Anyakora appointed ACFR distinguished fellow

The African Council on Foreign Relations (ACFR) has appointed Professor Chimezie Anyakora, CEO of Bloom Public Health, as a Distinguished Fellow in Sustainable Health Diplomacy and Strategic Diplomacy. This is in recognition of his longstanding contributions to pharmaceutical quality, public health and the strengthening of health systems across Africa.

According to the Council, Anyakora brings decades of expertise to its global mission and will contribute to advancing Africa’s leadership in sustainable health governance and strategic international cooperation.

As a Distinguished Fellow, he will support the development of high-impact strategic initiatives and contribute to ACFR’s diplomatic engagement with African, European and Canadian institutions, as well as multilateral organisations, with a focus on resilient development, sustainable health systems and excellence in global governance.

Commenting on the appointment, ACFR Global Executive Chair, Dr Jean Narcisse Djaha, said Anyakora’s work had strengthened the foundations of Africa’s public health architecture and promoted a vision of sustainable, excellence-driven health governance.

He said the appointment reinforced the Council’s commitment to building institutions and strategic partnerships capable of elevating African leadership in global diplomacy and strengthening the continent’s voice in international affairs.

“I am honoured to join the African Council on Foreign Relations as a Distinguished Fellow. Strengthening Africa’s health systems is not only a scientific imperative, it is a diplomatic responsibility,” Anyakora said, expressing his readiness to contribute to ACFR’s vision of a continent that leads with excellence, resilience and strategic purpose.

He said sustainable health diplomacy had become central to Africa’s future, stressing that the continent must develop greater capacity to negotiate, innovate and influence global health policies and outcomes.

“Through this fellowship, we will deepen the continent’s capacity to negotiate, innovate, and shape global health outcomes that reflect African priorities,” he said.

The appointment comes amid growing efforts by African countries to strengthen health diplomacy and international partnerships in response to challenges involving health security, pharmaceutical manufacturing, access to quality medicines and the resilience of national health systems.

Anyakora, who is widely recognised for his work in pharmaceutical quality and public health, is expected to bring his experience to ACFR’s efforts to position health as a critical instrument of Africa’s diplomatic and development agenda.