The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has appointed former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as senior strategic adviser to Director-General Jean Kaseya.
According to a statement issued on Monday, Osinbajo’s appointment comes at a critical juncture in the agency’s efforts to advance the Africa health security and sovereignty (AHSS) agenda, which aims to strengthen the continent’s voice in global health, expand domestic financing, accelerate local manufacturing of health commodities, and build resilient health systems for pandemic preparation and response.
Kaseya stated that the former vice-president brings significant expertise to the role.
“Professor Osinbajo brings exceptional experience at the intersection of governance, finance, law, and diplomacy,” he said.
“At a time when Africa must act with greater ambition and authority on the future of health, his leadership will be invaluable.
“This appointment reflects Africa CDC’s commitment to mobilising African leadership of the highest calibre in service of the continent’s health security, sovereignty, and development.”
Osinbajo’s new role will include advising Africa on its position in global health architecture reform, sustainable health funding, local manufacturing, strategic partnerships, and policy leadership for the African CDC and African Union.
Osinbajo was Nigeria’s vice president from 2015 to 2023, having previously served as Lagos state’s attorney-general and commissioner for justice from 1999 to 2007.
During his tenure in public office, he chaired Nigeria’s economic sustainability committee, led ease-of-doing-business changes through the presidential enabling business environment council, and played important roles in the country’s social investment programmes.
