FG Offers Dangote, Otedola,  Elumelu New Appointments

The Federal Government has appointed prominent business leaders Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, and Tony Elumelu to spearhead efforts to eradicate malaria in Nigeria.

The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, during the inauguration of the Nigeria End Malaria Council on Friday in Abuja, NAN reports.

The newly appointed council members, who include the Chairman of Dangote Group, the Chairman of Geregu Power Plc, and the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, will work in collaboration with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, the National Assembly joint Health Committees, and various women’s organizations.

Their mission is to reduce and potentially eliminate the malaria burden in Nigeria, a country that currently accounts for over a quarter of global malaria cases and a third of malaria-related deaths worldwide.

The minister emphasized the urgency of addressing the malaria crisis, citing the devastating impact the disease has on the country’s health and economy. He noted that the council’s formation was prompted by the need for a renewed focus on malaria elimination, building on efforts initiated in 2017.

Alausa expressed confidence in the council’s ability to mobilize resources and secure the strong political commitment needed to make significant progress against malaria.

He highlighted that while existing interventions such as antimalarial medicines and treated nets are essential, they are not enough to eliminate the disease, stressing the importance of sustainable funding and innovative approaches.

In his remarks, Aliko Dangote, who has been a long-time advocate for malaria elimination, urged council members to leverage their collective influence and resources to ensure that malaria eradication remains a top priority on the national agenda.

He called for sustained efforts to protect the progress made so far and to ensure that Nigeria is on an irreversible path to ending malaria for good.