Hussaini Ibrahim 
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has been named to the Devex Power 50 list, a global ranking that recognises influential leaders shaping the future of international development and global health.
The recognition places Pate among a select group of policymakers, development experts, and innovators whose work is driving systemic change, and underscores his growing influence in efforts to reform health systems in Africa and beyond.
Health sector analysts say Pate’s inclusion reflects his sustained advocacy for health equity, local capacity building, and health sovereignty, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Since assuming office, the minister has pushed policies aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s fragile health system while reducing overdependence on foreign aid and imports.
In September, Pate announced the commencement of local production of anti-malaria bed nets in Nigeria — a landmark shift in the country’s public health strategy. The initiative marked the first time insecticide-treated nets would be manufactured domestically, despite decades of mass distribution through donor-supported programmes.
The move is expected to boost local manufacturing, create jobs, and enhance supply chain resilience, while supporting Nigeria’s broader goal of self-sufficiency in essential health commodities.
Public health experts note that Pate’s leadership aligns with a growing continental push for locally driven, sustainable health solutions, especially as donor funding becomes increasingly uncertain and disease burdens continue to rise.
Devex, a leading global development media platform, said its Power 50 list highlights individuals who “influence where development money goes, how policies are shaped, and how global challenges are addressed.”
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