The Minister of Youth Development Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has appointed Dr. Obinna Ebirim as his Senior Special Assistant on Youth/Adolescent and Young People’s Health.
 
This appointment is a demonstration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of Nigerian youth. The minister said this appointment underscored the administration’s prioritisation of the health and development of young Nigerians as a cornerstone of national agenda.
   
The minister recognised that the health of adolescents and young people is critical to achieving national development. In this role, Ebirim will work closely with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to address and elevate pressing health issues affecting adolescents and young adults. This work will align with Nigeria’s national health guidelines and the standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), ensuring a comprehensive approach to advancing youth health and wellbeing.
 
Olawande noted that health, as it is known, is not merely the absence of disease but the complete state of mental, physical, and social wellbeing. With this holistic view in mind, Ebirim’s mandate will focus on addressing key health priorities such as Mental health, Alcohol and substance abuse prevention, Tobacco use, Adolescent vaccination programs, communicable diseases (e.g., HIV, STIs), and non-communicable diseases (e.g., obesity, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases).
 
Speaking on his appointment, Ebirim, said he brings over a decade of experience in public health advocacy, health promotion, primary healthcare system strengthening, and programme management with both local, regional and international organizations such as Direct Consulting and Logistics (DCL), Corona Management Systems (CMS), Niyel, Gavi, Wellcome Trust, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 
 
He stated that his track record includes: Leading national immunization and primary healthcare strengthening programmes across Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to Nigeria’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (2021–2025), and collaborating with international development partners to tackle complex public health challenges.