By Racheal Abujah
A Nigerian epidemiologist and public health expert, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar, has been appointed as the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
The appointment was iannounced in a statement by CEPI’s board on Friday, and made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
It will see Abubakar succeed Dr Richard Hatchett, who has led the global health partnership since its establishment in 2017.
Abubakar, currently Vice-Provost (Health) and Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at University College London (UCL), will join CEPI in March 2027 and assume the CEO position in April 2027.
He brings more than three decades of experience in medicine, infectious disease epidemiology, global health research and public health leadership.
A medical graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria, Abubakar trained in public health and went on to build an international career spanning academia, health policy and infectious disease control.
Before joining UCL, he was Professor of Health Protection at Norwich Medical School and Head of Tuberculosis at Public Health England.
At UCL, he served as Director of the Institute for Global Health and later as Dean of the Faculty of Population Health Sciences before becoming Vice-Provost (Health).
He has also held prominent international roles, including chairing the World Health Organisation’s Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Tuberculosis and the WHO Clinical Trial Forum.
He is also Chair of Lancet Migration and the Lancet Nigeria Commission.
His research and policy works have focused on infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis, antimicrobial resistance and vaccine-preventable diseases, with particular attention to vulnerable populations.
CEPI Board Chair, Prof. Jane Halton, described Abubakar’s appointment as a reflection of his strong record in global public health and his commitment to international collaboration, scientific excellence and equitable access to health innovations.
Halton said the world could not afford to be caught unprepared for the next pandemic, expressing confidence that Abubakar would provide strong leadership as CEPI entered its next phase.
Abubakar said that CEPI occupied a unique position in the global health ecosystem through its focus on innovation and equitable access.
He said there was an opportunity to build on CEPI’s achievements and make a transformational difference in the way the world tackled epidemics and pandemics.
“I am truly honoured to be given the opportunity to take on this role and am looking forward to leading CEPI through its next chapter,” he said.
His appointment comes as CEPI prepares to implement its 2027–2031 strategy, known as “CEPI 3.0”, which seeks to strengthen global preparedness against epidemic and pandemic threats.
At the centre of the strategy is CEPI’s “100 Days Mission”, an ambition to develop safe, effective and accessible vaccines against new epidemic threats within 100 days.
CEPI is seeking 2.5 billion dollars to implement the strategy, which aims to reduce the likelihood, impact and cost of future epidemics and pandemics.
NAN reports that Hatchett will remain CEPI’s CEO until April 2027 to facilitate a smooth transition, with Abubakar expected to work closely with him and the wider leadership team during the handover period.
CEPI is a global partnership involving public, private, philanthropic and civil society organisations.
Its mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biological countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats and promote equitable access to such innovations.
Abubakar’s appointment places a Nigerian-trained epidemiologist with extensive experience in infectious diseases and global health leadership at the helm of an organisation playing a major role in efforts to prepare the world for future epidemics and pandemics.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman