By Lizzy Carr
The Bauchi State Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has completed the screening of 60 shortlisted candidates for the Cohort 2.0 National Health Fellowship Programme, marking the final stage of the recruitment process in the state.
The screening exercise was conducted at the Ministry’s Emergency Operations Centre, where the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Consultant for Bauchi State, Ibrahim Mohammed, explained that the exercise was designed to evaluate candidates’ competencies and verify their credentials ahead of final selection.
According to Mohammed, the application portal was opened several months ago by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the National SWAp Coordination Office. Applicants were first assessed online before successful candidates were invited for the physical interview stage.
“This is the last phase of the recruitment process. The physical interview enables us to properly assess the competence of candidates and authenticate their documents. After this, successful fellows will be deployed to their respective local government areas,” he said.
He disclosed that three candidates were shortlisted from each of Bauchi State’s 20 local government areas, bringing the total number to 60. Ultimately, one fellow will be selected per local government, in line with the structure adopted during the first cohort.
Mohammed explained that the programme is designed to groom young health leaders who will act as a vital link between communities and health facilities, thereby strengthening grassroots healthcare delivery and improving health outcomes.
The National Health Fellowship Programme, an initiative of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, has already made notable impact in Bauchi and other states.
“We have success stories from previous fellows, including one who developed a digital accountability application now under consideration for statewide adoption, and another in Borno State who introduced a community-based health insurance model using farm produce to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare costs,” Mohammed noted.
He added that the interview process is independently conducted by panels, with assessments uploaded in real time to a national dashboard. Successful candidates are automatically selected based on their average scores.
Candidates, he said, are evaluated across four thematic areas: motivation; leadership and initiative; collaboration and teamwork; and ethics, with ethics identified as a critical component in the health sector.
Addressing concerns about some applicants appearing without NYSC certificates, Mohammed said the matter had been escalated to the national office.
“Ideally, no candidate should reach this stage without an NYSC certificate. However, where an entire local government is affected, the national office will review the process to ensure no LGA is denied representation,” he explained.
Also speaking, a member of the interview panel representing the traditional institution, Alhaji Abdullahi Marafa, described the screening exercise as successful and impactful.
He noted that candidates were drawn from all 20 local government areas, ensuring fairness, inclusiveness, and equal representation.
“When these fellows are deployed, every local government will benefit directly. This will help health policies, including those aligned with World Health Organization standards, reach all parts of the state,” he said.
Marafa advised successful fellows to be diligent, committed, and community-focused in the discharge of their duties.
“They must not restrict themselves to office work alone. They should visit communities, supervise health activities, and engage directly with people, especially in rural areas where misconceptions about health policies still exist,” he added.
Some of the candidates, including Abdulrahman Ibrahim and Ahmed Abdullahi, expressed readiness to contribute meaningfully to community health development through the programme.
Follow: www.krestnews.com