President Bola Tinubu has announced major changes in the leadership of key agencies under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The appointments are part of his efforts to improve the quality and accessibility of health care services for Nigerians.

Dr. Mansur Kabir to Lead NAFDAC

Dr. Mansur Kabir, a renowned pharmacist and public health expert, has been named as the new Chairman of the board of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC). He will work with Prof. Moji Adeyeye, who has been reappointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the agency.

Dr. Kabir has over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, academia, and international organizations. He has served as a consultant for the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, and the African Union. He is also a professor of pharmacy at the University of Abuja.

Prof. Adeyeye, who has been leading NAFDAC since 2017, is a distinguished pharmacologist and drug development expert. She has contributed to the regulation and approval of safe and effective medicines and food products in Nigeria. She is also a professor of pharmaceutics at the University of Lagos.

Furthermore, the President expressed his confidence in the duo to enhance the standards and performance of NAFDAC, which is responsible for safeguarding public health by ensuring the quality and safety of food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices in Nigeria.

Dr. Olajide Idris to Head NCDC

Dr. Olajide Idris, a former Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, has been appointed as the new Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). He replaces Prof. Ifedayo Adetifa, who has been redeployed to another assignment.

Dr. Idris is a seasoned medical doctor and public health specialist, who obtained his MBBS degree from the University of Lagos and his Master’s degree in Public Health from Yale University in the United States. He has over 30 years of experience in the health sector, both in the public and private spheres.

Moreover, he served as the Permanent Secretary and Commissioner for Health in Lagos State from 1999 to 2019, where he oversaw the implementation of various health policies and programs, including the response to the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and the establishment of the Lagos State Health Management Agency.

The President commended Prof. Adetifa for his leadership and achievements at the NCDC, which is the national public health institute that coordinates the prevention, detection, and control of infectious diseases in Nigeria. He also charged Dr. Idris to build on the successes and address the challenges of the NCDC, especially in the face of emerging and re-emerging diseases.

Other Appointments

The President also approved the appointment and reappointment of board chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers for six other agencies under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. They are:

– Prof. Abba Zubairu and Dr. Saleh Yuguda as board chairperson and CEO, respectively, for the National Blood Service Commission (NBSC).

– Prof. Afolabi Lesi and Dr. Fatima Kyari as board chairperson and CEO, respectively, for the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

– Wasilat Giwa and Ibrahim Ahmed as board chairperson and CEO, respectively, for the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN).

– Dr. Babajide Salako and Dr. Tosan Erhabor as board chairperson and CEO, respectively, for the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN).

– Prof. Adamu Bakari as Chief Medical Director of Moddibo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola, Adamawa State.

– Prof. Reuben Eifediyi as Chief Medical Director of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State.

The President said the appointments were in line with his determination to bring world-class standards to Nigerian public health administration and to deliver affordable and quality care to all Nigerians. He also expressed his expectation for the immediate and effective implementation of new policy frameworks to reposition the health sector under the leadership of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Pate.

The new appointees will assume office on February 19, 2024.

Source: Punch