Who is going to be Nigeria’s next likely health minister?
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari today formally forwarded the long awaited ministerial list to the National Assembly for screening and confirmation .
As a medical doctor and a health information expert, the names that first caught my attention are the individuals that will likely be our next health health minister.
The ministerial list containing 43 individuals have 3 qualified medical doctors in it. No one needs a soothsayer to him that the next health minister will come for among these 3 individuals.
I decided to do quick review of their chances of clinching the coveted position and biography of these likely health minister-designate or ministerial nominees… .. below . ….
1. Osagie Ehanire
Dr. Osagie E. Ehanire is an outstanding surgeon and holds an (MD) of college of Medicine, Ludwig Maximillians University, Munich. He also holds post graduate Diplomas from the Teaching Hospital of the University of Düsseldorf and Essen, Germany in the areas of Anesthesiology, General Surgery, and Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery. Dr. Osagie has served on various medical Boards both within and outside Nigeria.
He was Senior Registrar, Clinical Instructor, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Member of the old Bendel and Edo States Hospital Management Board, Consultant Surgeon, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, Clinical Course instructor, Fracture Internal Fixation course, BG Accident Hospital, Duisburg, Germany. He co-authored the orthopaedic book “The severely injured limb” edited By John Ackroyd.
He is a Nigerian from Edo State who served as the immediate minister of State under Prof. Isaac Adewole. He is a current trustee of the TY Danjuma Foundation.
Chances: High. I give him a 50 percent chance of clinching the position given his below par performance of the previous 4 years. There could be surprises anyway but I doubt.
2. Chris Ngige
A former governor of Anambra state, former senator, and the immediate past minister of Labour and Employment.
Born on August 8, 1952 and a medical doctor by profession, he graduated from the University of Nigeria-Nsukka in 1979. After graduation, Ngige immediately went into the civil service, serving at the National Assembly and State House clinics at different times. He retired in 1998 as a Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Health.
His chances: Slim. He is not a consultant (only a doctor will understand this). His controversial statement on Nigeria having “surplus doctors” in spite of the glaring shortage will work against him.
3. Adeleke Olurunnimbe Mamora
Described as the master of parliamentary procedures, Mamora was born on 16 February 1953. He obtained a B.Sc, Health Sciences, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) University of Ife, Ile-Ife and became a Health Practitioner. He was Medical Director of a Medical Centre (1987 – 1998), and a Company Medical Adviser (1988 – 1992).
Since then has has been a speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly for 8 years, a senator that sponsored the bills on Tenure of Office, Surgeon-General of Nigeria, and repeal and amendment of the Tobacco Control Act.
He is currently the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Agency (NIWA).
Chances: Very high. About 60 percent. But there could be surprises. His low point is that he is not a consultant. Aside that, he is the next likely health minister.
