The emergence of a Nigerian, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar, as the new Dean, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College, London (UCL) has excited President Muhammadu Buhari.
President Buhari’s elation was expressed in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu on Monday.
The UCL had announced in a May 12 post on its website that Abubakar would take over the deanship from Professor Graham Hart, who has served as inaugural Dean since August 2011, from August 1.
“Professor Abubakar joined UCL in 2012, jointly appointed between the MRC Clinical Trials Unit and the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care as Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology.
“In 2016, he was appointed Director of the Institute for Global Health and also served as Vice-Dean International and External Engagement for the faculty. Prior to his appointment at UCL, he led Public Health England’s successful tuberculosis control strategy.
“He is an NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) Senior Investigator and was elected to the Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2020 in recognition of his research in infectious disease epidemiology and migration and health,” the post read in part.
The president said he was delighted that Prof. Abubakar, who is a world-leading scholar in the field of infectious disease epidemiology, has displayed unflinching support to public health institutions in Nigeria.
He noted that Abubakar’s contributions had helped in achieving tangible results in the area of control and prevention of communicable diseases in the country.
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Abubakar holds a Master of Science degree from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a DPH from the University of Cambridge and a PhD from the University of East Anglia.
According to the president, the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) trained medical doctor, will bring his extensive wealth of experience and skills in public health to his new role.
Abubakar’s professional records span from his outstanding leadership at the Institute for Global Health in the last five years to extensive research in infectious disease epidemiology, migration and health.
This led to his election to the Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2020.
President Buhari extended his best wishes to the ”unassuming achiever, widely admired by his peers, as he settles down to his new role from Aug. 1.”