Dr. Emmanuel Miri, the country representative of the Carter Centre in Nigeria, praised the exceptional leadership of former Nigerian Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon for his significant role in eradicating Guinea worm disease and other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria. Speaking in an interview with LEADERSHIP to commemorate Gowon’s 90th birthday in Jos, Dr. Miri highlighted his collaboration with Gowon at the Carter Centre.
He recalled that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter invited Gowon to join the Carter Centre in 1998 as part of efforts to eradicate Guinea worm disease, noting that Nigeria was among the most affected countries at the time. Dr. Miri explained that, globally, 20 countries had Guinea worm cases, with 17 located in Africa. At its peak, Nigeria reported over 650,000 cases, prompting concern from President Carter.
Dr. Miri pointed out that the last reported cases of Guinea worm in Nigeria were in 2008, and thanks to Gowon’s involvement, the disease was successfully eliminated. The World Health Organization (WHO) has since certified Nigeria as Guinea worm-free.
Following this success, Dr. Miri revealed that the Gen. Yakubu Gowon Centre was nominated by the Global Fund to receive funding for malaria initiatives in Nigeria. He emphasized Gowon’s deep involvement in the malaria program, noting that in 2010, the Carter Centre signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Gowon’s Centre to combat NTDs.
He proudly stated that the program thrived under Gowon’s leadership, leading to the total elimination of river blindness and lymphatic filariasis in Plateau and Nasarawa states.
Dr. Miri acknowledged that since retiring from military service, Gowon has dedicated himself to combating neglected tropical diseases in Nigeria and other African nations. He described Gowon’s humility and willingness to visit rural areas, often trekking long distances to educate communities about health issues, as a rare quality among Nigerian leaders.
He urged current leaders to emulate Gowon’s commitment to serving the people rather than seeking to be served, underscoring that Gowon’s contributions to global health will be long remembered.
