First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, on Monday, officially flagged off the National Measles-Rubella Vaccine Introduction Integrated Campaign in Abuja, declaring the exercise a collective resolve to end vaccine-preventable childhood diseases and safeguard the nation’s future.
The First Lady described the flag-off as ‘a declaration of our collective resolve as a nation to say ‘No More’ to the diseases that steal the future of our sons and daughters.’
She said measles and rubella remain among the leading causes of blindness, disability, and child mortality, noting that rubella infections during pregnancy could lead to blindness, deafness, or congenital heart defects in unborn children.
She emphasized that the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which seeks to guarantee every Nigerian child a healthy start in life and ensure that no mother dies while giving birth.
‘A vaccine in a vial does not save a child. A vaccine in a clinic does not protect a community. Protection only becomes real when that vaccine is injected into the arm of a child,’ she stressed, urging mothers to take their children for vaccination and fathers to support them.
Senator Tinubu also appealed to traditional and religious leaders to use their influence to dispel misinformation and encourage nationwide participation, noting their previous role in the success of the HPV vaccine rollout.
She reaffirmed her personal commitment to promoting vaccine uptake and pledged to mobilize State First Ladies, wives of Local Government Chairmen, and women’s groups to ensure no child is left unprotected.
She lauded the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and development partners-WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and the Gates Foundation-for their partnership and dedication to Nigeria’s public health goals.
‘With this vaccine, our children will be protected against two deadly diseases and enjoy a lifetime of safety and protection. These vaccines are safe, effective, and free,’ she assured.
Declaring the campaign open, the First Lady said the exercise represents ‘a pathway to hope and a promise of progress,’ praying for divine blessings on Nigerian children, mothers, and the nation.
The official flag-off of the campaign set in motion a nationwide drive expected to reach approximately 106 million children aged 9 months to under 15 years in two phases.
The campaign also integrates vaccination efforts against polio and the rollout of the HPV vaccine among adolescent girls, combining resources to optimize health impact.
Meanwhile, in his address, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, described the event as a ‘historic moment for Nigeria’s health system,’ calling it the largest integrated health campaign on the African continent and possibly anywhere in the world.
The campaign, he noted, is expected to reach over 100 million Nigerian children, covering measles, rubella, polio, malaria, HPV, routine immunization, and neglected tropical diseases.
He said the initiative reflects the vision of President Tinubu, who has prioritized health as a key pillar of national development.
‘The President is healing this country, unifying it through health, and inspiring national confidence,’ Pate said, crediting the Renewed Hope Agenda for repositioning healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Pate revealed that primary health care utilization had risen dramatically-from 10 million visits per quarter in 2023 to 47 million in the second quarter of 2025, while the government plans to make 4,800 additional PHCs fully functional by the end of 2025.
He disclosed that 15,000 women have benefited from the Free Emergency Obstetric Care Initiative, with hundreds of thousands more enrolled under the Mothers and Babies Implementation (MaMi) programme.
He further praised the First Lady for her ‘time, treasure, and talent’ in championing maternal and child health, particularly through her Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Minister also commended Nigeria’s traditional and religious leaders for their role in improving immunization coverage and eradicating polio. He paid tribute to frontline health workers who, he said, ‘risk their lives to deliver vaccines and healthcare services to the last mile.’
‘As Her Excellency flags off this campaign today, let us join her with conviction. The children we vaccinate and the trust we build will define the health legacy of an entire generation,’ Pate charged.
Also speaking, Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, warned that sanctions would be imposed on school administrators who sabotage the government’s vaccination efforts by shutting out vaccinators from schools.
Represented by Deputy Director in the ministry, Peter Ojonuba, he described the campaign as not just a vaccination drive but a critical investment in Nigeria’s future and educational progress, saying, ‘It is a day to ignite hope for healthier children, stronger communities, and a bright future for our beloved Nigeria.’
He stressed the grave threats posed by measles, one of the leading causes of vaccine-preventable deaths in children under five, and rubella, which can cause lifelong disabilities when contracted during pregnancy.
Stressing the linkage between health and education, the Minister noted, ‘a child who is sick cannot attend school. A healthy child is a teachable child. Illnesses like measles and rubella disrupt school attendance, impair cognitive development, and place undue burdens on families and the education system.’
He pledged the Ministry of Education’s full support, with schools as platforms for vaccination awareness and delivery.
Addressing potential obstructionists, Alausa stated firmly, ‘For those administrators who sabotage the efforts of government by shutting out vaccinators from educational settings, know that there are consequences.’
Speaking on behalf of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Deputy Director of Immunization and Disease Control in Nigeria, Yusuf Yusufari, said the Foundation remains steadfast in supporting Nigeria’s immunization and primary healthcare drive.
He recalled that two years earlier, under the First Lady’s leadership, Nigeria successfully introduced the HPV vaccine, becoming ‘a global exemplar in protecting girls against cervical cancer.’
‘Today, like we did two years ago, we stand united behind one goal: that no child and no woman in Nigeria-or anywhere-should be left unprotected from preventable diseases,’ Yusufari said.
He cited Nigeria’s progress in routine immunization, which has risen from 33% in 2016 to over 60% today, alongside new vaccine introductions such as pneumococcal, rotavirus, HPV, and now measles-rubella.
However, he warned that over two million Nigerian children remain zero-dose, meaning they have not received a single vaccine, the second-highest figure globally.
The 2025 integrated campaign, he said, aims to close this gap by reaching 106 million children across all 36 states and the FCT, with 21 states combining measles-rubella and polio vaccines and four states adding malaria nets, deworming, and other essential services.
‘This integrated approach saves caregivers time, maximizes resources, and strengthens trust in the health system,’ Yusufari said, adding that the Foundation will continue to work with the Nigerian government and partners to ‘act together, reach every child, and secure Nigeria’s future.’
He reaffirmed the Foundation’s long-term commitment under Bill Gates’ $200 billion, 20-year global health investment plan, emphasizing that Nigeria’s success will ‘inspire the world with what is possible when unity and urgency meet purpose.’
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Senior Programme Manager for Nigeria, Tarcile Mballa, highlighted the historic partnership between Gavi and Nigeria that has spanned two decades, with investments exceeding $2.6 billion.
‘We have witnessed immunization coverage rise from 27% in 2001 to 67% in 2024, a testament to collective commitment,’ she said.
Mballa stated Gavi’s contribution to the current campaign totals $103 million in operational support, vaccines, and technical assistance.
She emphasized the ambitious scope of the campaign, describing it as a convergence of ‘ambition and opportunity’ with Nigeria leading public health innovation on the continent.
Mballa referenced Nigeria’s recent successful rollout of the HPV vaccine, which has protected over 15 million girls from cervical cancer, as a strong precedent for the integrated approach. She noted the campaign’s complexity requires strong systems and ‘adaptive strategies,’ highlighting Nigeria’s robust leadership and collaboration from federal to community levels.
‘The establishment of real-time coordination platforms, strengthened community engagement, and rapid decision-making mechanisms will ensure every child and their caregiver are safely catered to,’ Mballa affirmed.
On his part, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, humorously revealed that he initially thought ‘rubella’ was an award, not realizing it was actually a serious disease threatening Nigerian children.
The traditional ruler stressed the importance of protecting children’s health as a national priority.
Describing rubella, the Ooni said, ‘About a year ago, when the team of Dr Aina came to me, I thought rubella was a beautiful award they were bringing to traditional rulers, not knowing that it’s a disease. You look at the way it sounds – rubella – it sounds very positive, but it’s a killer disease.’
He praised the efforts of health officials and public officers for their dedication in sensitizing Nigerians about rubella and other deadly diseases.
‘We are all aware of measles, but I am very positive many here have never heard of rubella, like me. We must continue to create awareness throughout the country,’ he said.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has emphasized that advocacy and education, rather than enforcement, will be crucial for Nigeria’s rubella vaccine campaign to succeed. Speaking at a recent national health event, he recalled the country’s successful polio eradication efforts, attributing it to community persuasion rather than coercion.
‘We defeated polio not by force but by convincing people that the vaccine is safe. We held seminars with religious leaders to educate communities and show that the vaccine is not anti-childbirth or harmful in any way,’ the Sultan said.
He stressed the importance of ongoing education and the role of traditional and religious leaders in increasing vaccine acceptance.
The Sultan praised the commitment of the First Lady, describing her efforts across the nation as inspiring.
‘Her total commitment strengthens us, and we fully support government programs that advance the health of our nation,’ he added.
Calling on all stakeholders, the Sultan urged, ‘Parents, caregivers, governors, and their wives must join hands to drive this campaign forward through positive advocacy, not force.’ He expressed confidence that through this inclusive approach, Nigeria will achieve a healthier future for its children.
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Daniel Okoh, expressed profound support and optimism for the initiative aimed at protecting children and strengthening public health nationwide.
He described the campaign as a golden opportunity to reduce preventable childhood deaths and strengthen public health in our nation.