Ex-Health Minister, Pate, declines Gavi job, accepts request to serve Nigeria

A former Minister of Health, Muhammed Pate will not be resuming as the Chief Executive Officer of GAVI, the global vaccine alliance, The PUNCH reports.

Originally, Pate was meant to resume as GAVI CEO on August 3, 2023, following the announcement of his appointment by the global health organisation on February 13, 2023.

However, in a statement made available to our correspondent on Monday, GAVI noted that it decided to appoint another CEO, seeing as Pate will no longer resume as CEO.

In the statement, Pate informed the board of GAVI that he received a request to “return and contribute to his home country, Nigeria.”

It partly reads, “The GAVI board decided today to appoint David Marlow, currently Gavi’s Chief Operating Officer, to the position of Interim Chief Executive Officer, effective 3 August 2023.

“The appointment follows a communication from Dr. Muhammad Pate, who had been approved by the Gavi Board in February to become Gavi’s next CEO, that he will not be able to join Gavi. Dr Pate informed the Gavi Board Chair and Vice Chair that he has taken an incredibly difficult decision to accept a request to return and contribute to his home country, Nigeria.

“Gavi fully respects the decision and wishes Dr. Pate the very best for the future. On informing Gavi, Dr Pate thanked the Chair of the Gavi Board, José Manuel Barroso, the diverse set of Gavi Board members and partners, current CEO Dr. Seth Berkley, and the Secretariat staff for their support over the last few months.