Dr. Olusimbo Ige, a Nigerian, has become the first-ever black female to be appointed as the Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, disclosed this in a congratulatory message to Dr Ige. In the congratulatory statement shared yesterday, Dabiri-Erewa described Ige’s milestone as “extraordinary”, saying: “History made! Congrats to the first black woman in the History of Chicago Dept. of Public Health to be appointed as Commissioner.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson, who officially announced the appointment said Mayor Johnson said: “Dr. Ige is a tremendous addition to not just our administration, but to the City of Chicago. She is someone who understands the balance between hard data and community interaction when assessing public health problems and solutions.”
Dr. Ige while reacting to the development said: “It is a distinct honour to serve the city of Chicago in this role. Through collaboration with the Johnson Administration and with community members in Chicago, I am confident that we can improve the health outcomes for all Chicagoans.
"I have spent my entire career in the public health field, and look forward to bringing all that I have learned to CDPH."
Dr Ige’s appointment followed Mayor Johnson’s approval following the dismissal of Dr Allison Arwady, a former commissioner at the Chicago Department of Public Health in the United States.
Ige was previously a managing director of programs at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a New Jersey-based non-profit public health organization, and had served as the Assistant Commissioner for the New York City Department of Health Mental Hygiene.
