Yesterday, on World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, I reflected on the urgent imperative to confront one of Nigeria’s most persistent and preventable public health challenges, Sickle Cell Disease. SCD is a genetic blood disorder that affects millions globally, yet disproportionately impacts Nigeria, where over 150,000 babies are born each year with the condition, accounting for more than half of all global births of children with SCD. With an estimated 24% of Nigerians carrying the sickle cell trait, the need for nationwide public awareness, proactive genetic counselling, and universal early diagnosis must become foundational elements of our national health strategy.

Without early intervention, up to 90% of affected children in sub-Saharan Africa do not live past their fifth birthday. This is a tragic reality that stands in stark contrast to the significantly improved survival outcomes seen in high-income countries, where universal newborn screening, timely prophylactic care, and access to treatments such as hydroxyurea have transformed patient trajectories. In Nigeria, such life-saving interventions remain limited and unevenly distributed, contributing to high morbidity and mortality rates that are both preventable and unjust.

At the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, we recognise that systemic solutions are essential. Through our collaboration with @Caring_Cross, a pioneering organisation advancing cell and gene therapies for global health equity, we are working to strengthen capacity at the frontline of care. By advancing access to carrier screening, supporting training programmes for healthcare professionals in the clinical management of SCD, and advocating for the expansion of comprehensive care centres across Nigeria, our collaboration is rooted in the belief that innovation must be made accessible, not only in the laboratories of the Global North, but in the communities where the burden of disease is greatest.

#WorldSickleCellDay
#EndSCD
#WellbeingForAll ...

Yesterday, as we marked the Day of the African Child, I joined the @AfricanUnion_Official and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child #ACERWC in reflecting on this year’s theme, “Planning and Budgeting for Children`s Rights: Progress Since 2010,” as this annual commemoration honours the legacy of the 1976 Soweto uprising and continues to serve as a clarion call for nations to centre their development agendas on the rights and welfare of Africa’s children.

Since 2004, when I established the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, at that time supporting its Kwara Wellbeing Trust, Alaafia Kwara initiative, and then pivotally in 2014, when I received the @UNICEFInnocenti Global Office of Research and Foresight’s Breaking Views team at my home in Lagos for a wide-ranging interview on health and wellbeing to discuss the nationally and globally expanded mission of #WBFA, I have come to champion the wisdom that maternal, infant, and young child health and nutrition is not simply a technical matter, it is a fundamental justice, a right, and a reflection of how societies value their youngest citizens and their mothers, as an essential dyad for action.

In Nigeria today, among children under five, approximately 11 million experience severe child food poverty, while nationally 31.5% are stunted, 6.5% suffer from wasting, and 15% are born with low birthweight. This is not due to a lack of solutions, but rather an insufficient prioritisation of proven practices at scale.

@UNICEF’s 2024 policy brief Proven Solutions for Children offers a clear evidence base. Investments in early childhood nutrition, routine immunisation, girls’ education, and social protection yield some of the highest returns in public policy, economically, socially, and morally.

With just five years remaining to achieve the @UnitedNations Sustainable Development Goals, we must urgently prioritise and scale proven child-focused interventions to realise the promise of 2030, and deliver an Africa fit for its children.

Read my full reflections: From Innocenti to Impact – Advancing a World Fit For The Future And Fit for Every Child

#DayOfTheAfricanChild
#WellbeingForAll
#MaternalMonday ...

I am pleased to share that I have been appointed to the @BayerOfficial Sustainability Council, the global advisory body that brings together a distinguished group of experts committed to advancing sustainability across healthcare access, regenerative agriculture, food security, climate action, and sustainable investing.

Guided by Bayer’s mission of Health for all, Hunger for none, this appointment offers an important opportunity to contribute insights rooted in over two decades of the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation’s advocacy, implementation and systems-strengthening in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health, plus Nutrition RMNCAH+N, as I have consistently focused on aligning the needs of frontline communities with global health strategies and the @UnitedNations Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring that those closest to the challenges are also central to the solutions.

The Council’s renewed structure is a welcome and timely development, enabling deeper collaboration between Bayer’s internal sustainability teams and external experts to drive bold, measurable impact grounded in real-world experience. I look forward to contributing to this shared mission alongside my esteemed fellow appointees, Facundo Etchebehere, Lisa Lange, Philipp Roesler, and Cori Wittman Stitt, each bringing vital perspectives across public health, sustainable agriculture, policy, and finance. I also recognise and commend the continued service of Ashok Gulati, Christian Klein, Carolyn Miles, and Dante Pesce Gonzalez, whose ongoing contributions provide essential continuity and leadership.

In this spirit of being Stronger Together towards Health For All; Hunger For None, I am proud to join the Bayer Sustainability Council and remain committed to caring, for every community, and for every generation, by contributing insights that centre dignity, equity, and sustainability at the core of global action.

#BayerSustainabilityCouncil
#StrongerTogether
#HealthForAll
#HungerForNone
#WellbeingEconomy
#WellbeingForAll
#MaternalMonday ...

Father’s Day is a special occasion to celebrate and appreciate the incredible men who have shaped our lives.

I honour my father, HRH Prince Adekunle Ojora, The Otunba of Lagos and The Lisa Of Ife, and my beloved departed father-in-law, Oloye Dr Olushola Saraki, Distinguished Senate Leader and Emeritus Waziri of Ilorin, my constant supporters, whose generosity strength and love have guided me in ways I never thought possible. Thank you for being heros who taught me to be strong, compassionate, kind and giving!

My darling husband Bukola, and wonderful father to our children, you’ve always been our anchor in life’s seas. Thank you for being my guiding light and for always believing in me. Happy Father’s Day!

#FathersDay
#Grateful #GratefulForHisGrace ...

Happy Birthday Dad, Grandpa and Great-Grandpa!

We continue to gratefully appreciate and revere your consistent corporate leadership as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Ojora Group and princely loving kindness and care; I also congratulate your being awarded the Diamond Lifetime Award as a foremost industrial icon honouring your sustained contributions to public relations ideals for the betterment of humanity, by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in April 2025, as a Foundation Member of The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations @NIPRofficial since it`s establishment in 1963, and 37 years after your first National Public Relations Award in 1989, and as a Fellow of The Institute by that prestigious professional association since the 1970`s.

May Almighty God bless your years with continued good health, peace of mind, and many more cherished moments with the family. Amen

#HappyBirthday #HRHOtunbaOjora #OjoraApasa
#GratefulForHisGrace ...

Democracy is strengthened by the daily choices we make as citizens and leaders to listen, to serve, and to uphold the rights and dignity of all. On this Democracy Day, I join fellow Nigerians in reflecting on our shared progress and in renewing our commitment to a future built on justice, accountability, and opportunity.

True democracy flourishes where women and youth are empowered to lead, where communities can access the health, education, and economic tools they need to thrive, and where every voice is heard, especially the most vulnerable. Through the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, I have witnessed firsthand how participatory, transparent leadership can transform lives, particularly in maternal and child health, where local accountability saves lives every day.

Our democracy must be lived in the delivery room, in the classroom, and in every household, in the policies that protect, the systems that provide, and the leaders who serve with humility and purpose. Strengthening democratic institutions is not a once-a-year pledge; it is a daily pursuit of better governance and inclusive development.

As we reflect on the journey since June 12, 1993, and the restoration of civilian rule in 1999, let us remember that democratic progress is not guaranteed; it must be nurtured by civic engagement, protected by the rule of law, and measured by the wellbeing of our people.

I honour all Nigerians, past and present, who have upheld the dignity of the democratic ideal through sacrifice, service, and steadfast hope. May we continue to rise as one nation, bound in freedom, peace, and unity.

May Almighty God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

#DemocracyDay
#NaijaForThePeople
#WellbeingForAll
#ThriveThursday ...

Last week in Abuja, I had the honour of receiving Dr Claus Runge, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Public Affairs, Sustainability & Internal Engagement at Bayer Pharmaceuticals, alongside his esteemed @BayerOfficial Delegation, during their visit to Nigeria.

Our thoughtful exchange and discussions throughout the courtesy visit affirmed a shared conviction, that the health and wellbeing of women, children, and communities must remain at the core of any truly sustainable development agenda. With Bayer’s global mission to ensure Health for All, Hunger for None, and my own life’s work through the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, we are both guided together by an unyielding commitment to equitable access, local agency, and dignity in care. 

In a time when health systems face evolving challenges, it is heartening to engage with leaders who believe, as I do, that we are indeed stronger together. I remain deeply encouraged by the passion and purpose demonstrated during this visit, and I look forward to supporting the continued  impact of Bayer’s efforts across Nigeria and the continent.

#HealthForAll
#HungerForNone
#StrongerTogether 
#WellbeingForAll ...

I was delighted that my @WellbeingAfrica Foundation was represented by my Global Policy and Philanthropy Office at last week’s Welcome Reception for the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey @Commonwealth_Sec, hosted at @Lancaster_House_London and supported by @GUBAFoundation.

I extend my warmest congratulations and full support to Secretary-General Botchwey as she embarks upon her tenure of leadership at this pivotal juncture, as the first African woman to lead the Commonwealth Secretariat, and in recognition of her steadfast commitment to unity, equity, and transformative multilateralism across our 56 member nations.

Her keynote address offered a compelling vision, one grounded in the enduring values of cooperation, progress, and shared responsibility. She spoke not only of rising pressures, but of rising purpose. With clarity and conviction, she highlighted the urgent imperative for smart, strategic partnerships to advance climate justice, inclusive trade, youth opportunity, and the health and wellbeing of our peoples, reminding us that the Commonwealth is not merely a symbol of principled alliance, but a space for active solutions.

At #WBFA, in recognition of our longstanding allyship with the Commonwealth Secretariat, we resonate deeply with this agenda, and echo the Secretary-General’s resolve to harness the full dividends of our Commonwealth, to ensure that no nation, and no community within it, is left behind.

#StrongerCommonwealth
#CommonwealthSec
#GUBAEvents
#WellbeingForAll ...

On Thursday 5th June 2025, I was honoured to witness the Commissioning Ceremony of the African Medical Centre of Excellence #AMCE in Abuja, Nigeria, a historic occasion marking a practical shift in the landscape of African health systems, where access to advanced clinical care, research, diagnostics, and training is no longer deferred abroad, but delivered here at home.

It was a privilege to join His Excellency the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima @officialsksm, together with development partners and dignitaries, as the African Medical Centre of Excellence, conceived through the leadership of Professor Benedict Oramah, President of @AfreximbankOfficial, and delivered in strategic partnership with @KingsCollegeHospital London under the medical direction of Professor Ghulam Mufti, formally opened its doors.

This first @AMCE_Africa iteration stands as a clear demonstration of what becomes achievable when African expertise is matched with sustained, as an activation of purpose-led investment in health infrastructure and human capital. With a 500-bed capacity, West Africa’s first cyclotron for PET-CT diagnostic imaging, and an expected reach of over 350,000 patients in its first five years, the AMCE represents a return of care, confidence, and competence to African soil, a place where world-class quality healthcare is not an exception, but a standard, and where young professionals can be trained, retained, and empowered to serve their communities with excellence.

The @WellbeingAfrica Foundation recognises in the AMCE the fulfilment of a continuum we have long championed, from the frontline of maternal, newborn, and child health to the highest levels of tertiary and quaternary care, there is no area of the health system that can be left behind.

The commissioning of the African Medical Centre of Excellence sends a clear message, that Africa will no longer outsource its healing, export its talent, or delay its destiny. It is an infrastructure of hope and a signal of continental self-belief, and I commend all those who have made this vision a now a functioning reality.

@KCLAlumni
#KingsChangemaker
#ForeverKings
#AMCEAbuja
#WellbeingForAll ...

Every photographer, every artist, finds their soul feels most alive, most alert, when it connects, intersects, with that which somehow speaks to it, and thus I was delighted to welcome Allan Kliger @allankligerphotography to Ilorin, Kwara State, where he spent time observing and capturing the 2025 Durbar as part of his project: "To Be Royal: A Nigerian Lens."

When Allan shoots a story, a documentary, he looks for the people, the places, the edges, the light that makes the story something more, something to remember, to return to time and time again, and I expressed my appreciation for his work in my paternal heritage Ijora Kingdom and Iganmu Lands.

I look forward to seeing the latest instalment of this project, featuring the royal traditions of the ancient city of Ilorin.

#CultureIsContinuous
#WellbeingForAll ...

As we commemorate Eid al-Adha, I reflect upon the profound lessons of faith, sacrifice, and compassion that this sacred occasion embodies. Let us continue to be inspired to extend kindness to those in need, uplift our communities, and renew our shared commitment to collective wellbeing.

With the Mercy of Almighty God, may the prayers, sacrifices, and sincere intentions of all those observing be accepted. Wishing peace to hearts, blessings to homes, and harmony to communities around the world.

Eid Mubarak!

#EidAlAdha
#EidMubarak
#WellbeingForAll ...

Yesterday, I had the honour of leading a courtesy visit to the @WHONigeria Country Office, Abuja, accompanied by the Directors and Senior Team of the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, to formally extend our deepest appreciation and valediction to Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, as he concludes his distinguished tenure as WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Nigeria.

Throughout his stewardship, Dr Mulombo has demonstrated a commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s health system architecture, advancing Universal Health Coverage, and reinforcing primary healthcare delivery through initiatives such as the "Adopt-A-Healthcare Facility Programme" #ADHFP. His strategic leadership has galvanised multisectoral efforts, particularly in the integration of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene #WASH as a foundational component of resilient healthcare provision, and #WalkTheTalk to #BeatNCDs, areas of mutual priority and long-standing collaboration between the @WHO and #WBFA.

In my capacity as a member of the @WHO_Africa Regional Office’s Independent Advisory Group and Special Adviser to the WHO Africa Region, I have had the privilege of engaging closely with Dr Mulombo on regional and national priorities, and his steadfast support for evidence-based, community-led approaches, such as the WBFA #Mamacare360 Antenatal and Postnatal Education Programme, has ensured that maternal, newborn and child health remains central to Nigeria’s public health agenda.

As he transitions to his next chapter, we acknowledge with profound gratitude Dr Mulombo’s leadership, diplomatic acumen, and principled advocacy for health equity. His tenure has not only advanced the WHO’s mandate in Nigeria but has also laid a durable foundation upon which future progress can be built.

#GlobalHealthLeadership
#WellbeingForAll ...

Today, on World Environment Day, I am called to reflect on our shared responsibility to protect and preserve our planet, a responsibility made devastatingly clear, as I communicate my condolences and concern regarding the recent catastrophic floods in Mokwa, Niger State, Nigeria, which have claimed lives, displaced communities, and destroyed livelihoods.

Over the past year, I have seen how taking a systems-level, cities-informed approach can strengthen our collective response, proactively and in emergencies. At the Water-Secure Cities Roundtable, convened during New York Climate Week 2024 @TheClimateGroup by @ThisIsReckitt and the @WorldBank, I joined mayors and public health leaders including @CarlosFernandoGalan, Mayor of Bogotá, @MayorKateGallego, Mayor of @CityofPhoenixAZ, and the Honourable @HCTokunboWahab, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, alongside peers from Cape Town and other global cities, in identifying scalable solutions to climate-health challenges, including #BeatPlasticPollution. These dialogues confirmed what we have long known, that resilient cities are not only the frontline of environmental impact, but also the frontier of sustainable human development.

At the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, we continue to operationalise these insights through our #WBFA @DettolNigeria Hygiene Quest frontline programme bringing health education, hygiene equity, and behavioural change to the heart of communities, schools, and #MNCH settings. Our interventions, from groundwater stewardship to #WASH practices, are rooted in climate adaptation and community empowerment.

As a member of the Sustainable Markets Initiative and in my role as a #TerraCarta Judge, I remain deeply committed to advancing integrated climate and health policy. Through the SMI Africa Council and the SMI Health Systems Taskforce, we are bridging sustainable investment with the delivery of resilient, inclusive, and dignified care, ensuring that no city is left behind in the race toward a liveable future.

#WorldEnvironmentDay
#SmartCities
#SMIHealth2030
#OneHealth
#WellbeingForAll ...