Executive Director, International Society for Media in Public Health, ISMPH, Chief Dr. Mrs Moji Makanjuola, MFR selected to represent Civil Society Organisations
By Abdulrahman Aliagan
In what many health sector observers have described as a defining achievement of the current administration, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has taken a bold and far-reaching step toward revolutionising healthcare delivery in Nigeria with the inauguration of the National Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety.
Chaired by Prof. Pate, with the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, serving as Alternate Chair, the Task Force represents a strategic shift toward a health system anchored on quality, safety, accountability, and public trust. Analysts say the initiative underscores the Minister’s determination to confront preventable harm in healthcare and institutionalise global best practices across Nigeria’s health system.
The high-powered Task Force brings together an influential mix of policymakers, regulators, professional bodies, academics, and international health experts. Its membership includes the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju S. Kachollom, mni; heads of key regulatory councils such as the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria; as well as leaders of professional associations, including the Nigerian Medical Association.
International expertise also features prominently, with contributions from professionals affiliated with New York University School of Medicine, NYC Health + Hospitals, Indiana University School of Medicine, and patient safety advocates from Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States—reflecting Prof. Pate’s resolve to align Nigeria’s healthcare standards with proven global models.
A major highlight of the Task Force, however, is the deliberate inclusion of civil society, a move widely applauded as evidence of the Minister’s people-centred reform agenda. Dr. (Chief) Mrs. Moji Makanjuola, MFR—veteran journalist, ace broadcaster, and pioneer of health journalism in Nigeria—stands as the only representative of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the national body.
In an exclusive interview with Time Nigeria, Dr. Mrs. Makanjuola described the Task Force as a rare opportunity to place citizens and patients at the core of healthcare governance.
“For once, it’s going to be people-oriented, in the sense that there’s a deliberate attempt to engage the community,” she said. “But for me, it’s not just about engagement; it’s about letting people know their rights—patients’ rights—where to go, who to lay their complaints to, and following it through.”
She stressed that effective clinical governance must go beyond policy statements to practical accountability, noting that patients must be empowered with information and clear reporting channels.
“If people know the kind of services they are supposed to get, and they are not getting it, they should have a place to go to lay their complaints and be able to follow through,” she added. “That is where deterrence comes in, so that best practices are displayed at every level of medical intervention.”
— Moji Makanjuola, MFR
Dr. Makanjuola further expressed optimism that the Task Force would institutionalise knowledge management and transparency in the health system, ensuring that healthcare providers understand that poor practices can be reported and addressed.
Her remarks reinforce the broader vision behind Prof. Pate’s initiative: a healthcare system where patient safety is non-negotiable, citizens are informed of their rights, and accountability mechanisms are functional and trusted.
The Task Force is also empowered to co-opt additional experts as needed, highlighting the flexible and inclusive nature of the reform framework. Members are expected to contribute their expertise, networks, and goodwill toward embedding clinical excellence and patient safety as national standards.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with longstanding healthcare challenges, many stakeholders view the establishment of the National Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety as one of Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate’s most significant strides—an initiative that not only strengthens institutions but also gives patients and communities a voice. For supporters of the reform, it marks a decisive move toward a safer, more accountable, and people-focused healthcare system nationwide.
