By Saleh Faruq Gagarawa
Today marks a moment in history that many hoped would never come—the retirement of Dr. Nasir Sani Gwarzo, mni, FWACP, a man whose name is synonymous with progress, innovation, and selfless service. As he steps away from the civil service, Nigeria is not just losing a dedicated leader—it is losing one of its brightest minds, a force of nature, a man whose influence touched every sector he ever graced.
Today, a giant takes his final bow from civil service—and my heart bleeds. Nigeria is losing more than just an official; we are losing an irreplaceable force, a man whose genius saved thousands, whose leadership averted disasters, and whose sacrifice kept this nation standing in its darkest hours.
How do you replace a man like Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo? How do you even begin to move forward without his wisdom, his foresight, his unwavering dedication to the people?
There are some departures that leave mere gaps. This one leaves a void,one so deep that it may take decades to fill.
There are good men, there are great men, and then there is Dr. Gwarzo, an entire institution in one man, an irreplaceable pillar, a mind that Nigeria may never be blessed with again.
For years, Dr. Gwarzo has been the silent engine driving reforms, solving crises, and ensuring that the wheels of governance never stalled. His contributions were not just policies on paper; they were lifelines—to the poor, the sick, the marginalized, and the forgotten. He fought battles where others saw dead ends. He dared to dream where others accepted limitations.
Few know just how much this nation owes him. When lead poisoning ravaged the children of Zamfara and Niger States, who was the first to respond? Who led the team that identified the cause, designed the response strategy, and saved lives between 2009 and 2014, and again in 2022?
When Ebola threatened to spread like wildfire in 2014, he was the shield that stood between Nigeria and catastrophe. He screened, monitored, and secured every airport-related risk, making sure that those exposed to the index Ebola case did not set off a deadly chain reaction.
How many lives did he save? We may never know. But what we do know is that Nigeria was spared from an outbreak that could have been catastrophic, all because of him.
A Giant Among Leaders: From Local to Global Impact / Global Authority, A National Hero
Dr. Gwarzo’s career was not just about service; it was about transformation. His leadership touched every level of governance:
His work was not confined to Nigeria. The world recognized his brilliance.
✅ LGA-level coordination in Gezawa LGA, Kano State Civil Service
✅ Federal Civil Service
✅ National and International levels of public service within and outside Nigeria
✅ Chief Epidemiologist of Nigeria
✅ Director of the Port Health Service
✅ Coordinator of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program
✅ Coordinator of the National AIDS/STDs Control Program
✅ Foreign Service National (FSN) and Medical Epidemiologist for the United States CDC (2006-2011)
✅ WHO’s focal point for Polio Transition and Vaccination in Humanitarian Emergencies (2017)
Wherever he went, he didn’t just follow existing paths—he created new ones. His legacy is not of maintenance but of revolutionizing systems that were once broken.
The Gezawa Initiative: A Battle Against an Epidemic
Perhaps one of his greatest legacies was his battle against polio in Northern Nigeria. In 2008-2009, he designed and led the Gezawa Initiative on Polio, an innovative, three-pronged strategy that overcame the deadly resistance to immunization.
Because of him, thousands of children who would have been crippled by polio are today running, laughing, and living normal lives. This initiative paved the way for Nigeria’s victory over polio, and for this, he was awarded the Nigerian Presidential Award of the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) in August 2012.
Without leaders like Dr. Gwarzo, who will fight these battles? Who will champion these causes with the same passion, intelligence, and relentless dedication?
A True Servant of the People
Dr. Gwarzo’s brilliance was not just in policies but in people. He saw beyond statistics—he saw lives.
When he appointed a blind person as his Executive Assistant, he didn’t just give one woman a chance—he rewrote the story of inclusion in Nigeria. He shattered glass ceilings, proving that governance is not about what you lack but about what you can give.
His work in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs ensured that aid reached the truly needy. His time in the Ministry of Education uplifted the learning conditions of countless children. His policies in economic development created opportunities where there were none.
When the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) needed leadership in 2016, they turned to Dr. Gwarzo. For three months, he directed the entire network from Uganda, ensuring that Africa’s epidemiology efforts did not falter.
The Man Who Stood Between Nigeria and Economic Collapse
When the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to shut down the economy, Dr. Gwarzo did not panic—he took action.
He established an Emergency Operations Centre, ensuring that essential commodities remained available and affordable. Where the world saw chaos, he provided structure, strategy, and stability.
For three months, under special presidential approval, he led a Public Health Emergency Field Assignment across 13 states, applying his unmatched expertise in epidemic prevention and response.
While the world struggled, Nigeria survived—because of him.
The Man Who Brought Nigerians Home
As if his service in health and economy were not enough, Dr. Gwarzo became a savior for stranded Nigerians in Sudan.
When war broke out, thousands of Nigerian students and citizens were trapped. Fear, uncertainty, and chaos ruled the air. But once again, one man stepped forward.
Dr. Gwarzo, then the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Risked Everything to Bring Them Home.
Every single one of them. Not a single Nigerian life was lost under his watch.
A Retirement That Feels Like a National Setback
And Now, He Leaves—Leaving a Void That May Never Be Filled
My heart bleeds because his expertise will never be found again.
My heart bleeds because Nigeria is losing a man whose brilliance has no equal.
My heart bleeds because while some retire to applause, he retires with the weight of a nation wondering how we will ever move forward without him.
Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo bows out today. And with him, an era ends.
Who will step up?
Who will carry this burden?
Or will Nigeria simply be left to stagnate without him?
It is hard not to feel uneasy about what comes next. Who will fight for the people the way he did? Who will push beyond bureaucracy to make sure real solutions are found?
His retirement feels less like an exit and more like a storm cloud over Nigeria’s progress. His absence will be felt in every meeting where real solutions are needed. His voice will be missed in every decision where humanity should come first.
Dr. Nasir Sani Gwarzo is not just retiring; a light is going out in Nigeria’s civil service. And unless we find a way to carry forward his legacy, that light may never shine the same way again
