The new executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, has resumed duties at the agency and commended it for its remarkable progress.
Upon his resumption in Abuja on Monday, Aina received a warm welcome from the outgoing executive director of the agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib and the staff at the agency’s headquarters on Monday in Abuja.
The appointment of chief executive officers for agencies under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare was authorised by President Bola Tinubu, as disclosed in a statement from the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. Aina was designated to serve as the executive secretary/chief executive officer of the NPHCDA.
In his inaugural address, he commended the leadership style of his predecessor and acknowledged Shuaib’s invaluable contributions to the nation’s healthcare sector.
Displaying his commitment to exemplary leadership, the newly appointed head of NPHCDA reassured the staff while seeking their wholehearted cooperation.
Shuaib expressed profound gratitude to the agency’s staff for their unwavering support throughout his transformative seven-year tenure as the head of NPHCDA. He urged them to extend this same support to Aina.
Reflecting on his tenure as the agency’s leader, he emphasised the honour and solemn duty he felt in his role.
He commended the dedication, rigour and commitment of the staff, which have been the bedrock of the agency’s collective achievements. He expressed hope that the same spirit of excellence and unity would persist under Aina’s leadership, urging all members of the NPHCDA family to rally behind the new executive director.
Aina’s distinguished background and qualifications include a medical degree from the University of Ilorin, an MPH in international health from Harvard University and a doctorate in infectious disease epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He also holds a certificate in vaccine science and policy from Johns Hopkins University.
Prior to his current role, he served as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, a renowned global management consulting firm, where he contributed to a range of projects, including strategy development, organisational performance enhancements and mergers and acquisitions.
Aina’s influence extends beyond healthcare, as he has played a pivotal role in diverse projects, such as the Landscape Study of Routine Immunization in Nigeria (LARI) and the transformation of the national and state vaccine logistics and supply chain system. His contributions include the development of an innovative and sustainable model for engaging private for-profit facilities in the delivery of HIV/AIDS medical services, funded by PEPFAR and implemented in five Nigerian states. Furthermore, he has managed the Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria (YouWiN) programme, sponsored by the Federal Government of Nigeria, which supports entrepreneurs with government grants for business startups or expansions.
Meanwhile, former president, Muhammadu Buhari, appointed Shuaib in January 2017.
Shuaib’s significant role during the Ebola outbreak and his leadership in achieving polio-free status for Nigeria, recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), were vital milestones. His second term was confirmed in a letter signed by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, effective from January 10, 2021.
