Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has reiterated the country’s determination to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) by 2030 through sustainable national efforts aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking as the special guest of honour at the 39th Stop TB Partnership Board Meeting in Manila, Philippines, Mrs. Tinubu said Nigeria is taking deliberate steps to reduce dependence on donor funding and strengthen domestic health systems to sustain progress in combating TB.
According to a statement by her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, the event drew over 180 participants from 47 countries to discuss strategies for ending TB worldwide.
Mrs. Tinubu, who serves as both the Global and National Stop TB Champion, described tuberculosis as “the world’s deadliest infectious disease,” stressing that the response must be locally driven. “The sustainability of TB response cannot depend solely on external assistance but on leadership, community engagement, and national coordination,” she said.
She noted that Nigeria has maintained momentum despite reduced international support, crediting “steadfast leadership and community involvement” for ensuring TB detection and treatment efforts did not decline in 2025.
“Health for all begins in our communities,” she said. “The fight against tuberculosis is not over, and our shared commitment is a reminder that we must act with urgency and compassion.”
Citing World Health Organization data, Mrs. Tinubu said TB kills about 1.3 million people globally each year. Nigeria, she added, remains among the eight countries accounting for two-thirds of global TB cases, with an estimated 479,000 infections and over 150,000 deaths recorded in 2023.
She commended the Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies, the Stop TB Partnership, and other stakeholders for ensuring transparency and accountability in deploying funds for TB testing, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as integrating services into primary healthcare.
The Chair of the Stop TB Partnership Board and Philippines Health Secretary, Teodoro Herbosa, said TB poses not only a health challenge but also a development issue, urging member nations to sustain their efforts.
The partnership’s Executive Director, Dr. Lucica Ditiu, highlighted the importance of integrating data systems with national governments to improve TB response. She disclosed that in the past two months, new grant facilities in five countries had screened 8,000 people, diagnosed 5,000, and enrolled 3,000 for preventive treatment.
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also attended the meeting. The previous edition of the Stop TB Partnership Board Meeting was hosted in Abuja in 2024.
