By Muhammad Amaan
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr Olajide Idris as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Dr Idris who will replace Dr Ifedayo Adetifa as the new NCDC Director-General/CEO, received his MBBS degree from the University of Lagos’ College of Medicine, after which he obtained a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) from the Ivy League’s Yale University in Connecticut, United States of America.
He served as the Commissioner of Health in Lagos State from 2007 to 2019, after serving as the Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Health from 1999 to 2007.
The President also approved the appointment of Dr Mansur Kabir as the Chairman Board of NAFDAC and reappointed Professor Moji Adeyeye as the Chief Executive Officer of the NAFDAC.
Other Chief Executive Officers appointed under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare are; Professor Abba Zubairu as the Board Chairperson National Blood Service Commission (NBSC) and Dr Saleh Yuguda as the Chief Executive Officer.
Also appointed to serve as the Board Chairperson of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) are Professor Afolabi Lesi and Dr. Fatima Kya as Chief Executive Officer.
Others are Wasilat Giwa the Board Chairperson of the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) and Pharm. Ibrahim Ahmed and Chief Executive Officer.
Dr Babajide Salako is to serve as the Board Chairperson of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) and Dr Tosan Erhabor as the Chief Executive Officer of the agency.
Professor Adamu G. Bakari was appointed as Chief Medical Director of the Moddibo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola (MAUTH) and Professor Reuben Eifediyi as the Chief Medical Director of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, (ISTH).
A statement by President Tinubu’s Spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale stated that the appointments are in furtherance of the administration’s determination to bring world-class standards to Nigerian public health administration and to manifest his commitment to deliver affordable and quality care to all Nigerians under governance and regulatory frameworks commensurate with international best practice.
“The president expects that the new leadership across this critical human development sector will substantially raise the standards of healthcare service delivery for the exclusive benefit of all strata of the Nigerian population as his administration is committed to implementing a whole-of-government approach to transforming the sector to enhance the aggregate national quality of life and productivity,” Ngelale said.
