ASHENEWS reports that President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Abdu Mukhtar to serve as the National Coordinator of the Presidential ‘Unlocking Healthcare Value-Chain’ Initiative.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
The statement said that the initiative targets a “Measurable increase in the domestic manufacturing of generic pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biologics, and devices as well as an in the number of quality jobs across the value chain through enhanced FDI and local capital mobilization.”
It also seeks a reduction of outbound medical tourism by enhancing service quality in Nigeria while catalyzing alternative health ecosystems in the country.
“This strategic approval seeks to unlock billions of dollars of new investment into the nation’s healthcare delivery system through a time-bound and cross-ministerial collaboration to restructure the ecosystem of Health Product manufacturing, Health Logistics services, Health Technology services, Health Retail services (e-commerce), Health Provider facilitation, and Health Payor reform (Third Party Administrators & Insurers),” the statement added.
According to the statement, Dr. Mukhtar served as the immediate past Director of Industry & Trade Development at the African Development Bank (AfDB).
He also served as the Group Chief Strategy Officer of the Dangote Group of Industries, where he played a key role in the conglomerate’s expansion of its cement production footprint into fourteen African countries, in addition to important joint ventures in the power, oil & gas, and agriculture sectors.
“This followed a four-year tenure as the Chief Executive Officer of the FCTA’s Abuja Investment Company Limited from 2007 to 2011.
Dr. Mukhtar holds a Doctorate in Biotechnology from Boston University (USA); a Master in Business Administration from Harvard Business School (USA); a Master in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and a Medical Degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.”
It added that the president has charged the newly appointed coordinator to bring to bear his vast experience and academic qualifications in the effective execution of this national assignment.
