Governor Inuwa Yahaya Partners Gates Foundation to Strengthen Polio Immunization in Northern Nigeria
By, Abdulwahab Muhammad Bauchi
Abuja, December 4, 2025 — Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to eradicating polio in Nigeria, following a high-level meeting with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation delegation led by Global Polio Director, Kathy Neuzil.
The meeting, held at the Gombe Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, focused on expanding immunization coverage in hard-to-reach and security-challenged communities across Northern Nigeria. Discussions centered on strengthening security coordination, enhancing community mobilization, and establishing clear monitoring frameworks with timelines to accelerate progress toward a polio-free nation.
Security and Access
Governor Yahaya, who chairs both the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and the National Economic Council (NEC) Committee on Polio Eradication, emphasized the need for special security arrangements to protect frontline health workers.
“If it requires special security arrangements to protect health workers, we are fully prepared to facilitate that,” he stated, noting that new strategies are already being deployed to improve accessibility and ensure safety during upcoming immunization campaigns.
The “Gombe Model”
Highlighting Gombe State’s success, Yahaya referenced the “Gombe model” — built on strong community ownership, coordinated structures, and consistent political will — as a framework that could be replicated across Northern Nigeria to achieve better outcomes.
Gates Foundation’s Position
Kathy Neuzil praised the Governor’s leadership and the progress recorded in Gombe State, stressing that donors closely monitor political commitment and community engagement.
“Working together with state governments, especially under your leadership at the NSGF, gives us confidence that the remaining gaps can be closed,” Neuzil remarked.
Key Attendees
Gombe State Delegation: Dr. Habu Dahiru (Commissioner for Health), Dr. Abubakar Musa (Executive Secretary, GoHealth), Dr. Abdulrahman Shuaibu (Executive Secretary, Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development Agency).
Gates Foundation Delegation: Kathy Neuzil (Global Polio Director), Yusuf Yusufari (Deputy Director), Andrew Stein (Deputy Director).
Why This Matters
Nigeria’s fight against polio has faced persistent challenges due to insecurity in certain regions. The renewed partnership between the Gates Foundation and Northern governors, under Yahaya’s leadership, signals fresh momentum toward closing immunization gaps and sustaining the drive for eradication.
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