‘My ex-minister will perform great at World Bank’ – Jonathan speaks on Pate’s appointment

Nigeria’s immediate past president Goodluck Jonathan has said Muhammad Ali Pate, his former minister of state for health, will do very well on his new role at World Bank.

Jonathan congratulated Pate, who was recently named global director for health, nutrition and population at the World Bank.

“I congratulate Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, my former Minister of State for health over his appointment by World Bank as Global Director for health, nutrition, and population,” Jonathan said.

“Since he left the country in 2013 to take up an international appointment, Dr. Pate has continued to soar like an eagle on the global scale.

“He exhibited prodigious capacity and professionalism as a member of my cabinet. I have no doubt that he will do very well in his new position. Congratulations.”

Late minister of health Babatunde Osotimehin, former minister of state for health Muhammad Ali Pate, and former president Goodluck Jonathan at the state house Abuja in 2012.

Muhammad Pate resigned in 2013 to pick up appointment as a professor in Duke University’s Global Health Institute, USA, and a senior adviser to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

In his letter to Jonathan in 2013, Pate said: “I wish to offer the continuation of my service on part-time basis as chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Polio Eradication and the public-private coalition for Saving One Million Lives Initiative, if you agree, in fulfilment of my previous commitments to see to conclusion of these important national priorities.”

Jonathan via Reuben Abati, his spokesman, said: “The cabinet is full of very distinguished men and women; people with not only national but also international recognition”.

He accepted Pate’s resignation and congratulated him on the international appointment.

Pate was also appointed as director of Global Financing Facility (GFF) of the World Bank Group, which seeks to raise “trillions of dollars” to ensure the sustainable development goals (SDGs) are achieved before 2030.