Ibrahim Abubakar CEPI CEO: Meet The Nigerian Professor Appointed To Lead Global Health Body
Nigerian professor of infectious disease epidemiology, Ibrahim Abubakar, has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a global health partnership dedicated to financing and coordinating the development of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases.
The appointment was announced by CEPI’s board on Friday, August 14, 2026, following an open recruitment process. Abubakar will join CEPI in March 2027 and formally assume office as chief executive in April 2027, succeeding Dr Richard Hatchett, who has led the organisation since its founding in 2017. Hatchett will remain in his role until the end of his full term in April 2027, ensuring a smooth transition. Founded in 2017, CEPI is a coalition of public, private, philanthropic and civil society organisations working together to accelerate the development of vaccines against epidemic and pandemic threats.
A medical graduate of Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria, Abubakar went on to build a distinguished international career spanning academia, health policy and infectious disease control, bringing more than three decades of experience in medicine, infectious disease epidemiology, public health research and international health leadership. He most recently served as Vice-Provost (Health) and Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at University College London (UCL), where he oversaw the university’s health strategy and a broad portfolio of research, innovation and clinical partnerships. He previously served as Director of the UCL Institute for Global Health and Dean of the Faculty of Population Health Sciences.
Beyond academia, Abubakar has held several influential positions in global health governance. He was Head of Tuberculosis at Public Health England, where he led work on the UK’s national TB control strategy, and chaired the World Health Organisation’s Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Tuberculosis until 2019. He has also chaired the WHO Global Clinical Trials Forum, chairs Lancet Migration, and has served on the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, the UCL Partners Board, and the board of Resolve to Save Lives. His work has also included leading the Lancet Nigeria Commission and serving as an advisor to the Nigerian Presidential Taskforce.
Abubakar’s contributions have earned him recognition from several leading scientific institutions. He was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2020, became a member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in 2024, and was elected to the US National Academy of Medicine in 2025.
Reacting to the appointment, Hon. Prof. Jane Halton, Chair of the CEPI Board, welcomed Abubakar as the organisation’s next chief executive, citing his outstanding track record of delivery. Abubakar himself described CEPI as holding a unique position in the world’s health ecosystem, expressing his commitment to building on the coalition’s progress over the next phase of its work. Outgoing CEO Richard Hatchett also welcomed the appointment, praising Abubakar’s extraordinary career as a clinical scientist and global public health leader.
The appointment has drawn commendation from Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, who described Abubakar as a distinguished Nigerian epidemiologist and global health expert. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said the appointment reflected Nigeria’s growing contribution to global health leadership and expressed confidence that Abubakar would provide effective leadership as CEPI implements its 2027–2031 strategy.
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