After our COVID-19 Preparedness Group developed a detailed plan, the problem of funds arose. We submitted our plans and budget to the Minister of Health, who was supposed to pass it on to the President. Days turned into weeks, yet nothing.
Whatever the reasons were, Chikwe took over at NCDC, fought for the institution to have legal legs to stand on with the enactment of the NCDC Act of 2018; digitised the operations of the center, trained staff and built capacity both human, technological and mechanical to bring an end to over-reliance on parachute researchers, donors and UN agencies and made the center a world class facility.