By David Onwuchekwa
Ali Bukar Dalori, a seasoned politician and influential figure in Nigerian politics, was recently appointed the acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
His appointment followed the resignation of Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje due to health reasons. Prior to this elevation, Dalori served as the Deputy National Chairman (North) of the party, a position he assumed in August 2023.
With a reputation for strategic leadership and political bridge-building, Dalori has long been a stabilizing force within the APC and a key player in its grassroots mobilization and national cohesion efforts.
Beyond his political influence within the ruling party, Dalori also holds a significant position in Nigeria’s healthcare development sector.
In February 2025, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Governing Board of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State.
In this role, he has brought renewed vigour to the hospital’s vision of becoming an international centre of excellence.
During his inaugural visit to the hospital, Dalori emphasized his commitment to improving staff welfare, enhancing infrastructure, and delivering key projects in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He commended the management of NAUTH under the Chief Medical Director, Prof Joseph Ugboaja for the significant strides made in project execution and pledged greater support to complete ongoing developments, including the hospital’s permanent site, trauma and intensive care units, mother and child centre, ICT hub, and the multi-billion naira radio diagnostic centre.
Dalori’s dual roles as APC’s acting National Chairman and NAUTH Board Chairman present strategic advantages for the hospital.
His elevated political influence grants NAUTH better access to federal resources, policy attention, and high-level advocacy, accelerating its transformation into a regional medical hub.
This has the potential to significantly reduce the number of Nigerians seeking medical care abroad by providing advanced diagnostic and treatment services locally.
Moreover, his focus on staff motivation and improved working conditions is crucial in attracting and retaining top medical professionals, an essential requirement for any institution aspiring to global standards. These efforts align with NAUTH’s broader vision to become a centre for cutting-edge research, clinical excellence, and international collaboration.
In its totality, Ali Bukar Dalori’s emergence as APC acting National Chairman not only strengthens the party’s leadership structure, but it also holds far-reaching implications for the health sector, particularly the advancement of the NAUTH.
His leadership holds the promise to elevate the hospital’s profile, boost infrastructure development, enhance human capital, and position it as a beacon of medical excellence within Nigeria and beyond.
Prof. Ugboaja, envisions transforming the institution into a world-class centre of excellence in healthcare delivery, research, and medical education. His strategic focus is on infrastructural expansion, modernization of equipment, digital transformation, and development of specialized medical services to reduce medical tourism.
He is committed to building a patient-centered, efficient, and accessible healthcare system that aligns with global best practices.
He places high priority on workforce development, fostering a culture of professionalism, training, and staff welfare to boost morale and service delivery.
Merging the visionary leadership of Prof. Joseph Ugboaja, with the strategic oversight of the Board Chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori, will guarantee a profound systemic transformation of the institution.
Prof. Ugboaja’s operational and clinical innovations, when backed by Dalori’s political reach, policy influence, and administrative support, can fast-track the hospital’s infrastructural growth, funding access, and policy alignment with federal health reforms.
This synergy ensures that plans are not only well-conceived but also effectively executed, backed by high-level advocacy and institutional stability.
Systemically, the collaboration strengthens governance structures, enhances accountability, and fosters a harmonized vision for development. It creates an enabling environment for implementing long-term projects, attracting donor agencies, and boosting staff and patient confidence in the hospital’s direction. Together, their leadership can elevate NAUTH into a national model of excellence capable of meeting Nigeria’s healthcare challenges while positioning itself as a preferred destination for advanced medical care in West Africa.
Reacting, Prof. Ugboaja warmly congratulated Ali Bukar Dalori on his new appointment as the acting National Chairman of the APC, describing it as a well-deserved recognition of his leadership capacity and national relevance.
Prof. Ugboaja used the opportunity to express confidence that Dalori’s new role will not only advance the political landscape of Nigeria, but also bring increased visibility and influence to NAUTH through his continued support and advocacy for the institution’s development goals.