The newly-appointed director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris has assumed office.
Idris’s appointment by President Bola Tinubu is deemed part of a significant move to bolster healthcare leadership in Nigeria. The announcement, made by presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale, also included the appointment of board chairpersons and chief executive officers (CEOs) for eight agencies under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Idris, the convener of Healthcare Transformation Coalition (HTC) and former Lagos State Commissioner for Health, brings over 30 years of experience in healthcare to his new role. Having served as permanent secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health and later as Commissioner for Health under former governors Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and Akinwunmi Ambode, he played a pivotal role in reshaping Lagos State’s health system. His extensive contributions include organisational restructuring, human resource development, infrastructure enhancement, primary care revitalisation, healthcare financing and disease prevention.
During his tenure as chief executive and permanent secretary, Idris spearheaded comprehensive reforms, including policy formulation, infrastructural upgrades, community-based health insurance pilot schemes and health promotion programmes. He earned degrees from esteemed institutions such as the University of Lagos, Yale University and Columbia University. His leadership was instrumental in successfully containing the Ebola outbreak in the state.
The appointment comes at a crucial time as the NCDC marks its fifth anniversary, showcasing significant accomplishments since its establishment in 2016. The agency, legally backed by the NCDC Act signed in 2018, has focused on disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, emergency response and public health education.
Under the leadership of Idris’ predecessor, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, the NCDC made substantial strides in enhancing disease surveillance, leading emergency responses during the COVID-19 pandemic, fostering international collaborations and increasing workforce and laboratory capacity.
Idris is expected to build on these achievements, aligning with President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda for 2024. His mandate includes strengthening capacity and partnerships, particularly with subnational stakeholders. Critical areas of focus involve responding to infectious diseases like Lassa fever, meningitis and measles during the dry season, intensifying community engagements to dispel misinformation and executing preparedness activities in collaboration with states.
According to the legal framework governing the NCDC, the director-general is appointed by the President of Nigeria and must be a health professional with at least 15 years of post-graduate qualification experience in relevant fields of medicine or public health. The director-general serves as the chief executive officer, overseeing the administration and receiving supervision from the governing board and the Minister of Health.
Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu served as the first director-general of the NCDC from August 15, 2016. In July 2019, he was re-appointed for a second term by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Adetifa took over the role on October 18, 2021, following Ihekweazu’s recruitment by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Idris assumes the mantle, bringing a wealth of experience and a commitment to advancing the NCDC’s mission in safeguarding public health in Nigeria.
