Muhammad Ali Pate, minister of health and social welfare, and Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, director of nutrition at the federal ministry of health, have been named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in Global Health.

The list, released on Thursday, celebrates trailblazers who are shaping policy, driving innovation, and making significant strides in the global health space.

Pate and Bako-Aiyegbusi are the only Nigerians to make the magazine’s 2025 list. 

TIME described Pate as a reformer shaped by both personal experiences and global exposure, while Bako-Aiyegbusi was recognised for her innovative, homegrown approaches to addressing Nigeria’s malnutrition crisis.

Reacting to the recognition in a post shared on X, Pate expressed gratitude for being recognised alongside Bako-Aiyegbusi.

He said the honour reflects Nigeria’s ongoing health reform efforts under the health sector renewal investment initiative (NHSRII), which is backed by President Bola Tinubu.

“I am deeply honored to share that Nigeria’s ongoing health sector reform, under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (#NHSRII), has received global recognition, as I have been named to @TIME’s list of the 100 Most #Time100 Influential People in Global Health, released today,” he wrote.

“Proud to also have been named along with the Director of Nutrition in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare @Fmohnigeria, Dr. (Mrs) Ladidi K. Bako-Aiyegbusi.”