Health Experts to Address Nigeria's Policy Challenges at October Conference

Health policymakers, lawmakers, healthcare workers and others will gather in Abuja this October. They will discuss how Nigeria can close the gap between health policies and their execution.

The gathering is for the 2026 National Health Equity Conference. It will take place from October 13 to 15 at the Nigeria National Merit Award House in Maitama, Abuja.

OneBarrow International Limited is organizing the conference. The theme is, “From Policy to Impact: Care Coordination as the Core Engine of Health Equity.”

The organizers say the meeting will look at how better coordination at different levels of the healthcare system can help improve access to care, service quality, and treatment continuity.

Many stakeholders are expected to attend. This includes policymakers, lawmakers, healthcare regulators, development partners, professional groups, healthcare workers, civil society organizations, patient and community groups, academics, and private sector representatives.

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, will be the Chief Host. Amos Magaji, the Chairman of the House Committee on Health Services, and the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, are set to join as Special Guests of Honour.

Yemi Ajao, the CEO of OneBarrow International Limited, says the conference will focus on turning existing health policies into actions.

“Nigeria has developed important health policies and frameworks, but the real test is what happens when those policies reach the people and communities they are designed to serve,” Mr Ajao said.

He added that the conference will look at how these policies are carried out at the federal, state, and local government levels. Collaboration among healthcare workers will also be examined.

According to him, better teamwork among doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab scientists, health managers, and others could help fix gaps in healthcare delivery.

“Every healthcare cadre has a unique and complementary role to play. The patient experiences the health system as one system, regardless of how many professionals or institutions are involved in their care,” he explained.

He stressed that better referral systems, communication, and accountability are key to improving coordination in the health system.

The organizers pointed out that health equity will be another key focus of the conference. They want to look at how poor coordination affects those who struggle to access healthcare.

The meeting will also discuss the role of technology, data, and citizen involvement in making healthcare more accountable.

Topics expected to come up include digital feedback systems, transparency, access to health information, and awareness of patients’ rights.

Mr Ajao emphasized that citizens need ways to give feedback on healthcare services and join discussions about care quality.

“Citizens must understand their rights, have meaningful channels to provide feedback and be empowered to participate in conversations about the quality of care they receive,” he said.

The organizers plan to create a post-conference report and an implementation roadmap with recommendations and commitments from participants.

They said this roadmap will help with policy execution, track commitments, and strengthen collaboration among all involved. The meeting aims to go beyond just identifying problems to developing real solutions that can be applied across Nigeria’s healthcare system.