Africa CDC Appoints Former Nigerian VP Osinbajo to Boost Continental Health Strateg
In a move seen as a strategic recalibration of Africa’s public health architecture, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has appointed former Nigerian Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, as Senior Strategic Adviser to its Director-General, Jean Kaseya.
The appointment, confirmed in a statement issued on Monday, comes at a pivotal moment as the continental health agency accelerates implementation of its Africa Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS) agenda—a framework designed to reposition Africa as a decisive player in global health governance.
Africa CDC noted that Osinbajo’s entry into its leadership ecosystem reflects a deliberate effort to consolidate high-level African expertise in tackling systemic health challenges. The AHSS initiative prioritises increased domestic health financing, rapid expansion of local pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing, and the strengthening of institutional capacity to respond effectively to pandemics.
Kaseya, in endorsing the appointment, underscored the former vice-president’s multidimensional competence, describing it as critical to the agency’s forward strategy.
“Professor Osinbajo brings exceptional experience at the intersection of governance, finance, law, and diplomacy,” he stated, adding that Africa must now act “with greater ambition and authority” in shaping the future of global health systems.
In his advisory role, Osinbajo is expected to provide strategic direction on key thematic areas, including sustainable healthcare financing, policy coordination across member states, and the scaling of intra-African collaborations. He will also support the alignment of Africa CDC’s initiatives with broader African Union development priorities.
Analysts view the development as a calculated attempt to bridge policy, governance, and implementation gaps that have historically constrained Africa’s health sector responsiveness.
Osinbajo, who served as Nigeria’s vice-president between 2015 and 2023, brings to the role a robust track record in public sector reform and economic policy coordination. His tenure saw the rollout of key initiatives such as the Economic Sustainability Committee and the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, both aimed at stabilising and reforming Nigeria’s economic landscape.
He previously held office as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, further reinforcing his credentials in governance and institutional development.
With this appointment, stakeholders say Africa CDC is signalling a more assertive, homegrown approach to health security—one that prioritises African leadership, resilience, and long-term sustainability in an increasingly uncertain global health environment.
