Dr. Shuaib is simply a Colossus of our time, a great visioner and an astute team player-leader and a bundle of humility personified. An attempt to look at who Dr Shuaib is, is to first to x-ray his many accomplishments in life as a medical doctor.
Dr Shuaib is a Nigerian Medical doctor and hails from Nasarawa State, Central Nigeria. By specialization in the medical field, he is a public health specialist. As a public health specialist, he has distinguished himself very honourably; making Nasarawa State stand tall in the comity of states and in the eyes of the global community. Dr. Faisal Shuaib was born on August 15th and it is reputed that children born in August are a bundle enigma, charisma strength, courage and drive that makes them usually very successful people in leadership
It is worth mentioning here that Dr Shuaib had his early career after his medical training from the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health where through the dint of hard work rose meritoriously to the pinnacle of the civil service and climaxed as Director of Primary Healthcare and Disease Control. He also served as the World Health Organisation, WHO, State and North Central Zonal Coordinator as well coordinated research for the University of Alabama, Birmingham. And in each of these, Dr Shuaib distinguished himself in service leaving behind a desirable personal record.
His services which span through many years, saw him served in various aspects of public health both at the state and federal levels; demonstrating his passion for humanity. For instance, according to records, during his carrier in the public health sector, he served as the executive director and chief executive officer of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, a federal government agency under the Federal Ministry of Health from 2017 -2023, Notably, before his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2017, Dr Shuaib was the Senior programme officer at the Melinda Gates Foundation, in the USA. While there, Dr Shuaib developed a smart phone application, AVADAR. For the detection of polio –like cases in Africa and was later used to enhance COVID 19 reporting and response. Once again demonstrating his creative and high level academic excellence and leadership
Interestingly, Dr Shuaib’s service with the Nigeria Federal Government coincided with the outbreak of the global epidemic “EBOLA” during which period he was the Incident Manager /Head of the Nigeria Ebola Emergency Operation Centre from July –October 2014 outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease. In addition to serving as the Incident Manager, Dr Shuaib was the Senior Technical Advisor to the Minister of Health on Immunisation and Polio Eradication. He also doubled as the Chief Operations Officer/ Deputy Incident Manager of the National Polio Emergency Operation Centre. He demonstrated leadership and capacity by coordinating efficiently the Nigeria response to the outbreak of Ebola which ensure that the Ebola outbreak did not make any impact in Nigeria.
Interesting, because of his outstanding performance in handing the Nigeria Ebola situation in Nigeria, he was selected and served as member of six man team to assess the World Health (WHO) response to global EBOLA outbreak in 2014. He distinguished himself creditable well in the coordination of the global epidemic in Nigeria and Africa..
Dr Shuaib throughout his public service to humanity, he distinguished himself as an erudite public officer and leader; served with integrity, character and delivered quality service to the admiration of country and people. Among his professional colleagues and the global community, Dr Shuaib is not only respected but esteemed as a thorough professional and expert in the management of epidemics.
In 2014, it was Dr. Shuaib who led the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) syndicate that jointly developed and implemented new strategies to deliver vaccine to children living in security compromised areas of Borno and Yobe States.
This is a further demonstration of love for humanity especially the vulnerable; always in search of solutions to human challenges.
He equally effectively mobilised Nigerians against COVID 19 through massive public immunisation and that drastically minimized negative impact in human casualties. As a result of his dedication and commitment to the fight, he was named ‘Hero’ of the COVID war.
These services certainly did not go unnoticed by the public and government as Dr Shuaib is a proud receiver of several honours and awards. The most distinguished of these honours has been the Award of the Officer of the Order the Niger, OON of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. There is also the prestigious award of the Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service, NEAPS as well as the National Productivity Order of Merit NPOM and the Africa COVID19 Hero Award among several notable others. All these speak of the distinguished services rendered by Dr.Faisal Shuaib.
Despite these, much accomplishments, Dr. Faisal Shuib remains humble and calm. He is a rising star time has revealed.
Alfred M. Akwe is the Editor Krestnews Online