By Sola Ogundipe
Towards strengthening media health advocacy in Lagos State, four key media associations have teamed up to create the Lagos State Unified Health Media Coalition.
Towards strengthening the fortunes of public health advocacy in Lagos State, four key media associations have joined forces to form the Lagos State Unified Health Media Coalition.
By merging their influences and critical competences, the journalists and communicators in Lagos have positioned themselves as a unified watchdog for the state, marking the end of fragmented reporting and the beginning of a synchronized push for better healthcare.
The emergence of the Coalition followed an agreement signed on February 12, 2026, among the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN), led by the President, Vivian Ihechu and Vice President, Angela Onwuzoo; the Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria (NRHJN), led by the President, Yinka Shokunbi and the Secretary, Sekinat Lawal.
Other signatories were the Knowledgeable Management & Communication Sub-committee (KMCS) of the Lagos State Accountability Mechanism (LASAM), led by the Chairman, Olusola Ogundipe, and the Secretary ,Omolara Olusaiye; and the Society for Media Advocacy on Health, Nigeria, led by the Chairman, Chioma Umeha.
The signing of the pact was coordinated by the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), and formally witnessed by representatives from the Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH), the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, Lagos State Health Insurance Management Agency (LASHMA), and the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), signaling strong institutional backing.
The partners agreed that the coalition creates a central platform for coordinated advocacy on critical issues, including Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), Primary Health Care, and Health Financing among others.
It was unanimously agreed that the development not only marks an end to fragmented reporting, it represents the emergence of a new frontline for public health reportage, and the beginning of a synchronized push for better healthcare advocacy and in the State.
According to Mr Solomon Dogo of ISMPH, “Recognizing the influence and responsibility of the media in shaping public discourse, we have voluntarily agreed to operate under a coordinated platform. The coalition will present a unified media voice in engagements with government and development partners while enhancing professional accountability.
“By aligning their messaging, the partners aim to bridge the gap between policy and the public, ensuring that healthcare promises translate into tangible benefits for every Lagosian, Dogo stated.”
The agreement establishing the coalition reads, “We, the undersigned authorized representatives of recognized health media networks and associations in Lagos State, acknowledge the need for stronger coordination, strategic collaboration, and unified advocacy in advancing public health priorities including RMNCAH,Primary Health Care (PHC), health financing, reproductive health, and other critical health development issues.
“Recognizing the influence and responsibility of the media in shaping public discourse and policy accountability in Lagos State, we hereby voluntarily agree to operate under a coordinated platform known as the Lagos State Unified Health Media Coalition.
“The Unified Coalition shall serve as a coordination and collaboration platform to strengthen collective health advocacy and evidence-based reporting, align key messaging on agreed health priorities, present a unified media voice in engagements with government and development partners, enhance accountability, professionalism, and information sharing, and promote strategic collaboration while preserving institutional independence.”
On autonomy, it was agreed that membership in the coalition shall not dissolve, override, or interfere with the internal structure, identity, or operations of any member network.
“Each network retains full autonomy over its internal governance and activities, and the coalition functions strictly as a coordination and advocacy platform.
“From the agreement, leadership of the Unified Coalition shall be determined through a transparent and mutually agreed process (consensus or election).
“Once leadership is duly selected, all member networks agree to recognize and support the agreed structure. The leadership shall operate in the spirit of service, inclusiveness, and collective representation,” the agreement noted.
Among benefits for Lagosians, partners note that the emergence of the coalition includes accountability.
“A unified media voice means the government and development partners face a coordinated front that won't let critical health promises fall through the cracks. By sharing data and resources, the coalition will produce deeper, more technical reporting that can actually influence policy and budget allocations.
“Instead of conflicting reports, the public will receive clear, expert-driven information on everything from immunization drives to reproductive rights.
“While individual networks maintain their autonomy, the collective spirit of service ensures that health advocacy remains a permanent fixture in the news cycle, not just a response to the latest crisis.”
