Ex-Health Minister, Pate, Resigns From Gavi Over Appointment To Serve In Nigeria

Former Minister of Health, Muhammed Pate, says he will not be resuming as the Chief Executive Officer of GAVI, the global vaccine alliance. This is because he received invitation to return to Nigeria to serve.

Pate was due to resume as CEO, GAVI on August 3, 2023. His appointment was made public on February 13, 2023.

In a statement on Monday, GAVI noted that it had decided to appoint another CEO since Pate will no longer resume to take up the job.

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

According to the statement, “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, commenting that he will remain a steadfast champion of the GAVI mission.”