By Atoyebi Nike
The World Health Organization (WHO) has appointed Dr. Pavel Ursu as its new Country Representative to Nigeria. He formally presented his credentials to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 14, 2025, in Abuja.
Dr. Ursu’s appointment comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to strengthen its health systems and achieve universal health coverage. Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcomed him and expressed hope for deeper collaboration with WHO under his leadership.
Before his new role, Dr. Ursu served as Director of the Department of Delivery for Impact at WHO Headquarters in Geneva. He has also held leadership positions in Tajikistan, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Moldova, earning the WHO Director-General’s Award for his role during the Syrian refugee crisis.
A dual citizen of Romania and Moldova, he is a physician with multiple postgraduate qualifications, including degrees from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the University of Cambridge.
In his remarks, Dr. Ursu commended Nigeria’s major health milestones, such as the eradication of wild poliovirus and successful immunization campaigns. He pledged to work with authorities and partners to advance health for all, outlining six priority areas: stronger health financing, universal health coverage, improved health security, digital transformation, local vaccine production, and enhanced global health diplomacy.
WHO noted that Nigeria hosts its largest country office in Africa, underscoring the country’s strategic importance in global health.
