- Dr. Ali Muhammad Pate’s story is an illustration of the sacrifice that technocrats and brilliantly accomplished people make just to serve their country.
*Photo: Dr Pate*
By Azeez Ibrahim Oluwafemi
Dr. Ali Pate ( the newly appointed Minister of Health) was meant to resume as the CEO of Gavi (the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization), also known as the Vaccine Alliance, two weeks ago (August 3).
The job comes with a fantastic annual salary of $700,000 (525 million naira).
However, Dr. Pate said no to the job as he is ready to come back to Nigeria to take over as the next Nigeria’s minister of health.
Surprisingly, what Dr. Pate is expected to earn in the next 1 year as minister is not up to half of the salary he will earn if he has accepted the Gavi job.
Nigeria pays its minister a 2 million monthly salary plus other allowances, which would make his monthly take home 5 million naira.
So in a year, give or take, his annual take-home would be close to 60 million naira. Not even half of his monthly salary that he is forfeiting at GAVI.
Dr. Pate is coming home with an impressive brilliant CV.
He was born on 6 Sep 1968 (54yrs)
1990: MBBS, ABU
2000: MSc, LSHTM, UK
2006: MBA, Duke Univ
1990-1991: House Officer, ABUTH
1991-1992: Medical Officer, Nasarawa Hospital
1992-1993: Lecturer, ABUTH
1993-1995: Medical Officer, British Med Res Council Lab, Gambia
1998: Resident Physician, Howard Univ, USA
1998-2000: Instructor, Univ of Rochester, USA
2000-2008: World Bank
2008-2011: CEO, Pry Healthcare Agency
2011-2013: Min of State, Health
2013: Prof. Duke Univ Global Health, USA
2015: CEO, Big Win Philanthropy
2019: Prof of Public Health Leadership, Harvard.
2019-2021: Global Director, World Bank
2023: CEO, GAVI – to resume Aug but resigned in Jun to accept Ministerial position.
2023: Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
This is a rich profile. I hope it translate to direct improvement in our health sector.
Dr. Ali Muhammad Pate’s story is an illustration of the sacrifice that technocrats and brilliantly accomplished people make just to serve their country. May he succeed!