By Atoyebi Nike
The World Bank and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have officially endorsed Nigeria’s Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) model as a global benchmark for sustainable health reform.
The endorsement came during a high-level dialogue on “Scaling Health Reforms” at the 2025 World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., where global leaders discussed strategies to strengthen healthcare financing, promote local pharmaceutical production, and improve primary health service delivery in developing economies.
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, presented the country’s achievements under the SWAp framework, explaining that it aligns government and donor investments with national health priorities to maximise efficiency and results.
According to him, the approach has delivered tangible progress, particularly in the revitalisation of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the country.
“In the first half of 2025, facilities supported through the SWAp programme recorded over 80 million patient visits a fourfold increase compared to the same period in 2023,” Pate revealed.
He attributed the milestone to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which places strong emphasis on equitable access to quality healthcare and improved productivity.
Officials from the World Bank and WHO commended Nigeria’s coordinated strategy, describing the SWAp model as a “practical, scalable framework” for other developing nations seeking to strengthen health systems and ensure accountability in funding. Both organisations pledged continued technical and financial assistance to expand the model’s implementation across more Nigerian states.
Analysts note that the international recognition reflects growing confidence in Nigeria’s ability to drive transformative health reforms. By pooling domestic and external resources into a unified, results-based structure, the SWAp model is expected to enhance efficiency, reduce duplication, and accelerate progress toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
