Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, former Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has been appointed as the Chief Transformation Officer of FIND.
According to an announcement on FIND’s website Thursday, Adetifa will also serve as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer.
FIND is a global non-profit dedicated to accelerating equitable access to reliable diagnostics worldwide. It connects countries, communities, funders, decision-makers, healthcare providers, and developers to foster diagnostic innovation and integrate testing into sustainable, resilient health systems.
Adetifa was appointed DG of NCDC on September 6, 2021, and transitioned his role to Dr. Jide Idris in February 2024.
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The statement read, “FIND is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Ifedayo Morayo Adetifa as Chief Transformation Officer. Dr Adetifa, who will also function as Chief Executive Officer, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in global health and health security, particularly in the prevention and control of infectious diseases.
“Dr Adetifa, a seasoned pediatrician and accomplished infectious disease epidemiologist, previously served as the Director-General and CEO of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control & Prevention. During his tenure at the NCDC, he played a pivotal role in advancing Nigeria’s COVID-19 response. He also attracted substantial programme funds, managed significant budgets, and supervised a large team dedicated to combating outbreak and endemic pathogens.”
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Expressing his enthusiasm for his new role, Dr Adetifa stated, “I am thrilled to join FIND at such a critical juncture for global health and especially for diagnostics. I look forward to leading FIND’s team and collaborating with our global partners to drive diagnostic innovation and ensure these advancements reach those most in need.
The Chair of the FIND Board, Dr. Ayoade Alakija, highlighted the significance of this appointment: “As FIND embarks on a new and exciting transformative journey, we are excited to welcome Dr. Adetifa to the FIND family as he takes on CEO responsibilities. His appointment marks a significant milestone, as he becomes the first African CEO from the Global South that FIND was established to serve.
“I am particularly proud to welcome the first African Chief Executive into the Geneva Global Health Campus and the wider ecosystem. Rebalancing power is what will advance health for all, and I remain fully committed to ensuring that global health leadership reflects the diversity of the populations we serve.”
Adetifa’s extensive experience spans national, regional, continental, and international work on various health issues, including Lassa fever, vaccines and immunization, respiratory syncytial virus, malaria, tuberculosis, and health systems.
He is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
Adetifa earned his undergraduate medical degree from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, and completed his pediatric residency at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos, where he was awarded a Fellowship of the West Africa College of Physicians in Paediatrics.
He furthered his education with an MSc from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Amsterdam. Prior to his role at NCDC, he was an Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology at LSHTM.
As he steps into his new role, Dr. Adetifa is poised to guide FIND in this season of transformation and in advancing its mission to innovate and expand access to diagnostic testing globally, ensuring that those who need it most are not left behind,” the statement added.
