On behalf of the Senate, The Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria cordially invite you to the launching and inaugural conference of the Centre for Health Systems Research and Development (CHESRAD). You can read about the Centre and what we do on our website, www.chesrad.org.

Conference:

This is a virtual event. Please register to attend via the following channels:

• Zoom: The bit.ly address is https://bit.ly/3nj7cpy
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/3bhbAD8
• YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/38l5DU2

Chief Hosts:

1. Prof Kabir Bala, The Vice-Chancellor, ABU Zaria
2. Prof Aliko Ahmed, Director of Public Health of East England and Professor of Public Health University of Cambridge, Chair of CHESRAD's Governing board

Invited Guests:

• H.E. Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
• H.E. Simon Lalong, Executive Governor Plateau State and Chair Northern Governors Forum
• H.E. Nasiru El-Rufai, Executive Governor Kaduna State
• H.E. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Executive Governor Kebbi State & Chair Northern Governors Forum on Health & COVID-19

Panelists:

• Prof Mohammed Ali Pate, Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population, World Bank
• Dr. Sani Aliyu, Co-ordinator Presidential Committee on COVID-19

• Prof. David Heymann, Fellow, Global Health Programme, Chatham House, and former Assistant Director-General, World Health Organisation
• Dr. Anne E. Patterson, Mission Director, USAID Nigeria
• Aliko Dangote, President/Chief Executive,
• Dangote Group and Chairman, Dangote Foundation
• Dr. Mohammed Indimi, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Oriental Energy Resources Ltd,
• AigbojeAig-Imoukhuede, Chairman Coronation Capital Ltd and Chairman African Business Coalition for Health
• H.E. Dr. Zainab Bagudu, First Lady Kebbi State, CEO Medicaid and Advisory Board Member CHESRAD**
• Zouera Youssoufou, Managing Director, Aliko Dangote Foundation and Administrator, Private Sector Coalition Against Covid-19
• Dr Fiona Campbell, Chair Development Partners Group Health and Health Team Lead, DFID Nigeria
• Dr. Sanjana Bhardwaj, Chief of Health and HIV, UNICEF Nigeria
• Prof. Kabiru Sabitu, Professor of Public Health, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

OBJECTIVES

Against this backdrop, this conference seeks to stimulate insight and discussion on the:

1) current state of health systems and services in Nigeria as exemplified by Northern Nigeria – region characterised by the poorest health and social indices

2) importance of research and development in achieving sustainable health and making critical policy decisions and implementation

3) critical role of stakeholders and strategies for involving and engaging all stakeholders to launch a new partnership that will bring about the required health and well-being development in Nigeria.

PARTICIPANTS

Approximately, 2,000 participants are expected to attend the programme – 1,950 Virtually and 50 In-person at ABU including Ministers, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Directors, Head of Departments, top officials, professionals and researchers responsible or concerned with health and SDG from: • Government (federal, state & local) – ministries, departments, agencies • Private sector• Donor and Funding Agencies• International Agencies and NGOs • Embassies • Academic and Research institutions • CSO (NGOs, Traditional and Trade Associations)• Media