Osi Samuels Assumes office as APIN CEO

Dr. Jay Osi Samuels has assumed office as the new Chief Executive Officer of APIN Public Health Initiatives with effect from October 1, 2026, succeeding Prof. Prosper Okonkwo, the organisation’s pioneer chief executive.

Samuels, who previously served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Programmes, joined APIN in 2006. His appointment brings to the top role a member of the leadership team who has helped direct its public health programmes and institutional development.

The leadership transition follows APIN’s 25th anniversary celebrations and opens a new chapter for an indigenous organisation whose work has grown from HIV prevention and treatment to a broader range of public health interventions.

Okonkwo joined APIN as a Project Manager in 2004 and became its pioneer CEO in 2007. His tenure spanned the organisation’s development into an independent Nigerian institution working with government, universities and international development partners.

APIN started as a Harvard School of Public Health project supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It became an independent non-governmental organisation in 2007 and subsequently assumed direct responsibility for programmes previously managed through Harvard. Its work has included HIV services supported by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During Okonkwo’s tenure, APIN broadened its activities to include tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, and health systems strengthening. Its programmes have supported health facilities through laboratory development, workforce training and improved information systems, alongside clinical services and community interventions.

Okonkwo’s contributions to public health also earned him the Health Activism Award at the 2023 BudgIT Active Citizens Awards, where he was the inaugural recipient in that category.
Samuels holds a medical degree from the University of Ibadan and a Master of Science degree in Epidemiology from Harvard T Chan School of Public Health. Before joining APIN, he worked as a research associate at Harvard, studying the molecular epidemiology of HIV in Nigeria. His experience covers public health programme management, research and health systems strengthening.

As Deputy CEO, Programmes, Samuels oversaw APIN’s programme directorates, guided the implementation of donor-funded interventions and coordinated new business development. The role involved supporting health facilities to deliver sustainable services while aligning programme objectives with responsible resource management.
His work has also included leadership in electronic medical records and mobile health, alongside APIN’s contributions to national health data systems. These areas connect the organisation’s service delivery experience with the use of information to improve programme performance and patient care.

Addressing the staff of the organisation shortly after assuming office, Samuels paid tribute to Okonkwo and outlined an agenda to protect APIN’s core programmes while building its capacity as a broader health systems institution.

“Grants begin and end. Projects begin and end. Donor priorities change. Institutions must endure,” he explained; calling for a more diversified resource base and stronger partnerships with government, philanthropy, academia and the private sector.
His priorities include developing the APIN Research Institute, advancing digital transformation and positioning the organisation for opportunities beyond Nigeria.

He also outlined plans to use his first 100 days to listen across teams and strengthen governance, financial management, procurement and programme performance. He called for accountability at every level, including the chief executive’s, and the need to keep patients at the centre of programme decisions. Samuels reminded staff that “behind every number in our reports is a human being.”
“The first twenty-five years gave us a legacy. The next twenty-five years should give us a responsibility,” he stated.