Babatunde Osotimehin
Encyclopedia
Babatunde Osotimehin a national of Nigeria
, was appointed on 19 November 2010 as the new Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund
, for a four year term.
He assumed the position on 1 January 2011 and became the organization's fourth Executive Director. He holds the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Previously, he was Nigeria's Minister of Health.
He left this office in March 2010 when Acting President Goodluck Jonathan
dissolved his cabinet.
. He completed his medical studies at the University of Ibadan
in 1972 and received a doctorate in medicine from the University of Birmingham
, United Kingdom
, in 1979. Prior to his appointment at UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, Dr. Osotimenhin served as the Minister of Health of Nigeria. Before that, Dr. Osotimehin was the Director-General of the Nigerian National Agency for the Control of AIDS, an agency that coordinates all HIV and AIDS work in a country with more than 150 million people. As chairman of the National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) he oversaw the development of systems that, today, manage more than US$1billion. During his tenure as Project Manager for the World-Bank assisted HIV/AIDS Programme Development Project from 2002-2008, he achieved great success.
Dr. Ostotimehin's interests include youth and gender, within the context of reproductive health and rights. Young people will be his special focus at UNFPA. “We need to ensure that young people of both genders have equal participation, not only in reproductive rights and health but also within society and in the economy.” In a 2005 article in the New York Times, he noted that nearly 58 percent of Nigerians with H.I.V. are female. Many girls in Nigeria are married off before they are physically or psychologically ready, when they are as young as 13 or 14. It is not acceptable for them to ask their partners to use a condom or to refrain from sex.
Later that year, he said that the government had ordered an increase to 250,000 of the number of HIV-positive people on Nigeria's antiretroviral treatment program.
He believes humility is the key to engaging people and facilitating change, “humility to engage with the other person of the other community in such a way that they know that you respect them.” Cultural sensitivity and understanding are also vital. He is married and has five children and three grandchildren.
In a September 2009 press conference, Dr. Osotimehin said that Nigeria had yet to comply with the Abuja Declaration that 15% of the budget of each African country should be devoted to health care. Nigeria as a whole was only spending between 8% and 9%, although some states were doing much better.
In October 2009, he pointed out that medical institutions were required by law to treat accident and gunshot victims. Refusal to give treatment could be punished by a jail term.
In December 2009 he reaffirmed the government's commitment to eliminate poliomyelitis
and other childhood killer diseases.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, was appointed on 19 November 2010 as the new Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund
United Nations Population Fund
The United Nations Population Fund is a UN organization. The work of the UNFPA involves promotion of the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. This is done through major national and demographic surveys and with population censuses...
, for a four year term.
He assumed the position on 1 January 2011 and became the organization's fourth Executive Director. He holds the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Previously, he was Nigeria's Minister of Health.
He left this office in March 2010 when Acting President Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, BNER, GCON is the 14th Head of State and current President of Nigeria.He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and was sworn in as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2007. Jonathan is a member of the...
dissolved his cabinet.
Background
Babatunde Osotimehin was born on February 1949 in Ogun StateOgun State
Ogun State is a state in South-western Nigeria. It borders Lagos State to the South, Oyo and Osun states to the North, Ondo State to the east and the republic of Benin to the west. Abeokuta is the capital and largest city in the state...
. He completed his medical studies at the University of Ibadan
University of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan is the oldest Nigerian university, and is located five miles from the centre of the major city of Ibadan in Western Nigeria...
in 1972 and received a doctorate in medicine from the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, in 1979. Prior to his appointment at UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, Dr. Osotimenhin served as the Minister of Health of Nigeria. Before that, Dr. Osotimehin was the Director-General of the Nigerian National Agency for the Control of AIDS, an agency that coordinates all HIV and AIDS work in a country with more than 150 million people. As chairman of the National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) he oversaw the development of systems that, today, manage more than US$1billion. During his tenure as Project Manager for the World-Bank assisted HIV/AIDS Programme Development Project from 2002-2008, he achieved great success.
Dr. Ostotimehin's interests include youth and gender, within the context of reproductive health and rights. Young people will be his special focus at UNFPA. “We need to ensure that young people of both genders have equal participation, not only in reproductive rights and health but also within society and in the economy.” In a 2005 article in the New York Times, he noted that nearly 58 percent of Nigerians with H.I.V. are female. Many girls in Nigeria are married off before they are physically or psychologically ready, when they are as young as 13 or 14. It is not acceptable for them to ask their partners to use a condom or to refrain from sex.
Later that year, he said that the government had ordered an increase to 250,000 of the number of HIV-positive people on Nigeria's antiretroviral treatment program.
He believes humility is the key to engaging people and facilitating change, “humility to engage with the other person of the other community in such a way that they know that you respect them.” Cultural sensitivity and understanding are also vital. He is married and has five children and three grandchildren.
Prior positions
His positions prior to the UNFPA appointment include:- African Spokesperson, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Minister of Health, Nigeria, December 2008–March 2010
- Director-General, Nigerian National Agency for the Control of AIDS, March 2007–December 2008
- Chairman, National Action Committee on AIDS, Nigeria, July 2002–March 2007
- Project Manager, HIV/AIDS Programme Development Project (World Bank-Assisted), 2002-2008
- Chairman, Project Governing Board, Joint Regional HIV/AIDS Project in the Abidjan–Lagos Transport Corridor, 2003-2008
- Vice-President, 14th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), 2005
- Chairman, Committee of Presidential Advisers of AIDS Watch Africa
- Member, Policy and Strategy Committee, The Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
- Member, Global Steering Committee on Universal Access
- Coordinator, the Social Sciences and Reproductive Health Research Network, IbadanIbadanIbadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
, Nigeria (an interdisciplinary network comprising sociologists, economists, doctors, lawyers, psychologists and human nutritionists dedicated to applying innovative research techniques to reproductive health and human development) - Provost, College of Medicine, University of IbadanUniversity of IbadanThe University of Ibadan is the oldest Nigerian university, and is located five miles from the centre of the major city of Ibadan in Western Nigeria...
, 1990–1994 - Professor of Clinical Pathology, College of Medicine, University of IbadanUniversity of IbadanThe University of Ibadan is the oldest Nigerian university, and is located five miles from the centre of the major city of Ibadan in Western Nigeria...
, 1980.
Minister of Health
Babatunde Osotimehin was appointed Minister of Health on 17 December 2008. During his tenure, he united all 36 states to build a national health plan focused on primary health care.In a September 2009 press conference, Dr. Osotimehin said that Nigeria had yet to comply with the Abuja Declaration that 15% of the budget of each African country should be devoted to health care. Nigeria as a whole was only spending between 8% and 9%, although some states were doing much better.
In October 2009, he pointed out that medical institutions were required by law to treat accident and gunshot victims. Refusal to give treatment could be punished by a jail term.
In December 2009 he reaffirmed the government's commitment to eliminate poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route...
and other childhood killer diseases.
Memberships/Affiliations
Babatunde Osotimehin is a member or affiliate of the following:- Member of the Royal College of PhysiciansRoyal College of PhysiciansThe Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
(UK) - Fellow in Endocrinology, Cornell UniversityCornell UniversityCornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
Graduate School of Medicine, New York, United States, 1979-1980 - Distinguished Visitor, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Chicago, United States, 1996
- Visiting Fellow, Harvard Centre for Population and Development Studies, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, 1996-1997
- Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Sciences since 2006.
- Population Association of America
- International Advisory Group, Population and Reproductive Health, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Chicago
- Regional Advisory Panel (Africa and the Middle East), Special Programme on Research and Research Training in the Human Reproduction Programme of the World Health Organization
- Chairman of the Committee to draft a Policy on Basic Health Sciences Research and Health Technology Delivery for the Nigerian Government
- Nigerian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism
- The Nigerian Medical AssociationNigerian Medical AssociationThe Nigerian Medical Association is the largest professional organization of physicians in Nigeria and in Africa. The NMA has more than 35,000 members from 36 state branches and the branch from the federal capital territory, including those registered in the diaspora...
- The Nigerian Institute of Management
Honours
- Awarded the Nigerian national honour, Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), December 2005