day in 2024 demonstrating national leadership in advancing public health and preventive medicine. The annual commemoration, he said, now serves as a national platform for mobilizing stakeholders around health awareness and community wellness.
Prof. Pate added that the “2.0” version of this year’s theme represented a digital upgrade in health promotion delivery, leveraging innovations such as mobile health apps, telemedicine, SMS campaigns, and online learning tools to reach underserved populations with accurate and accessible health information.
He further disclosed that the National Health Promotion Policy, developed by the Ministry, focused on empowering citizens and strengthening health literacy nationwide. The policy promote community-based education on disease prevention, hygiene, nutrition, mental health, and physical activity; early screening for chronic illnesses; and integration of health awareness into school curricula.
He called on all stakeholders including traditional and religious leaders to support policy implementation, strengthen preventive interventions, and promote health-seeking behaviour, particularly in rural and vulnerable communities.
In her remarks, the Director of the Family Health Department, Dr. Binyerem Ukaire, described preventive healthcare as a key pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. She stressed that health promotion offers a sustainable and cost-effective strategy to reduce disease burden, boost productivity, and support national development.
“The Ministry will continue to drive a multisectoral approach by integrating health promotion not only into health policies but also across education, labour, environment, and housing sectors,” she noted, commending both local and international partners for their ongoing support in strengthening community health systems.
Dr. Ukaire encouraged Nigerians to adopt healthy lifestyles through informed choices on diet, physical activity, hygiene, and environmental sanitation.
Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), Society for Family Health (SFH), Nutrition International (NI), International Rescue (IR), Pathfinder, PPFN, JHPIEGO, CCSI, and MSI, among others.
Activities marking the 2025 National Health Promotion Day included health talks, community sensitization road shows, fitness events, nutrition counseling, and free health screenings nationwide all aimed at promoting wellness and disease prevention.
