Talk about a head fit for the cap, and you have it in the newly appointed Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori, who shattered the glass ceiling to become the first female DG in the agency’s 24-year history.
Dr. Ilori assumed duty on February 22, 2024, having succeeded Gambo Aliyu, who was DG from June 2019 to February 2024.
Dr. Temitope Ilori, the daughter of former governor of Osun State, Bisi Akande, holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
She also obtained her MBBS degree from the same institution. Furthermore, she completed her residency training at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, and was recognized as the best graduating Fellow of the Faculty of Family Medicine, West African College of Physicians. Her exceptional academic performance earned her the A.O. Senbanjo Prize upon graduation in April 2012.
She is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, supported by the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa
Dr. Ilori also served as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Community Medicine at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. She is a prolific researcher with interests in Primary Care, Lifestyle Medicine, Public Health Nutrition, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Immunization, Non-Communicable Diseases, and Women’s and Child’s Health. She has authored and contributed to over 30 research publications.
Professional training
Dr. Ilori is a recognized Fellow of the West African College of Physicians, specializing in Family Medicine. She has received training in Practical Financial Management from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) in Liverpool, UK.
Additionally, she completed the Leadership Training for Physician Executives at Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA. She has also participated in a Leadership and Management Training in Health Course at the University of Washington.
Furthermore, she is a Member of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN). Currently, she is actively pursuing a PhD at the Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. This endeavor is supported by the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa.
She has authored and contributed to over 30 research publications
Positions held
Beyond her academic accomplishments, Dr. Ilori actively contributes to policy formulation and strategic development. She has consistently demonstrated her commitment to health initiatives. Notably, she served as the Commissioner for Health in Osun State, from 2011 to 2014. During the same period, she played a pivotal role as the Chairperson of both the Osun State Agency on Control of HIV/AIDS and the Osun State Technical Working Group on Immunization.
Dr. Ilori has held executive positions in esteemed professional organizations such as the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), the Wonca Working Party on Women and Family Medicine (WWPWFM), the Nigerian Medical Association, the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria, the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, and the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria. She also serves as a Board of Trustee Member for the Foundation for Care of Mentally Ill (CAREMI) and holds the position of Patron at the Asido Foundation.
from 2011 to 2014, she was Chairperson of both the Osun State Agency on Control of HIV/AIDS and the Osun State Technical Working Group on Immunization
Objectives of NACA
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) was established in 2001 to coordinate the country’s response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Its objectives include leading national efforts to prevent new HIV infections through targeted prevention programs and advocating for HIV testing and counseling.
NACA also focuses on providing access to treatment, care, and support for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, ensuring the availability of antiretroviral therapy, and addressing stigma and discrimination.
Initially, NACA was under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). However, President Bola Tinubu has decided to relocate the agency to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to facilitate synergy and enhance collaboration in achieving the nation’s objective of the 95-95-95 pathway for ending the AIDS epidemic.
Tinubu has expressed his expectations for the new Director-General to utilise her extensive experience and expertise in fulfilling NACA’s mandate.
