Nigeria has taken another step toward strengthening the health component of its Climate-Smart Agronomy Programme (CSAP) following a high-level visit by the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, to leading healthcare facilities operated by the Aster DM Healthcare Group in Dubai.
The visit, which included engagements at Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital and Aster Hospital, Al Qusais, focused on exploring healthcare models capable of supporting Nigeria’s climate adaptation agenda, particularly in agricultural and rural communities increasingly affected by climate-related health challenges.
Experts have noted that climate change is worsening health risks such as heat stress, respiratory illnesses, vector-borne diseases, and malnutrition—conditions that directly affect farm productivity and food security. Nigeria’s Climate-Smart Agronomy Programme integrates health services as a core pillar to ensure that farming communities remain productive, resilient, and economically stable.
The delegation included senior government officials, diplomats, and private sector stakeholders, among them Dr. Salaudeen Jimoh, Director of Hospital Services at the Federal Ministry of Health; H.E. Muhammad Aliyu, Nigeria’s Consul General in Dubai; and representatives of trade, investment, and maritime institutions.
Private sector participation was led by ZL Global Alliance LLC, represented by its founder, Dr. Abiola Bashorun, as part of efforts to attract international partnerships, expertise, and investment into Nigeria’s health–climate nexus.
During presentations and guided tours, Aster Group executives showcased advanced hospital management systems, centres of clinical excellence, digital health solutions, and referral models that could be adapted to Nigeria’s healthcare needs—particularly in climate-vulnerable agrarian regions.
Discussions also explored future cooperation in medical training, telemedicine, specialist referrals, and infrastructure development aimed at improving healthcare access for rural populations. Officials emphasized that a strong health system is critical to sustaining agricultural labour, improving nutrition outcomes, and achieving long-term food security.
Stakeholders described the engagement as a strategic move to align global best practices in healthcare delivery with Nigeria’s climate-smart development goals.
The visit is expected to pave the way for formal partnerships that will support the health services pillar of the Climate-Smart Agronomy Programme, reinforcing the government’s position that healthy farmers are essential to sustainable agriculture and national economic resilience.
