Salma Anas-Kolo, the newly appointed Special Adviser, Health to President Bola Tinubu, is a highly experienced health professional with a remarkable track record in Health Sector Development spanning over twenty-five years.
Her expertise lies in health sector policy formulation, strategic development, resource mobilisation, and implementation of various health programs at international, regional, and national levels.
Salma Anas-Kolo’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from the University of Maiduguri. She has held significant positions in various national and international organizations, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Nigeria Maternal Newborn and Child Health program.
Driven by a passion to enhance access to quality Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Adolescent, and Elderly Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAEH+N) services, including Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Gender-Based Violence, her technical skills encompass Health Systems Strengthening, particularly in Primary Healthcare and Health System Strengthening.
With extensive experience in both public and private sectors, Salma currently holds the position of Director of Family Health Services at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), overseeing critical divisions such as Reproductive Health, Child Health and Gender, Adolescent, School Health and Elderly Care (GASHE), Nutrition, and Health Promotion.
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During her tenure as Borno State Commissioner for Health from 2011 to 2015, Dr. Salma Anas-Kolo demonstrated exceptional leadership amidst the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency. Amidst the devastating impact of the insurgency, she established rehabilitation centers focused on trauma management and psycho-social support.
Also, she played a crucial role in providing counseling and support to women and girls affected by the insurgency. Recognized for her outstanding performance, Dr. Salma received numerous awards, including recognition as the best-performing Commissioner in the Northeast for Polio Eradication.
Her passion for humanitarian and community development work can be attributed to her upbringing in a family dedicated to public service. Her father, Ibrahim Anas, served as the deputy governor of Borno State and was actively involved in politics and governance until his passing in 2008.
Similarly, Salma Anas-Kolo made an attempt to make history as the first female representative for Southern Borno in the Senate. Driven by her commitment to community development, Salma Anas-Kolo declared her candidacy for a Senate seat in Southern Borno, she obtained the “expression of interest” and “declaration of interest” forms from the ruling All Progressives Party Congress (APC) Secretariat in Abuja.
Among the four candidates cleared to vie for the APC ticket for the Borno South Senatorial seat, she faced challenging competition, including seasoned politicians like Sanda Garba, Musa Balla, and the incumbent Senator Ali Ndume.
