By Gideon Maxwell
April 6, 2026
Former Nigeria’s Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, has been appointed Senior Strategic Advisor to the Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, in a move that elevates his role within Africa’s policy and governance landscape.
The appointment comes as Africa CDC advances the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda, aimed at strengthening Africa’s voice in global health, expanding domestic financing, accelerating local manufacturing of health commodities, and building resilient systems for pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response.
Making the pronouncement on Monday, the Director General of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, said, “Professor Osinbajo brings exceptional experience 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.
“This appointment reflects Africa CDC’s commitment to mobilising African leadership of the highest calibre in service of the continent’s health security, sovereignty, and development.”
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The CDC said in his new role, Prof. Osinbajo will advise on Africa’s positioning in global health architecture reform, sustainable and sovereign health financing, expansion of local pharmaceutical and health commodity manufacturing, strategic partnerships across the African Union system, and policy leadership for Africa CDC and AU institutions.
Prof. Osinbajo served as Nigeria’s Vice-President from 2015 to 2023 and as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.
A Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he is widely recognised for his contributions to legal scholarship, governance reform, and public policy.
During his time in office, he chaired Nigeria’s Economic Sustainability Committee, drove ease of doing business reforms, and led major economic reform efforts and social investment programmes.
The appointment consolidates Osinbajo’s transition from national leadership into continental and global policy influence.
It reinforces Nigeria’s strategic footprint within African Union institutions at a time when control over health systems, funding structures, and manufacturing capacity is central to economic and security debates.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention operates as the public health arm of the African Union, supporting member states to strengthen health systems, improve disease surveillance, and enhance emergency preparedness and response.
This development positions Prof. Osinbajo within the core architecture shaping Africa’s health sovereignty, with direct influence over policy, financing, and institutional direction at the highest continental level.
