The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, have been recognized on TIME Magazine’s 2025 TIME100 Health list.
This prestigious list, released on Thursday, highlights global leaders driving innovation, shaping public policy, and revolutionizing healthcare systems.
Joining them is Nigerian geneticist Abasi Ene-Obong, founder and CEO of Syndicate Bio, a global genomics firm. Ene-Obong, also known as the husband of Nollywood actress Ini Dima-Okojie, earned his spot for groundbreaking contributions to genetic research and personalized medicine.
The trio represents the only Nigerians on the list, which also features international icons like the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton; WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; philanthropist Melinda Gates; and Novartis CEO, Vas Narasimhan.
TIME described Pate as a reformer shaped by personal loss and global perspective. His commitment to health reform was deeply influenced by the childhood loss of a friend who, after being paralyzed by polio, later died in an accident. This tragedy inspired Pate’s lifelong dedication to improving healthcare outcomes.
“I’m a nomad at heart,” Pate told TIME. “But I returned home in 2023 to become Nigeria’s Minister for Health and Social Welfare.”
Since his return, Pate has led significant reforms under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), backed by President Bola Tinubu.
His policies have enabled the vaccination of over 12 million girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the upgrade of more than 900 primary health care centres serving 12 million people across Nigeria. His “Know Your Numbers” campaign has screened 10 million Nigerians for blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol levels.
“Our population cannot afford to get sick,” Pate said. “A healthier population will fuel Nigeria’s economy. It will shape growth, prosperity, and a new direction—for every community and vulnerable child.”
Reacting to the honour in a post on X, Pate expressed gratitude for the recognition.
“Backed by the visionary and bold leadership of H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I am deeply honoured to share that Nigeria’s ongoing health sector reform, under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (#NHSRII), has received global recognition, as I have been named to TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in Global Health,” he wrote.
He added, “Proud to also have been named along with the Director of Nutrition in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr (Mrs) Ladidi K. Bako-Aiyegbusi.”
TIME hailed Bako-Aiyegbusi for her innovative, homegrown strategies to tackle Nigeria’s malnutrition crisis.
Working with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and private-sector partners, Bako-Aiyegbusi’s initiative aims to reach even the most nutritionally vulnerable families, many of whom cannot afford protein-rich or fresh foods.
“Even if families can’t afford protein and fresh vegetables, they can afford the much less expensive bouillon,” the TIME report noted. “Bako-Aiyegbusi hopes to see rates of malnutrition, stunting, and developmental disorders start to decline.”
Ene-Obong, founder of Syndicate Bio, believes addressing the lack of genetic testing in Africa is one of the most urgent healthcare challenges today.
To change underrepresented global genetic research, Ene-Obong has launched large-scale testing initiatives across the continent, aiming to make affordable cancer risk assessments available to the public.
He argues that the current underrepresentation skews cancer treatments and contributes to higher mortality rates among people of African descent. His work aims to close these gaps and advance precision medicine globally.