Professor Bissallah Ahmed Ekele was born in Mubi, Adamawa State but hails from Ofante, Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State. He had his primary education at Unity Primary School, Ilorin, Kwara State and LEA Primary School, Dekina, Kogi State. On successful completion of his primary education, Prof. Ekele proceeded to the Government Secondary School, Dekina, Kogi State for his secondary education.

In 1979 he was admitted into the University of Jos for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree program and graduated with distinctions in Human Anatomy and Physiology. He also won the Glazo prize in Anaesthesia and was a recipient of the Commonwealth Universities Medical Electives Bursary Award.

He is a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons; Fellow, International College of Surgeons and Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (UK). Professor Ekele holds several certificates and diplomas in Management and Analytical skills. He has a certificate in Leadership from John Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA and he is an alumnus of the Galilee International Management Institute (GIMI), Israel.

Professor Ekele’s medical career had seen him through the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital; Jos University Teaching Hospital; University College Hospital, Ibadan; John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK and the Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. He was Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) at Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto (1998-2002) and Chairman, Faculty of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, West African College of Surgeons (2011-2015). He is external examiner to many Medical Schools in West Africa and has over 80 publications in peer-reviewed, high-impact Journals. He is also a co-editor of four post graduate textbooks in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Until his appointment as the Chief Medical Director, Professor B. A. Ekele was the Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja and a Visiting Professor, University of The Gambia, Banjul, The Gambia.

Professor Ekele is happily married with three children and loves listening to classic music, playing scrabble and a fan of The Arsenal Football Club (Gunners).