President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Professor Murtala Muhammad Ahmad as the seventh substantive Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto.

The appointment, which takes effect from October 20, 2026, is for an initial four-year term, according to a statement issued by the hospital’s Head of Public Affairs, Mansur Wadata.

The appointment was conveyed in a letter signed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, who congratulated Ahmad and urged him to bring his wealth of professional experience to bear on the hospital’s administration.

Pate said the appointment came with significant responsibilities, particularly amid growing public expectations for an effective, responsive and accessible healthcare system.

He charged the new CMD to justify the confidence reposed in him by Tinubu through purposeful leadership, institutional collaboration and a sustained commitment to quality healthcare delivery.

The minister also urged Ahmad to work closely with relevant stakeholders to strengthen the hospital’s operations and ensure the provision of efficient medical services.

Ahmad, a specialist in paediatrics and child health with more than two decades of experience, obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

He subsequently obtained a Fellowship of the West African College of Physicians (FWACP) in Paediatrics and a professional diploma in education from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

His other qualifications include specialised certifications in paediatric electroencephalography, health leadership, management and public administration from the University of Cape Town, the University of Washington and the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), respectively.

In academia, Ahmad rose through the ranks from Lecturer I to Senior Lecturer, Reader and Professor of Paediatrics, establishing himself as a specialist in child healthcare and an experienced medical educator.

Before his appointment, he served for four years as Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (Training) at UDUTH, where he contributed to the administration of residency programmes and medical training.

His previous responsibilities also included Deputy Director of the Institute of Child Health, Faculty Examinations Officer in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences and faculty representative on the university’s Senate.

Ahmad also served as acting chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee and acting Chief Medical Director on several occasions before his substantive appointment.