Health Minister under President Muhammadu Buhari
The Minister of Health in Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was Dr. Osagie Emmanuel Ehanire.
Education
After his primary education, Ehanire attended Government College Ibadan in Oyo State for his West African School Certificate where he excelled at his Higher School Certificate examination. Ehanire went on to study Medicine at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in Germany, qualifying as a Surgeon. He went on to the Teaching Hospital of the University of Duisburg and Essen and to the BG Accident Hospital in Duisburg, Germany for his post graduate education. In 1976, he attended the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland where he obtained a postgraduate Diploma in Anaesthetics. He got his Board Certification in both General Surgery and Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery at the Medical Board of North Rhine Westphalia in Dusseldorf, Germany. In 1984, he became a Fellow of West African College of Surgeon.
Biography of Dr. Osagie Ehanire
Dr. Osagie Ehanire was born on November 4, 1946, in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Southern Nigeria. He is a medical doctor by profession, specializing in general surgery. He obtained his medical degree from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany, in 1976 and furthered his education with postgraduate studies and training in Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Career Dr. Ehanire
Dr. Ehanire’s career in the medical field spans several decades, and he has held various positions in both Nigeria and abroad. He served as the Chief Consultant Surgeon at the Shell Petroleum Development Company’s Hospital, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. He also worked as a senior registrar at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Ehanire has been actively involved in healthcare administration and management. He served as the Medical Director of the Shell Hospital in Warri and also worked as the Executive Director of the Hospital Management Board in Edo State, Nigeria.
Dr. Osagie Ehanire’s involvement in Nigeria’s healthcare system led to his appointment as the Minister of State for Health by President Buhari in November 2015. Later, in August 2019, he was appointed as the Minister of Health, succeeding Prof. Isaac Adewole.
Activities of Dr. Ehanire as Nigerian Health Minister
As Minister of Health, Dr. Ehanire was responsible for overseeing the health sector in Nigeria, including the implementation of policies, programs, and initiatives aimed at improving healthcare delivery, disease prevention, and the overall well-being of Nigerians. During his tenure, he worked on various healthcare challenges, including addressing public health emergencies, improving healthcare infrastructure, enhancing primary healthcare services, and tackling infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.
Award
In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.
