May 2025: Dr. Chikwe Andreas Ihekweazu – African Male Researcher of the Month

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May 2025: Dr. Chikwe Andreas Ihekweazu – African Male Researcher of the Month

Introduction

Dr. Chikwe Andreas Ihekweazu is a distinguished Nigerian-German epidemiologist, public health physician, and global health leader who has dedicated his career to strengthening epidemic intelligence, preparedness, and response systems worldwide. He currently serves as the Assistant Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), where he heads the Division of Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance Systems and leads the WHO Hub for Epidemic and Pandemic Intelligence in Berlin, Germany.

Widely recognized for transforming Nigeria’s public health landscape, Dr. Ihekweazu is credited with building the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) into one of Africa’s foremost national public health institutions. His work has positioned him at the forefront of the fight against infectious diseases globally, including COVID-19, tuberculosis, monkeypox, yellow fever, and emerging epidemic threats.

Early Life and Education

Dr. Ihekweazu was born in Germany to a Nigerian father, a physician, and a German mother, a professor. His family moved to Nigeria in the late 1970s, and he grew up in the academic town of Nsukka. He attended Federal Government College, Enugu, before earning his MBBS degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

He pursued further training internationally, obtaining:

• Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, University of Heidelberg, Germany

• Master of Public Health (MPH), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany

• European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET) Fellowship

• Fellowship of the Faculty of Public Health (FFPH), United Kingdom

These qualifications laid the foundation for his career in infectious disease epidemiology and public health leadership.

Professional Career

Early Career and International Experience

Dr. Ihekweazu began his medical career in Nigeria, completing his housemanship and serving the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at Abia State University Teaching Hospital and Police College, Ikeja, Lagos.

He went on to hold senior roles in leading public health institutions globally, including:

• Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany – Medical Epidemiologist, leading investigations of hospital-associated infections.

• National Health Service (NHS), UK – Public Health Analyst and later Specialist Registrar, working on surveillance, outbreak investigations, and emergency preparedness.

• Health Protection Agency (HPA), UK – Consultant Medical Epidemiologist, managing the Regional Epidemiology Unit for Southeast England, serving over 10 million people.

• National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), South Africa – Co-Director of the Centre for Tuberculosis, where he established provincial epidemiology services and national surveillance systems.

Through these positions, Dr. Ihekweazu gained hands-on experience in outbreak management, data-driven health intelligence, and institutional capacity-building.

Transforming the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)

In August 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Dr. Ihekweazu as the first Director-General of the NCDC. Under his leadership (2016–2021), NCDC grew from a small unit within the Ministry of Health into a world-class national public health agency, recognized across Africa.

His achievements at NCDC include:

• Legal Framework: Secured the passage of the NCDC Act (2018), making the Centre an independent agency.

• Laboratory Expansion: Established the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja and expanded molecular diagnostic capacity nationwide.

• Emergency Response: Oversaw responses to multiple outbreaks including Lassa fever, monkeypox, yellow fever, and meningitis.

• COVID-19 Response: Led Nigeria’s public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding laboratory networks, establishing Public Health Emergency Operations Centres, and deploying real-time data systems.

• Capacity Building: Strengthened the Nigeria Field Epidemiology Training Program (NFELTP) to train the next generation of disease detectives.

His leadership earned international recognition, with visits from WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to NCDC during his tenure.

World Health Organization (WHO)

In November 2021, Dr. Ihekweazu was appointed Assistant Director-General for Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance Systems at WHO. He also heads the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin, a flagship initiative supported by the German government.

At WHO, he oversees critical initiatives, including:

• Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) – Harnessing real-time data to detect health threats.

• International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) – Coordinating global genomic surveillance.

• Open Source Programme Office (OSPO) – Promoting open science and data sharing for global health security.

His work underscores his philosophy that no single institution or country can prepare for future pandemics alone, advocating for cross-disciplinary and global collaboration.

Awards and Recognitions

Dr. Ihekweazu has received numerous awards for his leadership and contributions to public health:

• National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) – Awarded by the President of Nigeria (2021).

• Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) – National honour awarded by the President of Nigeria (2022).

• Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) – Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK (2022).

• Clara Southmayd Ludlow Medal – American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), for advancing tropical medicine (2022).

These recognitions highlight his outstanding service to Nigeria and his contributions to global health security.

Publications and Advocacy

Dr. Ihekweazu has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications on epidemiology, infectious diseases, and public health systems. He is a strong advocate for strengthening epidemic preparedness in Africa and has served on the boards of major organizations, including:

• Society for Family Health (Nigeria)

• Health Advocacy Organisation – Nigeria Health Watch

• Virchow Prize for Global Health Council

• Editorial Boards of Epidemiology and Infection and Journal of Public Health in Africa

He has been vocal about Africa’s vulnerability to epidemics, emphasizing the importance of investment in health systems, data, and workforce development.

Conclusion

Dr. Chikwe Andreas Ihekweazu is a global leader whose vision, expertise, and dedication have reshaped public health in Nigeria, Africa, and beyond. From building NCDC into a resilient national health agency to leading WHO’s pandemic intelligence hub, his work reflects a lifelong commitment to epidemic preparedness, disease surveillance, and global health security.

His awards – including the National Productivity Order of Merit, Officer of the Order of the Niger, and the Clara Southmayd Ludlow Medal – stand as recognition of his enduring impact on health systems worldwide.