By Our Staff Reporter

If there is one thing that has become increasingly clear in Nasarawa State’s primary healthcare space is  leadership and Dr. Usman Iskilu Saleh is showing exactly what purposeful leadership looks like.
The recent debriefing meeting on the November 2025 Supplemental National Immunization Days (SNIDS) and other PHC system–strengthening activities was more than just another post-campaign ritual. It was a reflection of a leadership style that values learning, accountability, and people. Under Dr. Iskilu Saleh’s watch as Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency (NAPHDA), debriefings are not box-ticking exercises; they are platforms for honest reflection and improvement.
What stood out immediately was the tone he set. Rather than focusing solely on numbers and reports, Dr. Iskilu began by appreciating the health workers, LGA teams, and partners who were on the frontlines of the November 2025 SNIDS. In a system where health workers often feel overstretched and underappreciated, this simple act of acknowledgment speaks volumes. It shows a leader who understands that systems are only as strong as the people running them.
But appreciation alone does not drive results. What makes Dr. Iskilu’s leadership exceptional is his insistence on using data and lessons learned to do better. By convening stakeholders from the state, 12 LGAs, national agencies, and partners such as WHO and SRICC, he reinforced a culture of collaboration. Everyone had a seat at the table, and every voice mattered. That inclusive approach is critical in public health, where no single institution can succeed in isolation.
The focus of the meeting itself revealed a lot about Dr. Iskilu’s priorities. Reviewing Routine Immunization performance, assessing SIPDs outcomes, improving settlement authentication, and strengthening micro-planning are not glamorous topics but they are foundational. These are the nuts and bolts of reaching zero-dose and underserved populations. By emphasizing accurate settlement data and quality micro-plans, Dr. Iskilu demonstrated a deep understanding of what truly drives equitable immunization coverage.
Another admirable quality is his commitment to learning. The technical sessions ranging from feedback on fixed-post activities to practical walkthroughs on settlement authentication were not top-down lectures. They were interactive, practical, and grounded in field realities. Dr. Iskilu’s support for such sessions sends a clear message: continuous improvement is not optional, and mistakes are opportunities to learn, not reasons to apportion blame.
The atmosphere of open discussion during the meeting also reflected his leadership philosophy. Participants freely shared challenges from the field, debated solutions, and agreed on clear action points. That level of openness does not happen in an environment of fear or rigid hierarchy. It happens when leaders encourage honesty and trust their teams to think critically.
Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Iskilu Saleh consistently links meetings to action. His call for state and LGA teams to translate the outcomes of the debriefing into concrete steps, especially in data quality, supervision, and community engagement shows that he is results-driven. He understands that real success is not measured by well-written reports but by healthier communities and children who are fully immunized.
In a time when public institutions are often criticized for inefficiency, NAPHDA under Dr. Iskilu’s leadership is steadily building a different narrative. A narrative of resilience, partnership, and steady progress. His resolve to keep working closely with partners to strengthen the PHC system reflects both humility and strategic vision.
In the end, leadership in public health is about impact. It is about making sure systems work for the most vulnerable. From the way he values teamwork, prioritizes data, encourages learning, and insists on accountability, Dr. Usman Iskilu Saleh is proving to be the kind of Executive Secretary NAPHDA needs and the kind of leader Nasarawa State’s primary healthcare system deserves.