Nigeria, May 18 -- The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare congratulated Nigerian epidemiologist Chikwe Ihekweazu on his appointment as the Executive Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Health Emergencies Programme.

Mr Ihekweazu, who previously served as the founding Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), now takes over from Mike Ryan, an Irish epidemiologist, in a role critical to responding to public health emergencies globally.

In a statement released by the Ministry on Sunday, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, described the appointment as "the right choice at the right time."

Mr Pate, a professor of Public Health Leadership, noted ...