Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa has been appointed as the Chief Transformation Officer at FIND, a WHO collaborating Centre for Laboratory Strengthening and Diagnostic Technology Evaluation.
Dr Adetifa, who will also function as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in global health and health security, particularly in the prevention and control of infectious diseases.
Dr Adetifa, a seasoned pediatrician and accomplished infectious disease epidemiologist, previously served as the Director-General and CEO of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (NCDC). During his tenure at the NCDC, he played a pivotal role advancing Nigeria’s COVID-19 response. He also attracted substantial programme funds, managed significant budgets, and supervised a large team dedicated to combating outbreak and endemic pathogens.
Expressing his enthusiasm for his new role, Dr Adetifa stated, “I am thrilled to join FIND at such a critical juncture for global health and especially for diagnostics. I look forward to leading FIND’s team and collaborating with our global partners to drive diagnostic innovation and ensure these advancements reach those most in need.”
Dr Ayoade Alakija, Chair of the FIND Board, highlighted the significance of this appointment: “As FIND embarks on a new and exciting transformative journey, we are excited to welcome Dr Adetifa to the FIND family as he takes on CEO responsibilities. His appointment marks a significant milestone, as he becomes the first African CEO from the Global South that FIND was established to serve. I am particularly proud to welcome the first African Chief Executive into the Geneva Global Health Campus and the wider ecosystem. Rebalancing power is what will advance health for all, and I remain fully committed to ensuring that global health leadership reflects the diversity of the populations we serve.”
Dr Adetifa’s extensive experience includes work at the national, regional, continental and international levels on Lassa fever, vaccines and immunization, respiratory syncytial virus, malaria, tuberculosis, and health systems. He is also currently a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
Dr Adetifa’s received his undergraduate medical qualifications from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria and completed his paediatric residency at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, idi-Araba, Lagos, with the award of a Fellowship of the West Africa College of Physicians in Paediatrics. He then went on to obtain an MSc from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, and a Ph.D. (all in Epidemiology) from the University of Amsterdam. He also was an Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology at LSHTM prior to his appointment to the NCDC.
As he steps into his new role, Dr Adetifa is poised to guide FIND in this season of transformation and in advancing its mission to innovate and expand access to diagnostic testing globally, ensuring that those who need it most are not left behind.
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