Mirian Gom 
IBADAN, Nigeria – Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde inducts 3,933 newly recruited primary healthcare workers, marking one of the state’s largest workforce expansions aimed at strengthening grassroots healthcare delivery.
Speaking at the induction ceremony on Thursday, Makinde describes health workers as the backbone of effective healthcare, stressing that primary healthcare professionals are closest to communities where intervention is most critical.
“This recruitment addresses long-standing human resource gaps and strengthens teamwork at the grassroots,” the governor says.
Makinde argues that infrastructure and equipment alone cannot fix the health sector without skilled personnel.
“If health workers are adequately available, 70 per cent of the challenges in healthcare will be resolved,” he says.
He assures the recruits that postings will not expose them to hardship, pledging that the administration will prioritise welfare and career development.
“You have chosen a rewarding profession, and we will ensure it remains so,” Makinde adds.
Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, Muideen Olatunji, says the recruitment is strategic and central to the state’s ongoing primary healthcare reforms.
According to him, the intake spans doctors, nurses, midwives, community health practitioners, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, administrative personnel and security staff.
“This diversity strengthens multidisciplinary service delivery across facilities,” Olatunji says.
He urges the inductees to uphold professionalism, integrity and teamwork, stressing respect for patient dignity.
The event also features the unveiling of operational guidelines that will govern conduct, deployment and performance standards for the newly inducted workers.
Officials say the recruitment is expected to significantly improve service coverage, disease prevention and health outcomes across Oyo State.
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