Nigerian professor resigns as CEO of GAVI global vaccine alliance

Havard-Trained Nigerian medical doctor Muhammad Ali Pate has declined to take over a top job at the Gavi global vaccine alliance.

But for his decision, Pate was scheduled to assume the helm from United States (U.S.) medical epidemiologist Seth Berkley on August

In February, Gavi announced that Pate will be taking over from Seth Berkley, who has been in the saddle since 2011.

It was learnt that Pate, a medical doctor trained in internal medicine and infectious disease, will be returning to Nigeria. Details about the decision were however not given.

The AFP quoted him as telling Gavi “that he has taken an incredibly difficult decision to accept a request to return and contribute to his home country, Nigeria.”

Gavi’s Chief Operating Officer David Marlow will instead assume the position of Interim Chief Executive Officer while a search for a new CEO continues.
The Gavi vaccine alliance is a non-profit organisation created in 2000 to provide an array of vaccines to developing countries.

It says that since its inception, it has provided vaccines to more than 981 million children, “and prevented more than 16.2 million future deaths, helping to halve child mortality in 73 lower-income countries

Gavi has taken the lead on the Covax initiative, alongside the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations

The global scheme has so far shipped nearly 1.9 billion COVID vaccines to 146 territories, with the focus on providing donor-funded jabs to the 92 weakest economies.