The World Bank and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have endorsed Nigeria’s Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) model as a leading framework for achieving sustainable and coordinated health sector reform in developing countries.
The endorsement came during a high-level dialogue on “Scaling Health Reforms” held at the 2025 World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C. The session brought together global health leaders, ministers, and development partners to explore innovative strategies for financing healthcare, strengthening local pharmaceutical production, and improving access to primary health services in low and middle-income countries.
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, presented the country’s progress under the SWAp framework, noting that it aligns both government and donor investments with national health priorities to promote efficiency and accountability in resource use.
Pate highlighted that the initiative has produced notable outcomes, especially in the revitalisation of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the country. He disclosed that in the first half of 2025 alone, facilities supported through the SWAp programme recorded over 80 million patient visits—a fourfold increase compared to the same period in 2023.
He credited the progress to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which places strong emphasis on expanding access to quality healthcare and enhancing the productivity of Nigerians through improved health services.
Officials of the World Bank and WHO commended Nigeria’s leadership for its coordinated and transparent approach to reform, describing the SWAp model as a practical and adaptable framework that other developing nations could replicate. They also pledged continued technical and financial support to help expand the model’s implementation across states and deepen its impact nationwide.
The international recognition, observers say, reflects growing confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to strengthen its health systems and deliver measurable results. The SWAp approach pools both domestic and external resources into a unified results-based framework designed to improve efficiency, reduce duplication, and promote transparency in funding.
Nigeria had earlier launched the 1.2 billion dollar SWAp initiative in 2024 through the Federal Ministry of Health in partnership with state health ministries and development partners. The programme aims to tackle persistent challenges in the sector such as limited financing, poor infrastructure, weak data systems, and shortage of skilled personnel.
Dr. Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, the National Coordinator of the SWAp programme, explained that the strategy was created to ensure greater alignment among partners and ensure that all investments contribute directly to national health goals and measurable outcomes.
Since its introduction, the SWAp framework has helped unify donor efforts, streamline project execution, and enhance accountability in the use of funds. Health analysts believe that with the endorsement from the World Bank and WHO, Nigeria is well positioned to become a model for health sector reform in Africa and move closer to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
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World Bank, WHO Commend Nigeria’s drive for Accountability in Health Investment
The World Bank and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have endorsed Nigeria’s Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) model as a leading framework for achieving sustainable and
