By Folasade Akpan
The Society for Family Health has transitioned into a quasi-group structure, repositioning itself as a fully integrated African-led health systems platform to better address evolving healthcare needs across Nigeria and the continent.
The Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Omokhudu Idogho, announced the transition in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, describing it as a strategic move aimed at strengthening institutional effectiveness and long-term sustainability.
According to Idogho, the transformation represents a shift from a traditional programme implementation model to a coordinated institutional architecture designed to respond more effectively to rapidly changing health system demands and priorities.
He explained that the transition came at a critical moment for Nigeria and Africa as countries intensified efforts toward achieving Universal Health Coverage while strengthening healthcare systems and expanding access to essential services.
Idogho said that countries were also deepening domestic health financing and redefining partnerships in response to a shifting global development landscape that increasingly emphasised sustainability, collaboration, and locally driven solutions.
He said the newly established quasi-group structure was intentionally designed to meet current needs by integrating delivery systems, financing mechanisms, market development, human capital, and advisory services into one cohesive framework.
According to him, the group will operate through a portfolio of specialised entities that collectively address the full health system value chain, ensuring more comprehensive and efficient service delivery across multiple sectors.
He listed the entities to include the SFH Donor-Funded Directorate, which would oversee the strategic implementation of donor-supported programmes at scale, ensuring efficiency, accountability, and measurable impact across targeted populations.
He said that other entities included SFH Access to Health GTE, which would focus on market shaping, health technology optimisation, pooled procurement systems, supply chain strengthening, and last-mile delivery of essential health commodities nationwide.
Idogho added that Revo Health, a Health Maintenance Organisation Limited, would drive the expansion of inclusive and affordable health insurance coverage, enhancing financial protection and access to quality healthcare services for more citizens.
He further explained that the SFH Institute of Public Health would focus on workforce development and building a strong pipeline of health systems leaders capable of sustaining long-term sectoral growth and transformation.
“In addition, SFH Advisory and Professional Services will provide policy advisory, systems design, and technical assistance to public, private, and civil society organisations, supporting evidence-based decision-making and effective programme implementation nationwide.”
According to Idogho, the integrated structure enables SFH to move beyond fragmented interventions toward delivering end-to-end health system solutions that improve efficiency, coordination, and overall impact across healthcare delivery systems.
“This transition is a deliberate pivot toward building a resilient African institution capable of delivering impact at scale within a rapidly changing development landscape.
“As Nigeria advances its health reform agenda, particularly in UHC, primary healthcare revitalisation, and domestic financing, SFH is positioning itself as a system integrator.
“Our ambition is clear: to move beyond programme implementation to platform-based impact, ensuring sustainability, efficiency, and long-term national value,” he said.
Providing strategic oversight, the Board President, Prof. Ekanem Braide, described the transition as a major milestone reflecting the organisation’s growth and its readiness to respond to emerging development challenges across Africa.
“This transition represents a maturation of SFH as an institution and a bold response to the realities of today’s development environment.
“Across Africa, there is a clear imperative to build strong, self-sustaining systems that are nationally owned and globally competitive,” she said.
Braide stated that the new group structure provided the governance framework, operational flexibility, and strategic alignment necessary for achieving its long-term objectives and expanding its influence within the health sector.
He expressed confidence that the restructuring would deepen the organisation’s impact in Nigeria while positioning it as a leading force in advancing health systems transformation across the African continent.
The organisation stated that the group structure aligned closely with Nigeria’s Universal Health Coverage agenda and ongoing efforts to strengthen primary healthcare systems while improving service delivery and health outcomes nationwide.
It also noted alignment with broader priorities, including domestic resource mobilisation, innovative health financing strategies, private sector participation, and expansion of healthcare solutions across regional markets in Africa.
According to the statement, the transition comes at a time when global development assistance is shifting toward co-investment models, blended financing approaches, and country-led implementation strategies that prioritise sustainability and local ownership.
The organisation added that it was repositioning itself as a trusted partner to governments, development partners, and private sector stakeholders seeking integrated, scalable, and sustainable healthcare solutions across diverse populations.
SFH reaffirmed its commitment to delivering data-driven, integrated health services at scale while strengthening collaboration between public and private sector actors to improve efficiency and maximise healthcare outcomes nationwide.
It also pledged to drive innovation in healthcare delivery and financing models while expanding access to essential services for underserved and vulnerable populations across Nigeria and other parts of the continent.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Society for Family Health was founded in 1983 and incorporated in 1985 to address critical public health challenges and improve access to quality healthcare services nationwide.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
