Former Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, has been appointed as Senior Strategic Advisor to the Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
The announcement was made on April 6, 2026, in an official statement released by the agency through its communication office.
Osinbajo served as Nigeria’s Vice President from 2015 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In his new role, he is expected to support the agency with guidance on Africa’s place in global health matters. His work will cover areas such as health funding, local production of medical supplies, partnerships, and policy direction within the African Union system.
The Director-General of the agency, Jean Kaseya, described Osinbajo as someone with wide experience in governance, finance, law, and diplomacy, adding that his input will help shape the future of health systems across the continent.
Before becoming Vice President, Osinbajo served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.
During his time in office at the federal level, he led key government efforts, including chairing the Economic Sustainability Committee, driving reforms to improve the ease of doing business, and overseeing social investment programmes.
In 2022, he joined the race for Nigeria’s presidency ahead of the 2023 elections but did not secure his party’s ticket.
Since leaving office, Osinbajo has taken on several international responsibilities. In January 2026, he was named Co-Chair of the Future of Development Cooperation Coalition. He was also appointed by the Economic Community of West African States to head a team supervising the 2025 presidential elections.
Earlier, in 2024, he became Chairman of the Board of Advisors for the Museum of Modern and Contemporary African Art in London and worked with the United Nations Development Programme on a $1 billion youth innovation initiative.
The Africa CDC operates as the public health arm of the African Union, supporting member countries to strengthen their health systems, improve disease tracking, and respond better to emergencies across the continent.
