Yemi Osinbajo has been appointed as a senior strategic adviser to the Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Jean Kaseya.
Announcing the appointment on Monday, the agency said Osinbajo joins at a pivotal moment as Africa CDC advances the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS) agenda. The initiative aims to strengthen Africa’s influence in global health, increase domestic health funding, accelerate local production of medical supplies, and enhance health systems to better respond to pandemics.
Kaseya highlighted Osinbajo’s broad expertise, stating:
“Professor Osinbajo brings exceptional experience at the intersection of governance, finance, law, and diplomacy. 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.”
In this role, Osinbajo will advise on Africa’s contribution to reshaping global health systems, sustainable healthcare financing, local medical manufacturing, strategic partnerships, and policy guidance for both Africa CDC and the African Union.
Osinbajo served as Nigeria’s vice-president from 2015 to 2023. Earlier, he was Lagos State’s attorney-general and commissioner for justice from 1999 to 2007. During his tenure as VP, he chaired Nigeria’s Economic Sustainability Committee, led reforms to improve the ease of doing business through the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, and played a key role in implementing national social investment programs.