WEST AFRICA
NIGERIA: Ali Pate has just been appointed to the World Bank and Harvard University.
Mr. Muhammad Ali Pate, former Minister of Health of Nigeria, was offered two positions, one at the World Bank, and the other at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, School of Health Public Library at Harvard University.
In early May, the World Bank appointed Mr. Pate as Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population (HNP) and Director of the Global Financing Facility (GFF) in Washington DC. At about the same time, he was also appointed Professor Julio Frenk Chair in Public Health Leadership, Department of Public Health and Population, by Harvard T. Chan Chan School of Public Health.
Both of these appointments will take effect on July 1, 2019. However, Harvard T. H. Chan School has indicated that Mr. Pate will be on standby at the time he will perform both functions.
In his new role at the World Bank, Dr. Pate will lead, develop and communicate the Vision and Strategic Direction for Health, Nutrition and Population (HNP) and the Global Financing Facility (GFF). as well as their links with the Human Capital Project; it will ensure that global priorities are effectively integrated into national programs and ensure high-quality delivery of global commitments; and will work closely with Regional Directors affiliated with a Health, Nutrition and Population (HNP) office. He will effectively oversee the strategic staffing and talent management of staff in the Health, Nutrition and Population office and the Global Financing Facility to foster the creation and dissemination of knowledge and solutions.
Established in 2015, the Global Financing Facility (GFF) aims to end preventable deaths of mothers, newborns, children and adolescents, and improve women’s health and quality of life. , children and adolescents. GFF is a new development finance model that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, which helps governments prioritize critical health and nutrition issues, and brings together multiple sources of funding to address the funding gap in the areas of health and nutrition. reproductive health, and the health and nutrition of the newborn, child and adolescent (RMNCAH-N) by 2030.
The GFF Trust Fund, the monetary arm of GFF that provides a portion of the funds needed by countries to invest in the RMNCAH-N, is linked to funding from the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Bank for Development. Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). In 2018, donors, including the Gates Foundation, the European Commission, Norway, Japan, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, pledged over $ 1 billion for GFF.
According to the World Bank, Mr. Pate was chosen to fill this position following a competitive Bank-wide executive recruitment process. Mr. Pate has previously worked for the World Bank, having joined the organization in 2000 as a young professional, and working on health issues such as HIV / AIDS, TB and malaria in several parts of the world, including the World Health Organization. Africa, East Asia and the Pacific.
Until recently, he was the Executive Director of Big Win Philanthropy, a UK-based organization that invests in children and young adults in developing countries to improve their standard of living. and maximize demographic dividends for economic growth.
Prior to his appointment as Minister of State for Health in Nigeria in 2011, Mr. Pate had successfully held the position of Executive Director of the National Agency for Primary Health Care Development (NPHCDA). In 2013, he resigned from his position as Minister of State for Health to join Duke University’s Institute of Global Health as a visiting professor where he taught about health systems compared to postgraduate students.
While in office at NPHCDA, Dr. Pate introduced a number of reforms that significantly increased immunization coverage in northern Nigeria. In the space of two years, the incidence of wild polio virus (PVS) has dropped dramatically, from 803 to 11 cases in the country. It has also led the reform aimed at increasing the number of qualified midwives and improving service delivery, thereby helping to reduce a high rate of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity.
Mr. Ali Pate studied at Ahmadu Bell University
Initially scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the major march of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire – African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA), the main opposition party in Côte d’Ivoire, will finally take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025. This postponement was announced by the party’s Executive Secretary, who points out that the decision came after discussions between the PDCI leadership and the authorities of the Abidjan department. The details of these discussions have not been made public.
This demonstration, highly anticipated by the party’s activists and supporters, aims to support the candidacy of its president, Tidjane Thiam, in the presidential election of 2025, and to protest against his removal from the electoral list. A decision that the party qualifies as unfair and unacceptable, arguing for the right of all Ivorian citizens, including those with dual nationality, to participate in the political life of the country.
The route of the march remains unchanged: the protesters will leave from the SOCOCE space of the 2 Plateaux, in the municipality of Cocody, to head towards the headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). The party calls for a strong peaceful mobilization in order to convey a clear message: demand inclusive, transparent and peaceful elections.
The removal of Tidjane Thiam and other opposition figures is mainly based on the issue of dual nationality, a legal provision that continues to be debated as the election approaches. The PDCI, which sees in Thiam a rally candidate capable of unifying the Ivorians, intends to make this march a highlight of its campaign and its democratic fight.
Photo credit: Tidiane Thiam page
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Morissanda Kouyaté, received this Sunday, June 1, 2025 in Conakry a delegation from the African Union, on an official visit to Guinea. On this occasion, he reaffirmed the commitment of the transitional authorities to respect the deadlines set for the return to constitutional order, while stressing the historical and central role of Guinea in the construction of the Pan-African project.
« I am very happy. The African Union is at Guinea’s side to accompany and support the vision of the head of state, President Mamadi Doumbouya, in favor of Guinea and Africa, in the political, diplomatic, economic, and cultural fields, declared the head of Guinean diplomacy.
This meeting takes place in a context marked by the preparations for the constitutional referendum scheduled for next September 21.
Morissanda Kouyaté also recalled the founding involvement of Guinea in the creation of the Organization of African Unity, which became the African Union. “This visit materializes the commitment of the Peace and Security Council to accompany Guinea in a dynamic of ambitious political and diplomatic transformation,” he stressed.
The minister indicated that all actions related to the transition are currently funded by the national development budget, while calling for a broader mobilization of the international community. “We have requested a round table, called the Basketfront, to seek support to speed up the process. But this does not mean that we will give up,” he said, reiterating President Doumbouya’s willingness to scrupulously respect the scheduled deadlines.
He finally wanted to reassure on the efforts made to ensure an inclusive electoral process. “We are going through a difficult period, and that is why we want all Guineans to be registered in order to obtain a reliable electoral roll,” concluded Morissanda Kouyaté.
Source: guinee360 / Photo credit: Page Ministry of Foreign Affairs Guinea
The list of presidential candidates in Côte d’Ivoire is expanding on Saturday, May 31, 2025. After the withdrawal of Tidjane Thiam, another candidate comes to replace him. The latter had submitted his application in 2020 but it was invalidated. Indeed, in his announcement of candidacy, the latter has emphasized the valorization of cultural and spiritual values of the country.
The presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire promises to be exciting. Some candidates have been withdrawn and others are being added to the list of candidates. Additions for a common purpose sitting in the chair. An objective that arouses the interest of Olivier Djè Bi Djè, who has submitted his candidacy. Thus, the deputy of the city of Zuénoula announced his candidacy for the presidential election of 25 October 2025 on 31 May 2025.
An application that was invalidated five years ago (2020) due to sponsorship non-compliance. However, this candidacy could be valid because the politician has well prepared his mount before launching. However, there is still some way to go. Indeed, to be sure, the member for Zuénoula of Côte d’Ivoire has an obligation to respect the electoral code by bringing together at least sponsorship in 17 independent regions.
Olivier Djè Bi Djè, in his candidacy announcement speech, unveiled his management plan once at the presidency headquarters. As the Ivorian politician is a manager, he opts for common management with a future of social justice, without forgetting peace and sustainable development.
He gave a pledge on leadership based on the identity of the country. It also intends to place cultural and spiritual values high on the agenda with traditional leaders. Finally, the new candidate calls for unity in order to address the country’s challenges as quickly as possible. He also counts on the population for a victory.
Source: africa-sur7 / Credit photo: afrique-sur7
