President Tinubu recently approves some highly qualified candidates for appointment and reappointment of Board Chairperson and Chief Executive Officers in key sub-commissions of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

This approval is aimed at propelling Nigeria health standards into a new and greater horizon and enhancing the commitment to provide affordable and quality Healthcare

The appointment and reappointment include;

• National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC)

1.  Board Chairperson – Dr. Mansur Kaji
2. Chief Executive Officer – Prof. Monica Adeyeye

• Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)

1. Board Chairperson – Prof. Afolabi Lesi
2. Chief Executive Officer – Dr. Fatima Kyari

• Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN)

1. Board Chairperson – Pharm. Wasilat Giwa
2. Chief Executive Officer  – Pharm.  Ibrahim Ahmed

• Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria (MLCN)

1. Board Chairperson – Dr. Babajide Salako
2. Chief Executive Officer – Dr. Tosan Erhabor

• National Blood Service Commision (NBSC)

1. Board Chairperson – Prof. Abba Zubairu
2. Chief Executive Officer – Dr. Saleh Yuguda

• Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua (ISTH)

1. Chief Medical Director /CEO – Prof. Reubens Eifediyi

• Moddibo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola (MAUTH)

1. Chief Medical Director/CEO – Prof. Adamu G. Bakari

Additionally, to enhance Nigeria’s Public Health Surveillance and Security architecture, a new Chief Executive Officer for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has been appointed

• Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)

1. Director General/CEO – Dr. Olajide Idris (Assumes Office on the 19th February, 2024)

The  Special Adviser to the President stated that the wealth of experience and level of capacity of each appointee was considered in lieu with the President’s Campain Agenda “Renewed Hope”

1. Dr. Olajide Idris (NCDC) once served as the Commissioner of Health, Lagos State with an MPH from Yale University.
2. Prof. Abba Zubairu (NBSC) was former Medical Director Mayo Clinic, USA with an extensive knowledge in the industry
3. Dr. Fatima Kyari (MDCN) a renowned Opthamologist, Fellow of Nigeria Academy of Medicine (FNAMed) also having obtained an MPH from the University of London

This appointmemts comes with high expectations from the appointees in meeting up with President’s agenda to elevate the Healthcare services and transform the  sector.

The appointments seek to address past shortcomings, with the President expecting quick implementation of new policies led by Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.