TIME magazine released its 2025 list of 100 Most Influential People in Global Health, recognizing Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate, for his transformative leadership in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The inclusion of Bako-Aiyegbusi, reportedly a Nigerian health innovator, lacks confirmation in official TIME announcements, suggesting a possible error or unverified claim. Pate’s recognition highlights his efforts to expand universal health coverage, improve vaccine access, and combat infectious diseases in a nation of 220 million, where healthcare spending is 4.6% of GDP.
Pate, a physician and former World Bank health expert, has driven reforms since 2023, including a $1.5 billion Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, serving 12 million Nigerians in 2024. His policies increased vaccination rates for measles and polio by 20%, reducing under-five mortality to 104 per 1,000 live births. Pate also launched Nigeria’s first AI-driven disease surveillance system, detecting 1,200 outbreaks in 2024, a 30% improvement over manual methods. His advocacy for local pharmaceutical production cut drug import costs by 15%, saving $200 million annually.
The TIME list, which includes global figures like WHO’s Tedros Ghebreyesus, underscores Pate’s role in addressing Nigeria’s 7,000-doctor shortage and 76% out-of-pocket health costs. Challenges persist, with 40% of rural areas lacking primary care facilities.
Pate’s 2025 agenda includes training 10,000 health workers and expanding telemedicine to 500 communities. The unconfirmed mention of Bako-Aiyegbusi may reflect Nigeria’s growing health tech scene, but without verified contributions, Pate remains the focal point of Nigeria’s global health influence, driving policies to meet 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.