Paper short abstract:

This paper is an attempt at looking beyond the mere presence of institution, to gauging the potentials of sound leadership in building strong and resilient institutions that could in turn, positively impact on health outcomes. while facilitating the realisation of health related SDGs in Nigeria.

Paper long abstract:

Nigeria has some of the most disturbing health indicators in sub Saharan Africa and indeed the world. The WHO estimates that about 157 out of 1000 Nigerian children annually die before their fifth birthdays, from preventable/treatable diseases. This is aside the fact that Nigeria contributes about 10% of global maternal mortality though it hosts just 2% of the world female population. This narrative positions Nigeria as the 2nd highest contributor to global under five mortality, and registers Nigeria as a major contributor to global disease burden. Efforts at addressing this challenge is mostly hinged on a constellation of institutional and policy frames, like the National Health Act 2014, the National Health Policy 2016, the National Health Insurance Scheme, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, as well as a wide array of international support and interventions for strengthening the health care delivery system, facilitated by a fairly large health human resource base (as reported by the registers of the various health professional bodies and associations). Ironically however, the presence of these institutions do not seem to have had a corresponding effect on health outcomes in Nigeria. This paper is an attempt at looking beyond the mere presence of institution, to gauging the potentials of sound leadership in building strong and resilient institutions that could in turn, positively impact on health outcomes, while facilitating the realisation of health related SDGs in Nigeria.