Tinubu Appoints Ahmad UDUTH As Chief Medical Director

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 tenure of four years, according to an official statement issued by the hospital’s Head of Public Affairs, Mansur Wadata.

The executive decision was communicated via an official letter signed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, who congratulated Ahmad and urged him to deploy his extensive clinical and administrative expertise toward advancing the institution.

Pate noted that the leadership position comes with immense responsibility, especially given rising public expectations for an efficient, accessible, and responsive national healthcare framework.

The minister charged the newly appointed CMD to justify the confidence reposed in him by President Tinubu through visionary leadership, institutional synergies, and an unwavering commitment to quality medical service delivery.

He further advised Ahmad to foster strategic partnerships with key health sector stakeholders to optimize hospital operations and expand healthcare access.

Ahmad, a distinguished consultant in paediatrics and child health with over two decades of clinical practice, holds his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

He earned a Fellowship of the West African College of Physicians (FWACP) in Paediatrics and holds a Professional Diploma in Education from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

His academic and professional credentials include specialized 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).

In his academic career, Ahmad advanced from Lecturer I to Senior Lecturer, Reader, and full Professor of Paediatrics, building a robust reputation in child healthcare delivery and medical education.

Prior to his substantive appointment, he served for four years as Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (Training) at UDUTH, overseeing residency training frameworks and clinical education.

His administrative portfolio includes tenure as Deputy Director of the Institute of Child Health, Faculty Examinations Officer in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, and faculty representative on the university Senate.

Ahmad has also stepped in as acting chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee and interim Chief Medical Director on multiple occasions prior to his full presidential confirmation.