Kwara Lawmaker Showcases State’s Gains on Health Agenda at Abuja Summit

Kwara State lawmaker, Ogbeni Seun Ogunniyi, has outlined the state’s progress on the National Legislative Health Agenda during a high-level panel session at the 6th Annual Legislative Summit on Health in Abuja.

Ogunniyi, who chairs the House Committee on Health in the Kwara State House of Assembly, spoke at the summit hosted at the Transcorp Hilton on 15 November by the National Assembly Joint Committees on Health and the Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage (LNU).

Legislators, development partners and senior health-sector stakeholders from across Nigeria attended the sessions, which focused on strengthening legislative support for universal health coverage at national and sub-national levels.

This year’s summit, themed “Building Responsive, Sustainable Health Systems: Leveraging Legislative Action for Digital Innovation, Human Capital, and Infrastructure for UHC,” examined how digital tools and renewable-energy solutions could expand access to care and support power supply in health facilities. Senior government officials, civil society leaders, and representatives of global development agencies were present.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Jubrin Barau CFR, formally opened the summit, while the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate CON, delivered the keynote address.

The Minister of Power, represented by the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Alhaji Abba Abubakar Aliyu, presented a paper on renewable-energy options for primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities. The gathering was convened by Senator Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and the LNU.

Speaking during a panel session, Ogunniyi detailed Kwara State’s implementation efforts under Governor Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq CON, highlighting progress in primary healthcare revitalisation and workforce support.

He noted the state’s investment in essential equipment for PHCs, including analysers, beds, digital-record tools and drug supplies, alongside the installation of boreholes and solar-powered cold stores across all 16 LGAs to strengthen vaccine storage.

He added that the state government continues to prioritise the welfare and retention of healthcare workers.

Ogunniyi also listed broader advances in the health sector, including the accreditation of major hospitals for training nurses and pharmacy interns, a development he described as pivotal for building local health-workforce capacity. He cited periodic Integrated Public Health Outreach Programmes that deliver free care to vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, children under five and pregnant women.

According to him, the state also maintains strong partnerships with development organisations to expand training and improve outcomes, particularly in underserved communities.

Other attendees included Hon Amos Gwamna Magaji, Chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Health; Hon Dr Adesola Adedayo; the WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Pavel Ursu; the Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salma Ibrahim Nas; the Coordinator of the Nigerian Health Sector Reform and Civil Society Coalition, Dr Muhammed Lecky; and the Chairman of the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning, Dr Ejike Orji.