The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has appointed former Nigerian Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as a senior strategic adviser to its Director-General, Jean Kaseya.

In a statement released on Monday, Africa CDC said Osinbajo’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment as the agency advances the **Africa Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS) agenda**. The initiative aims to strengthen the continent’s health systems, increase domestic healthcare funding, accelerate local production of medical supplies, and enhance Africa’s influence in global health governance.

Kaseya praised Osinbajo’s extensive experience, noting, “Professor Osinbajo brings exceptional expertise 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.”

In his new role, Osinbajo will provide strategic guidance on Africa’s participation in global health systems, sustainable healthcare financing, local medical production, and policy direction for both Africa CDC and the African Union.

Osinbajo served as Nigeria’s vice-president from 2015 to 2023. Earlier in his career, he was Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State (1999–2007). During his tenure as vice-president, he chaired Nigeria’s Economic Sustainability Committee, led reforms to improve the business environment through the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, and played a key role in implementing national social investment programmes.

Africa CDC emphasized that Osinbajo’s appointment reflects its commitment to mobilizing African leadership of the highest caliber in service of the continent’s health security, sovereignty, and development.