Nigeria turns to billionaires Dangote, Otedola, and Elumelu in fight against malaria

Omokolade Ajayi -

Key Points

  • Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, and Tony Elumelu head the National End Malaria Council to combat malaria in Nigeria.
  • This move follows their prior role on the National Economy Advisory Committee, underscoring a blend of health and economic revitalization strategies.
  • Dangote calls for sustained funding and priority status for malaria elimination, leveraging his influence and resources to drive progress.

The Nigerian government has intensified its efforts to combat malaria, a major public health threat, by appointing a high-powered team of the nation’s leading business magnates to spearhead the campaign. Over the weekend, billionaire businessmen Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, and banking titan Tony Elumelu were tasked with leading the National End Malaria Council (NEMC), a strategic move aimed at reducing the scourge of malaria, which continues to devastate the country.

This appointment builds on the earlier inclusion of these business magnates in the National Economy Advisory Committee in February, a strategic decision made by President Bola Tinubu in response to the economic pressures resulting from the naira’s depreciation. The latest collaboration between the government and private sector leaders marks a significant step in addressing public health issues alongside economic revitalization efforts.

Billionaires spearhead malaria elimination drive

Femi Otedola, recently reinstated on the world’s billionaires list, chairs Geregu Power Plc and FBN Holdings Plc. Aliko Dangote who ranks as the country’s richest individual, leads the conglomerate Dangote Group, while Elumelu helms UBA Group and founded Heirs Holdings. Their leadership is expected to steer the country towards its goal of eliminating malaria, a disease that continues to claim over 600,000 lives globally each year, with Nigeria contributing more than a quarter of these cases.

During the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, emphasized the importance of this initiative, highlighting Nigeria’s disproportionate share of the global malaria burden. “Nigeria contributes more than a quarter of global malaria cases and about a third of the over 600,000 deaths, mostly among children and pregnant women,” Alausa stated. He further outlined the socio-economic toll malaria imposes on the country, with the disease responsible for a significant percentage of childhood mortality, school absenteeism, and hospital visits.

The NEMC, which includes prominent religious leader John Cardinal Onaiyekan, will collaborate with key stakeholders, including the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, National Assembly joint Health Committees, and women’s organizations, to drive this initiative. The minister acknowledged that while various interventions, such as antimalarial medicines and treated nets, have been implemented, they remain inadequate for Nigeria’s large population of over 200 million.

United effort to eradicate malaria

Aliko Dangote, who has served as Nigeria’s Malaria Ambassador and is a member of the Global End Malaria Council, was handed leadership of the council. In his address, Dangote called for a united front in tackling malaria, stressing the importance of maintaining the disease’s elimination as a top priority on Nigeria’s national agenda. He underscored the council’s role in securing sustainable funding and ensuring that the progress made in combating malaria is protected and built upon.

The council members are tasked with mobilizing the financial resources necessary to eliminate malaria in Nigeria, with the secretariat of the Nigeria End Malaria Council, led by its Executive Secretary, Ope Abegunde, facilitating their efforts. As Dangote and his fellow business leaders take on this critical role, the expectations are high that their combined influence and resources will drive Nigeria closer to a future free of malaria, aligning health outcomes with the nation’s broader economic recovery agenda.