LAGOS, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has called for a bold shift in global health governance—one that puts Africa at the centre of decision-making, innovation, financing, and trade.
Speaking at the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit in Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday, Pate said it is time for a “new vision for global health” that reflects African priorities and leadership.
“Global health is often described through the lens of a few priority issues, like HIV, malaria and tuberculosis,” Pate told the summit. “But these are framed by externally driven perspectives, leaving African voices, especially from poorer countries, less acknowledged.”
The Minister challenged existing global health structures, which he said are often shaped by donors and external actors, and do not adequately reflect Africa’s realities or ambitions.
Instead, he highlighted that most of the real health gains in Africa over the last 25 years have come from within — through domestic financing, policy reforms, and local leadership. “Most health progress in lower-income countries has depended on domestic financing and local leadership, with donor support playing a complementary role,” he said.
