𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀: 𝗔𝗶𝘆𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘄𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮, 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮.

The Ondo State Government has commenced the distribution of appointment letters to more than 930 newly recruited health professionals, marking a significant milestone in Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.

The exercise, which began at the headquarters of the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (OSPHCDA) in Akure, covers a broad spectrum of health professionals, including medical doctors, nurses, midwives, community health extension workers, laboratory scientists, pharmacy technicians, health information officers, scientific officers and other essential healthcare personnel.

The recruitment exercise follows Governor Aiyedatiwa’s approval of a large-scale employment programme aimed at addressing critical manpower shortages in the health sector and improving access to quality healthcare services, particularly at the grassroots level. The governor had repeatedly pledged to recruit more health workers to strengthen the state's healthcare system and fill vacancies created by retirements, resignations and migration of professionals.

Records show that in March 2026, the Ondo State Government formally approved the recruitment of healthcare workers across various cadres under the Hospitals Management Board and other health institutions. The approval covered medical officers, nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, optometrists, health information officers, radiographers, scientific officers, public health officers, pharmacy technicians, dental technicians and other support personnel. Interested applicants were subsequently invited to submit their applications as part of the recruitment process.

The recruitment exercise involved documentation, screening and verification of credentials to ensure that only qualified candidates were considered for appointment. Government officials maintained that the process was transparent, merit-driven and designed to attract competent professionals capable of improving service delivery across public health facilities in the state.

Speaking during the flag-off of the appointment letter distribution, the Permanent Secretary of OSPHCDA, Dr. Francis Akanbiemu, described the exercise as a major intervention that would significantly boost primary healthcare services across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State.

According to him, the newly recruited personnel will be deployed immediately to primary healthcare centres, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities where shortages of medical personnel have affected healthcare delivery.

Dr. Akanbiemu commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for prioritising the health sector despite prevailing economic challenges, noting that the recruitment demonstrates the administration’s commitment to building a resilient and efficient healthcare system. He explained that strengthening human resources remains central to achieving universal health coverage and improving health outcomes across the state.

"The Governor understands that quality healthcare begins with skilled and motivated personnel. This recruitment is a clear demonstration of his commitment to ensuring that residents of Ondo State have access to competent healthcare professionals wherever they live," he said.

The Permanent Secretary further noted that the recruitment complements other ongoing health sector reforms under the Aiyedatiwa administration, including the revitalisation of primary healthcare centres, provision of essential drugs and medical equipment, as well as regular training and retraining of health workers.

Of the total number recruited, 800 personnel were employed across various healthcare cadres, while an earlier batch of 130 doctors and nurses had already been recruited and documented, bringing the total number of new health professionals employed by the state government to over 930.

The deployment of the new workforce is expected to reduce patient waiting time, improve maternal and child healthcare services, increase immunisation coverage and strengthen disease prevention and response mechanisms across the state.

Beneficiaries of the recruitment exercise expressed appreciation to Governor Aiyedatiwa for the opportunity. A newly appointed nurse-midwife, Mrs. Adebimpe Olorunfemi, alongside pharmacy technician Mrs. Ajibike Afolayan and Scientific Officer Azeez Olayinka, described their appointments as life-changing and pledged to serve diligently.

They assured the government and the people of Ondo State that they would justify the confidence reposed in them through professionalism, dedication and compassionate service.

The government also disclosed that the deployment of the new health workers will be closely monitored to ensure equitable distribution across all communities. Community leaders and Ward Development Committees have been urged to support the newly deployed personnel and provide an enabling environment for effective service delivery.

With the latest recruitment drive, the Aiyedatiwa administration continues to demonstrate its determination to address healthcare workforce shortages and improve access to quality healthcare for residents across the Sunshine State.

For many communities, especially those in rural and hard-to-reach areas, the arrival of additional doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals represents renewed hope for better healthcare services and improved health outcomes.