FG Appoints Adigwe NIPRD Director General


Chioma Umeha

LAGOS – The Federal Government has appointed Dr. Obi Peter Adigwe as the new Director General/CEO for the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Abuja.
The appointment which takes immediate effect comes eight months after the expiration of the tenure of the former Director General of NIPRD, Prof. Gamaliel Karniyus.
DAILY INDEPENDENT findings revealed that Adigwe’s approval by the Presidency followed his emergence as top scorer in a merit driven rigorous and comprehensive interview processes organised by the federal government few months ago.
It was also learnt that the interview had in attendance some of the best brains in Nigerian Pharmaceutical Research and Development sector including, two renowned professors currently working at the NIPRD.
Further investigations by DAILY INDEPENDENT showed that Dr. Adigwe scored 80 points and was closely followed by two Professors currently working at the NIPRD who scored 70 and 67 points respectively.
The letter of appointment of the new DG which dated August 10, 2018, was signed by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire.
Prior to his appointment as DG NIPRD, Dr Adigwe was Executive Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group (PMGMAN), where he played a key role in the development and implementation of policy initiatives which made considerable impact on the industry.
Among his achievements in PMGMAN include the prioritisation of the Pharma Industry in the 2016 Fiscal Policy, and organisation of the landmark 2017 Pharma Expo.
He also made significant contributions to the conceptualisation of the internationally renowned Medicines’ Security Concept.
Dr Adigwe was also the pioneer Head of the Health Policy Research and Development (HPRD) Unit at the Nigerian National Assembly, where he formulated research and development strategies in Health Policy as well as developed innovative and contextual training, research and capacity building modules.
He has a significant number of peer reviewed publications including the first K.A.P. study on Ebola in Nigeria, as well as a seminal paper on Rational Use of Medicines.
While in the United Kingdom, he had also co-authored a write-up that influenced an epoch-making health policy reform in the British Parliament.
Adigwe has undertaken many National assignments, headed, as well as served on numerous committees and working groups at the highest levels, such as the D8, UN, World Health Organisation, The African Union and the ECOWAS.
He has won several academic honours including the prestigious University of Leeds’ GRASS Post-Doctorate award.
The letter of appointment reads in part: “I write to inform you that His Excellency, the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved your appointment as Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu, Abuja, for a term of four (4) years with effect from August 10, 2018.
“It is my expectation that you will not only work to ensure that you drive the research for new pharmaceutical materials, but endeavor to improve on present achievements and leave you mark of progress on that institution.
“I also urge you to justify the confidence reposed in you by the appointment and work with all stakeholders for industrial peace and in support of Mr. President’s Change agenda.”
Meanwhile, some keen analysts of the sector in an interview with DAILY INDEPENDENT said they are optimistic that the appointment of Dr. Adigwe will move NIPRD to the next level, where it will become one of the leading agencies that will generate huge revenue for the government.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Insurgency: Nigerian Army Clears 25 More Children Of Links With Armed Groups, Says UNICEF

Image
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said Thursday that 25 more children had been freed from Nigerian Army administrative custody having been cleared of suspected links with armed groups. With this number, a total of 44 children had been released this year, bringing the number to 1,627 children since 2016, that is four years now, the UN agency for children has said. UNICEF which announced this in a press statement signed by its Communication Specialist, Dr. Geoffrey Njoku, specifically said, “Twenty-three boys and two girls were released today from Nigerian Army administrative custody after being cleared of suspected ties with armed groups. This brings the number of children released this year to 44,” it added. It bemoaned the discrimination, deprivation and cruelty which the children have suffered. “These are children taken away from their families and communities, deprived of their childhood, education, health-care, and of the chance to grow up in a safe and enabling envir
Read more

Limited Information Frustrates Young Women From Using Family Planning

Image
BY CHIOMA UMEHA, Awareness and proper understanding of family planning has been recognised to reduce maternal death among young women of reproductive age between 15 and 49. Data on Sexual Reproductive Health outcomes in Nigeria stresses the importance of focusing on adolescents. At 576 maternal death per 1,000 live births, Nigeria accounts for 14 percent of the global burden of maternal mortality (NDHS 2013/WHO 2014). Global evidence shows that young girls bear a higher burden of maternal mortality and morbidity. Data shows that the average age at sexual debut is roughly 15 years of age among adolescent mothers in Nigeria. (NDHS 2003, 2008, 2013). The National adolescent fertility rate in Nigeria is 122 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 years. In the North Western States, it is as high as 171 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 years. To stem this, the government of Lagos State with support from partners and other donor agencies has put in place youth-friendly he
Read more

PSN President Commissions ACPN National Secretariat

Image
Chioma Umeha History was made among the community pharmacists recently, as the national body of the Association of Community Pharmacists (ACPN) inaugurated its National Secretariat at Ikeja, Lagos State. The event was graced by many notable personalities in the pharmaceutical sector including, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, the president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) who commissioned the befitting edifice. Other notable guests at the event were – Dr. UNO Uwaga, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for ACPN; Pharm. Bukky George, the Managing Director of Healthplus, among many former presidents of different pharmaceutical bodies. Pharm. Yakasai stated that it was a thing of joy for him to see this development come to light. He said that he is ‘a proud father’ as the inauguration of the building was a “testimony of when you have a proud son who can carry out directives.” He described the secretariat as “A home for all pharmacists across board.”
Read more