Born 27th April 1971 in Malam-Madori town, Jigawa State, Dr Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad mni is a Public Health Physician and Medical Epidemiologist. He completed primary education in 1982 and secondary education in 1988. A graduate of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the College of Medical Sciences University of Maiduguri in 1997, Dr Muhammad holds a Post-graduate Diploma in Epidemiology from University of Liverpool, a Master’s degree in Public Health from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Master’s degree in Legislative Studies from University of Benin and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from University of Cumbria and International course in applied Epidemiology at the Emory University, USA.

Dr. Muhammad joined the Federal Civil Service in 2001 as a Medical Officer in the Federal Ministry of Health and rose through the ranks to become a Director in 2021. He worked in various departments of the Ministry, contributing significantly to health policy formulation and implementation. His public health career transcends working for the State and Federal Governments, but across bilateral and multi-lateral Organizations Having worked at various times with Family Health International, the US Centres for Disease Control and The Global Fund. He contributed immensely in the design and implementation of Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS programs, National Polio eradication efforts and prevention and control of communicable diseases in Nigeria.

At various times, Dr Muhammad served as the Senior Technical Adviser to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS and later served as the National Incident Manager of the Presidential Task-Force on COVID-19 and Senior Technical Assistant to the Minister of Health.

A distinguished Member of the National Institute (mni) of Policy and Strategic Studies, Dr. Muhammad has attended several local and international leadership and management courses. Until his appointment as Federal Permanent Secretary by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, he was the Director of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund in the Federal Ministry of Health.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammed was conferred with the National Honour, Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). He will represent the North-West Geo-Political Zone in the Body of Federal Permanent Secretaries as graciously appointed by Mr. President.