By Racheal Abujah
Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, former Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has been conferred with the “Fellowship by Distinction” of the United Kingdom Faculty of Public Health (FPH).
The fellowship is one of the Faculty’s highest honours, recognising individuals who have made exceptional contributions to public health.
It was conferred by the President of the UK Faculty of Public Health, Professor Tracy Daszkiewicz, during the FPH 2026 Annual Awards Ceremony held in London on Friday night.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the annual awards celebrated new members, fellows, and prize recipients whose work has significantly advanced public health.
The ceremony also featured a keynote lecture by renowned public health expert, Prof. Michael Marmot.
Speaking with NAN on Saturday in Abuja, Adetifa described the recognition as both humbling and a reminder of the collective effort required to build resilient public health systems.
“The Fellowship by Distinction is awarded to those who have made substantial contribution to public health outside the faculty’s usual examination route.
“I am humbled by this and hold this recognition with genuine gratitude,” he said.
According to him, the honour reflects the contributions of numerous colleagues, mentors, supervisors and mentees whose support has shaped his career over the years.
“A career in public health is never a solo endeavour, and mine has been shaped by extraordinary people across Nigeria, The Gambia, Kenya, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and beyond,” he said.
He acknowledged some mentors who influenced his professional journey, including Prof. Tumani Corrah, Richard Adegbola, Martin Ota, Philip Hill, Anthony Scott, Ibrahim Abubakar, Afolabi Lesi, Adenike Grange, Akinsulie Adebola and Edamisan Temiye.
He also expressed appreciation to his family for their unwavering support.
“I look forward to continuing to justify the recognition,” he said.
On the significance of the Fellowship for Nigeria, he said the recognition demonstrated that Nigerian scientific leadership and public health expertise were earning global respect.
He said it validated the country’s growing capacity to develop strong institutions capable of responding to complex public health emergencies while positioning Nigeria as an important contributor to health security efforts across Africa.
According to him, the recognition also sends a strong message that world-class scientific leadership and public health innovation can emerge from within Nigeria’s health system.
“It should encourage young Nigerian scientists and public health professionals to pursue excellence while strengthening confidence in our institutions and the country’s capacity to respond to future health threats,” he said.
Adetifa said that Nigeria could leverage the international recognition to deepen partnerships with leading global public health institutions, expand research collaborations, attract greater investment in epidemic preparedness and strengthen its health workforce.
He said the country should also continue investing in disease surveillance, laboratory systems, digital health technologies, data analytics and emergency preparedness.
He said that this would to build more resilient health systems capable of responding effectively to emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance and other public health threats.
“Sustained investment in local expertise and scientific institutions remains essential for protecting the health of Nigerians and advancing the country’s health security agenda,” he said.
Public health observers said the award further elevated Nigeria’s standing in global health and reflects the growing influence of Nigerian experts in shaping international responses to infectious diseases, pandemic preparedness and health systems strengthening.
They said that such recognition could enhance Nigeria’s credibility in international health diplomacy, facilitate stronger technical cooperation with global institutions and support efforts to mobilise resources for health security and workforce development.
NAN reports that during Adetifa’s tenure as Director-General of the NCDC, he led initiatives to strengthen Nigeria’s Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response system.
He also led efforts to expand laboratory networks, improve emergency preparedness and response, and enhance collaboration with national and international partners to bolster health security.
He equally championed the use of genomic surveillance, evidence-based decision-making and institutional reforms to improve Nigeria’s capacity to detect, monitor and respond rapidly to disease outbreaks.
Following his service at the NCDC, he served as Chief Transformation Officer and later Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND).
There, he led global efforts to expand equitable access to quality diagnostic technologies and support countries in building resilient health systems.
The Fellowship by Distinction is reserved for individuals whose outstanding achievements have significantly advanced public health practice, research, education and leadership outside the Faculty’s traditional examination pathway.
The honour highlights the country’s expanding contribution to global public health, reinforces confidence in its scientific workforce and demonstrates the value of sustained investment in institutions that protect populations from disease outbreaks and other health emergencies. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman