Nigeria's Ibrahim Abubakar Tapped to Lead CEPI as New Chief Executive

Nigerian professor Ibrahim Abubakar, a renowned expert in infectious disease epidemiology, has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, following a rigorous open recruitment process conducted by CEPI's board, which culminated in the announcement on Friday.

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Abubakar is slated to join CEPI in March 2027 and will formally take the reins as chief executive in April 2027, marking a significant milestone in his distinguished career.

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News of Abubakar's appointment has been met with widespread acclaim in Nigeria, with President Bola Tinubu praising him as a distinguished epidemiologist and global health expert, whose appointment underscores Nigeria's growing influence in global health leadership.

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Tinubu's endorsement reflects the high regard in which Abubakar is held, both in Nigeria and on the international stage, where he is recognized for his expertise in infectious disease epidemiology.

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Founded in 2017, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations is a global partnership that brings together public, private, philanthropic, and civil society organizations to finance and coordinate the development of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases.

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CEPI played a pivotal role in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing funding for the development of several vaccine candidates that were subsequently deployed worldwide, and Abubakar will now lead this organization in its efforts to develop vaccines and strengthen preparedness against future epidemics and pandemics.

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According to his academic profile on the University College London website, Abubakar qualified as a medical doctor from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1992, earning a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree.

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He later specialized in public health, obtaining a Master of Science from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1999, followed by a Diploma in Public Health from the University of Cambridge in 2001.

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Abubakar's academic credentials were further bolstered by a PhD from the University of East Anglia in 2007, and he was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, as well as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2020.

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Abubakar's research interests are diverse, spanning infectious diseases, epidemiology, public health, health services and systems, clinical sciences, and migration, with a particular focus on the epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of infections, including tuberculosis, hepatitis, and HIV.

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His academic and leadership career has been marked by several senior positions in the United Kingdom, including a stint as Senior Lecturer in Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine from 2010 to 2012.

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Abubakar also served as Professor of Health Protection at Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, from 2011 to 2012, before joining University College London in 2012 as Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology.

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At UCL, he held various leadership positions, including Director of the Institute for Global Health from 2016 to 2021, Dean of the Faculty of Population Health Sciences in 2021, and Pro-Provost for Health in 2023.

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Abubakar's global health roles have been equally impressive, with stints as chair of the World Health Organisation's Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Tuberculosis until 2019, and chair of the WHO Global Clinical Trials Forum.

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He currently chairs Lancet Migration and has served on the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, the UCL Partners Board, and the board of Resolve to Save Lives, demonstrating his commitment to global health leadership.

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Abubakar's memberships and fellowships are a testament to his standing in the medical and scientific communities, with notable appointments including Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2020, member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in 2024, and election to the US National Academy of Medicine in 2025.

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He was also appointed an Emeritus Senior Investigator at the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Research, recognizing his contributions to the field of infectious disease epidemiology.