Private philanthropic organisation, TY Danjuma Foundation, has signed a partnership agreement with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to boost domestic resource mobilisation and support sustainable health financing in Nigeria over the next ten years.
This agreement follows the United States’ decision under President Donald Trump to withdraw from the WHO, including ending its funding, which was one of the organisation’s biggest sources of finance.
Under this partnership, the Foundation will provide fully flexible funding of $2.26 million to support the WHO Country Office in Nigeria’s work plan until December 2034. It is primarily aimed at strengthening primary healthcare, maternal and child health, and building a resilient health system in Nigeria.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, Theophilus Danjuma, Founder of the Foundation, said the partnership was prompted by the US withdrawal.
“The reason I partnered WHO is Trump. Even before he became second-term President, he accused the WHO of all sorts of things, and he cut off funding”, he said.
He urged Nigerians to give in whatever way they can; time, money, or talent—and emphasised the need to teach young people the spirit of giving.
“Nobody is too poor to give. You can give your time, money, and other talents you may have. We should start teaching young people to develop the spirit of giving”, he urged.
Walter Mulombo, WHO Country Representative to Nigeria, described the partnership as a, “historic step in Nigeria’s journey toward sustainable, locally driven health financing.”
He said the collaboration was a strong example of domestic philanthropy supporting national health priorities and offered a model for resource mobilisation in Africa.
“This partnership has the potential to serve as a model for local philanthropy-led health investments to grow in Nigeria and mobilise additional philanthropists and private sector entities to contribute to national health initiatives”, he added.
Molumbo further said it demonstrated the transformative potential of domestic philanthropy aligned with national and global health goals.
Chilwe Ihekweazu, Acting Director-General of WHO Africa, said the funding was “deeply supportive of African-led solutions to African challenges.
“At a time when the global health sector is grappling with a significant funding crisis, this long-term flexible support could not have been more timely. It provides WHO in Nigeria with a critical space to adapt and respond to an evolving health landscape.”
Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, represented by Godwin Ntadom, Director of Public Health, said the partnership would support a sustainable health system and help achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to him, the focus on reorientating health systems to primary health care and working in collaboration with relevant stakeholders will complement Government efforts to monitor the implementation of progress of PHC revitalisation, improve the quality and access to services across the life-course, with a targeted focus on integrated reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health and Nutrition (RMNCAHN), as well as health security without suffering financial hardship.
He praised the Foundation’s role, saying,
“The great effort of TY Danjuma Foundation cannot be emphasised—the enormous roles and support the organisation has played in health system strengthening in Nigeria. TY Danjuma Foundation has, over the years, worked to build the institutional capacity of groups, support innovations and ensure that the funding provided meets the needs of the target beneficiaries and is culturally relevant, among others.”
The Minister enthused that the collaboration that exists between WHO and TY Danjuma Foundation would help in adding value to the quality of life at all levels of the health care system in Nigeria.
