As we mourn the sudden passing and celebrate the extraordinary life of
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people panicked and withdrew, while others emerged as leaders. Some quietly and others more publicly. In response to the outbreak, many innovative solutions to address the pandemic emerged, as the world grappled with a virus that threatened global stability. We saw the economies of countries that we admired weaken under the pressure. In the middle of the chaos, many remarkable initiatives took shape.
One such endeavour was the coming together of
CACOVID was actively involved in several crucial areas during the pandemic, including the establishment of isolation centres, supporting the procurement of laboratory reagents, and facilitating the delivery of palliatives to states. However, one lesser known, but crucial aspect of CACOVID's work was the establishment and management of the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP). In response to the economic impact of the pandemic on commercial flights, once international travel resumed, there was a need for a safe means to restart travel.
The high number of COVID-19 cases being reported in countries like
The NITP stood out as one of the world's first travel portals, specifically designed to manage international travel traffic during the pandemic. Beyond its core role, the platform also had to provide us with essential data for tracking the contacts of identified cases. This feature required careful attention to regulatory frameworks and payment procedures. To achieve this, an extraordinary group of Nigerian leaders from the CACOVID platform, including
Leading our technical teams, we held zoom calls with Herbert and colleagues every Thursday night. We always kicked off with some banter; the pandemic had brought us all to a level playing field. We joked about how we spent the days rushing from one screen to another, working tirelessly to keep the country moving. But we quickly got down to work, tackling agenda items diligently and comprehensively. During these few hours every Thursday, we were privileged to experience Herbert's unique style, respectful, never overbearing, yet always focused on the end goal. While NCDC was already hosting an array of digital services, managing a platform that would generate such a high volume of daily traffic all year round from around the globe was unprecedented; so, this one was special.
Herbert generously made available the resources of
Given the urgency of the circumstances, we were unable to conduct extensive testing before going live. We publicly acknowledged any glitches and worked to enhance the system, eventually transforming the travel portal into a valuable resource that facilitated international travel for
The success of the NITP restored confidence in the system. Following our example, many countries around the world adopted a similar model aimed at supporting the restoration of international travel. We took pride in being the pioneers of this initiative. The rapid development and deployment of NITP demonstrated the power of collaboration and highlighted the critical role of the private sector in addressing public sector priorities.
As the country gradually recovered from the pandemic, we both returned to the business of securing the health of populations, while staying in touch with Herbert. Despite his continuous commitment to improving public health, as seen by his prominent role in founding and chairing the
As the country comes to terms with a future without
In the words of Sufi Epigram, "When the heart grieves over what is has lost, the spirit rejoices over what it has left." Though Herbert may have departed, his generous spirit lives on. We should find solace in those things he left behind, using it as a guiding light to create a less fearful future. He will like that.
Rest in
Dr
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