Biography of Dr Muhammad Ali Pate

141 Pages·2014·15.87 MB·English

Cover image area 316mm x 704mm (includes 20mm wrap)
18mm spine
“We have an African saying that if “It is a positive development that
you want to go fast, you go alone, we have people who are recognised
but if you want to go far, you go with globally. Pate has served this country
others.” for five years, first as the Chief
Executive of NPHCDA and later
Dr Muhammad Ali Pate
Minister of State, Health. His work
Dr Muhammad Ali Pate has been described by Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan as “a star” and by US business guru
and philanthropist Bill Gates as a man he “admires very much”. His visionary efforts to unleash nothing short of a health is appreciated worldwide. His
revolution in Nigeria by transforming its healthcare system, working to eradicate polio and improve the lives of millions
appointment a plus for the
of men, women and children, have won him the glowing respect of the global health community.
administration and the country”
From humble origins – Dr Pate was born in a small village in Bauchi State – he has proved that education, hard work
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, July 24 2013
and self-belief is the key to making a difference. With his conferment as Chigarin Misau, the launch of his Chigari Misau
Foundation and the kick-off of his annual colloquium, Dr Pate now intends to educate, empower and energise
young Nigerians to follow in his footsteps…
Celebrating the life and times of
Dr Muhammad Ali Pate
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The Road Less Travelled
A biography of Muhammad Ali Pate
Chigari Misau, Bauchi State, 2014
Copyright May 2014 @ Chigari Foundation
All rights reserved
First edition printed in celebration of Dr Muhammad Ali Pate’s turbanning as Chigari Misau as well as the launch of the
Chigari Misau Foundation and the Chigari Misau Colloquium.
All contributions to this book have been provided out of the free will of the contributors as requested and by so doing have waived any rights therein.
All reprinted text has been done with the kind permission of the authors. All statistics and references have been cited accordingly.
Published by Red & Scott Ltd
Registered Office: 4 The Sanctuary, 23 Oakhill Grove, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 6DU
Telephone: [phone] ~ Fax: [phone]
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contents
Foreword ..........................................................................................................................................................7
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................8
Preface ..............................................................................................................................................................9
chaPTeR 1 From humble Beginnings: 1968 to 1984 .......................................................17
chaPTeR 2 First Steps into Medicine: 1984 to 1998 ........................................................25
chaPTeR 3 Formative Years in the UK and US: 1995 to 2008 ...................................33
chaPTeR 4 The homecoming: 2008 to 2013 ......................................................................43
chaPTeR 5 Making a Difference: 2011 to 2013 ....................................................................69
chaPTeR 6 The Way ahead: 2014 and forward.....................................................................113
chaPTeR 7 In conversation .......................................................................................................125
acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................134
Index of contributors .........................................................................................................................137
Index ..............................................................................................................................................................138
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The road
not taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost, 1916
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Foreword
Alhaji Aliko Dangote MFR, GCON,
Chairman & CEO Dangote Group
I am pleased to write the foreword to Thankfully, professionals such as The Road Less Travelled succinctly
The Road Less Travelled, Dr Muhammad Ali Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, Professor for Global recounts and highlights Dr Pate’s productive
Pate’s biography. The book is being published Health Practice at Duke University, and and purposeful life, the hallmarks of which
to salute his noteworthy accomplishments Nigeria’s immediate past Minister of State for have been discipline, hard work, passion,
on the occasion of his being turbanned as Health, demonstrate that with a clear vision and purpose.
Chigari Misau in Bauchi State of Nigeria on properly aligned to the African context, It is a welcome story of how Nigerian
May 2, 2014. determination, and collaboration between professionals are stepping out and leading
While the ‘Africa Rising’ narrative is a government and key stakeholders, even the way forward from what were hitherto
welcome departure from previous tales of Nigeria’s most seemingly intractable health considered entrenched problems.
woe, a lot remains to be achieved for sub- problems can be effectively tackled. It is a story that confirms and affirms
Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria and West Under his watch Nigeria’s health system Nigerians’ love of and belief in our great
Africa, to achieve broad-based inclusive witnessed innovative and impactful initiatives country and our willingness to be part of the
growth. In this regard, the parlous state of that have reinvigorated and energised change we all aspire for.
healthcare systems and the persistently high professionals and civil servants in this critical It is a story that encourages and inspires
levels of morbidity and mortality, particularly sector in Nigeria and around the world. They all of us to think more deeply and creatively
of children and women, remains a major include the Saving One Million Lives initiative, about moving beyond our current problems,
stumbling block. the multi-stakeholder Presidential Taskforce to reach out and build bridges within our
on Polio Eradication, Midwives Service country and internationally to help us meet
Scheme, and Sure-P Maternal and Child our goals, to trust in and build sustainable
Health Programme. In addition, Dr Pate has systems and institutions, to motivate
worked tirelessly to rally Nigerian private our staff, colleagues and leaders through
sector support for the health sector. our actions.
I have had the pleasure of working with It is a story that is worth reading about a
Dr Pate alongside State Governors, civic man who is fully deserving of celebration and
leaders and the Gates Foundation as part of emulation – Chigari Misau – Dr Muhammad
the Presidential Taskforce on Polio Ali Pate. n
Eradication. And together with Jim Ovia,
Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede, and Shola David-
Alhaji Aliko Dangote MFR, GCON, Borha we established the Private Sector
Chairman & CEO Dangote Group
Health Alliance, which he co-chairs.
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Introduction
Mallam (Dr) Isa Yuguda,
HE Executive Governor of Bauchi State,
Matawallen Bauchi; Oba Asanyero of Oyo Empire; Dan Isa of Misau
This brief biography chronicles the life of Dr
Muhammad Ali Pate, Chigari Misau, from his
early days growing up, to his emergence on
the global stage.
It gives a front row seat to the reader as
one is taken through a journey whose
milestones represent signposts of character
building, motivation, compassion, hard work
and integrity of a scale uncommon among
his generation.
The milk of human kindness that flows
from him has touched the lives of many; from
the unemployed youth in his community to
whom he has provided wise counsel, the
average student whom he inspired to the top
of his class, the countless health workers in
Nigeria he mentored and motivated, to the
orphans whom he nurtured through school
and gainful employment, Muhammad is
easily a rare gem among rhinestones.
In this book, you find a captivating tale of
Dr Pate’s determination and success, laced
with uncharacteristic humility. It is these His Excellency, Dr Isa Yuguda, Executive Governor of Bauchi State (left); Ambassador Martin Brennan,
US Ambassador to Nigeria and Dr Muhammad Pate during a courtesy visit of the Ambassador to
qualities that reaffirm my belief that some
Bauchi State House on August 27, 2013.
day, when we exit the stage, we can be
confident in the knowledge that in people
him for a lot more responsibilities in the
like him, we have all it takes to safeguard our
future. His commitment to whatever cause
development for the sake of our children and
he believes in is worthy of emulation and his
our children’s children.
achievements are simply legendary.
It is worthy of note that his metamorphosis
In the years gone by, we have seen very
from being an accomplished technocrat to
good results in service delivery by this
an astute public administrator through the
gentleman. But without any iota of doubt, I
rough waters of politics has indeed prepared
am certain that his best is yet to come. n
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Preface
An example to follow making real progress in the world’s battle for
the eradication of polio and in pioneering
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, health interventions for women and children.
I took the one less traveled by, Globally, he serves on multiple national
And that has made all the difference. and international boards and expert panels.
He is a senior public health adviser to the Bill
So ends the much-loved poem, The Road Not and Melinda Gates Foundation and is
Taken, of the poet Robert Frost, written in Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on
1916. Its message of the importance of Polio Eradication and the public-private
“President Goodluck following one’s inner conviction is one that coalition for the Saving One Million Lives
Dr Pate meets UK Prime Minister David Cameron.
Ebele Jonathan GCFR chimes well, nearly a century later, with the initiative in Nigeria.
defined Dr Pate as a life journey of Muhammad Ali Pate. Certainly, In 2014, Dr Pate was awarded the highly Delegates in May 2013 in Geneva at the
his choice of road has been “the one less prestigious Geneva Forum for Health Award 66th World Health Assembly and the World
‘star’ and a
traveled by”: a road few others have taken… in honour of his “leadership role in the Health Organization dubbed him as a ‘super
‘distinguished man …
Born in 1968 in northeast Nigeria in a implementation the polio eradication hero’, breaking into spontaneous applause in
with not only national
humble mud house, the story of how Dr Pate programme as well as the restructuring and tribute of Nigeria’s Saving One Million
but also international has become, thanks to hard work and strengthening of the primary health Lives programme, the ambitious and
recognition … whose dedication, one of the world’s global public care system of Nigeria” – an award presented comprehensive initiative to scale up access
work is appreciated health leaders and a transformative force during the Geneva Forum for Health to essential primary health services and
worldwide’.” within Nigeria itself, is an extraordinary one. in Switzerland alongside the World commodities for Nigeria’s women and
Recounting his path to success cannot fail Health Assembly. children, formulated by Dr Pate and his staff
to inspire young Nigerians and other young His admirers are plentiful, many at the Ministry of Health.
people around the world and to reassure them themselves celebrated for their own
that ‘making a difference’, a personal remarkable life journeys. President Goodluck Humble to a fault
motivation Dr Pate cites frequently, is open Ebele Jonathan GCFR defined Dr Pate as a
to all – whatever their economic situation. “star” and a “distinguished man … with not And yet, this man who has made such an
only national but also international impressive mark on Nigerian and wider
Transformational role recognition … whose work is appreciated society, is not, when you meet him, quite what
worldwide”. Bill Gates, the American you would expect.“
Dr Pate has played a crucial role towards the billionaire and founder of Microsoft Corp, Meeting Muhammad in the face of all of
life-changing developments now being seen whose Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has these accomplishments, you would perhaps
within the healthcare system of Nigeria, as led a revolution in global philanthropy, expect some aggressive power broker or
well as forging an impressive reputation on described him as “a man I admire very much” politician. You would be quite wrong. He is
the global public health stage – most notably and “one of the polio leaders I respect most”. in fact surprisingly soft-spoken, as well as➔
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