Biography
Francis Ohanyido is a Physician, Adjunct Professor of Public Health Practice, and Development Strategist with close to three decades of work in global health, information and communications technologies for development, and leadership. As Director-General of the West African Institute of Public Health (WAIPH), President Emeritus / Senior Fellow of the Academy of Public Health (APH), and Taskforce Member of the Africa Digital Health Networks he drives initiatives to strengthen health systems in Africa.
Ohanyido's expertise spans primary health care, digital health, maternal and child health, infectious disease control and nutrition. He served as Country Lead for Vitamin Angels’ mission in Nigeria, strengthening public health nutrition to reduce infant and maternal mortality. He has collaborated with leading organisations like WHO, UNICEF, USAID, FCDO, Sabin Institute, JSI, and The ONE Campaign, to name a few.
A member of the Africa CDC's Scientific Programme Committee, and the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, he is the convener of the Africa Primary Health Care Forum (APHCF). He also chairs the Council Trustees of the United Nations SDGs Professional Support Group for Africa.
A council-certified physician, he holds a Medical Degree from the University of Jos and postgraduate qualifications in disciplines like Public Health, Genetic Engineering, International Affairs and Diplomacy, and Business Administration. He is a Chartered Manager of the Nigeria Institute of Management and holds Fellowships of the UK's Faculty of Public Health (FFPH), Royal Society for Public Health (FRSPH), Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (RSTMH), and pan-African Academy of Public Health (FAPH) among others.
Dr. Ohanyido is a keynote speaker and a 2022 West African Leadership Award Winner. As a Visiting Fellow, he will be exploring how transnational governance can be leveraged for strengthening global health security.