Prof Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the 2023 APC Governorship Candidate in Plateau State, the current National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has once again proven his deep sense of public service through the ongoing free medical outreach across Plateau State.
The program, which traversed all senatorial districts, is drawing to a close with a grand finale in Jos, taking place simultaneously at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Vom Christian Hospital in Vom, and the Fortune University Teaching Hospital (Sunnah Hospital) in Ungwan Rimi. This laudable medical intervention has brought quality healthcare closer to hundreds of citizens – a gesture that clearly shows empathy, compassion, and a genuine concern for human welfare.
What makes this act even more striking is its timing. Barely days after the burial of his beloved mother – an event graced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, several governors, senators, and dignitaries from across the country – Prof. Nentawe chose to channel his grief into service.
The medical outreach is a powerful reflection of the values he inherited from his late mother, whose life was defined by kindness, generosity, and an unshakable commitment to humanity.
That said, while the outreach is praiseworthy in scope and intent, the decision to bring in foreign medical practitioners raises legitimate concerns. It suggests a lack of faith in Nigeria’s own medical practitioners – practitioners that have earned worldwide respect for their skill and professionalism.
Nigerian doctors are among the best anywhere. They run departments in top hospitals across the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East. They are researchers, innovators, and lifesavers.
To overlook these brilliant minds in favour of imported practitioners for a local outreach sends an unfortunate message – one that undermines confidence in our homegrown professionals and the institutions that trained them.
This also speaks to a deeper national issue that the tendency to look outward for solutions that already exist within. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), for instance, should have ensured that an outreach of this magnitude was powered by local experts, thereby strengthening the nation’s healthcare capacity and reinforcing public trust in Nigerian professionals.
Nevertheless, there is no questioning Prof. Nentawe’s sincerity of purpose. His commitment to easing the suffering of ordinary Nigerians is visible and heartfelt. But as a national figure – both as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and as APC National Chairman – he must also set an example that uplifts confidence in Nigerian talent.
Humanitarian leadership is not only about providing relief; it is about empowering one’s own people. And empowerment begins with trust – trust in Nigerian hands, Nigerian intellect, and Nigerian excellence.
As this medical outreach comes to an end, its legacy should go beyond the lives it touched. It should serve as a reminder that the truest way to honour his late mother’s humanitarian spirit is by promoting Nigerian capacity, nurturing Nigerian pride, and relying on Nigerian expertise.
