Today, on World Art Day, proclaimed by @UNESCO to celebrate the development, diffusion and enjoyment of art, I honour the vital role that creativity plays in shaping healthier, more connected communities.

Art inspires innovation, fosters dialogue, and preserves cultural dignity, while also holding deep power in advancing health and wellbeing. From supporting mental health to enhancing emotional resilience in times of crisis, artistic expression is a vital instrument in the healing process.

At the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, we embrace the arts as a meaningful pillar of human development, reinforcing the links between culture, care, and compassion, particularly for women, children, and vulnerable populations.

Let us continue to safeguard artistic freedom and promote diverse voices, ensuring that the arts remain a force for unity, resilience, and global wellbeing.

#WorldArtDay
#ArtForWellbeing
#WellbeingForAll

📹: Partnership launch of the @JameelArtsHealthLab co-hosted by @CommunityJameel and the @WHOFoundation; and Reframing Neglect hosted by @TheEndFund and supported by Reaching the Last Mile at Cromwell Place, London. ...

As Holy Week begins, Palm Sunday stands as a solemn reminder of humility, devotion, and the enduring promise of peace.

Our Lord Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem was not adorned with grandeur, but graced with purpose, a procession of peace that called forth praise not for power, but for love, mercy, and deliverance. The people cried “Hosanna!” not in celebration of a temporal kingdom, but in longing for salvation, healing, and justice.

Today, as we raise our palms in remembrance, we are called to renew our commitment to walk in Christ’s footsteps, to uplift the weary, to stand beside the marginalised, and to lead with courage, humility, and grace.

In a world yearning for reconciliation, may this sacred day strengthen our resolve to be vessels of hope, and instruments of God’s love, in our families, in our nations, and in our common humanity.

Wishing all who observe a blessed and peaceful Palm Sunday.

#PalmSunday #HolyWeek
#GratefulforHisGrace ...

On this #FrontlineFriday, I was delighted to receive valuable feedback from @NEST360Org, a trusted technical partner of the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation’s Project Oscar – Light For Life Grant Programme, which is dedicated to screening and treating neonatal jaundice and preventing kernicterus in Nigeria’s newborns.

A key component of this initiative is the training of biomedical engineers to maintain the phototherapy light boxes and transcutaneous bilirubin screening tools donated to 18 participating primary, secondary, and specialist tertiary @LagosStateGovt public health facilities. This crucial capacity-building cascade is central to anchoring knowledge transfer, securing sustainability, and ensuring the longevity of programme impact for #HealthyBeginnings & #HopefulFutures.

Launched in December 2024 in Nigeria and supported by @ThisIsReckitt Social Impact, Project Oscar – Light For Life builds on a successful model previously implemented in Vietnam. In its expansion to Nigeria, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa aims in its first phase to reduce the incidence and severity of neonatal jaundice through the provision of reliable diagnostic and treatment equipment, the training of over 300 healthcare professionals, the screening of over 9,000 newborns and the empowerment of more than 10,000 mothers with essential knowledge to recognise early warning signs. With a focus on equity, accessibility, and disability prevention, this effort represents a scalable and transformative solution that aligns with global priorities to end preventable newborn deaths and support inclusive health systems.
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#Repost @nest360org - 🌍 #WorldHealthDay2025 kicked off a year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health, encouraging efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths. We share what global health advocates around the world wish they had known before working in newborn care.

Today, we promote the stories of healthcare workers who work year-round to support #HealthyBeginnings and #HopefulFutures for newborns everywhere.

@unicef @who @thisisbillgates @msch.ng @toyinsaraki ...

"The just man, although he died early, shall be at rest. He who pleased God, was loved, for his soul was pleasing to the Lord."

Today marks fourteen years since my dear brother, Gbegs, Beloved Prince, Adegboyega ‘Gbegi’ Ojora, 29.09.1960 ~ 10.04.2011, was called to eternal rest.

I hold fast to the blessed assurance that Gbegi and Dapo live on together in the presence of our Lord, in joy beyond our earthly understanding. In the quiet moments of remembrance, I am comforted by the knowledge that those who walk uprightly and please God are never truly gone, they rest in divine peace and everlasting grace.

We appreciate the kind prayers and support of both Gbegi and Dapo`s lifelong friends who have stood by and with the family in all times and seasons; we miss them deeply, we honour them daily, and we continue to walk forward, carrying their legacies in our hearts with faith, hope, and love.

May their gentle souls continue to rest, reunited in perfect peace, and may Almighty God’s mercy be upon us all.

#InMemoryOfGbegiOjora
#SunRe #AdegboyegaOjora #OjoraApasa #KekeNiju ...

As I carry forward the momentum of World Health Day 2025, I am proud to continue championing the year-long campaign, “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” with a renewed focus on practical, life-saving interventions that prioritise maternal and newborn care through the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation distribution of baby baths to mothers participating in our #MamaCare360 antenatal and postnatal care classes.

This initiative reflects our steadfast commitment to #MNCH and is firmly grounded in the essential newborn care guidelines of both the @WHO and @UNICEF, as evidence consistently shows that clean bathing practices, beginning with delaying a newborn’s first bath for at least 24 hours, significantly reduces the risk of hypothermia and infection, supports the early initiation of exclusive breastfeeding, and strengthens the crucial bonds between mother and child.

In communities where access to clean water and hygiene infrastructure is limited, the provision of purpose-designed baby baths, paired with skilled education in thermal protection and hand hygiene, becomes a vital and life-affirming intervention. Our dedicated #WBFA midwives continue to equip mothers with both the tools and the confidence to care for their newborns safely, knowledgeably, and with dignity.

This week’s activity is particularly meaningful to me, as it coincides with a very special milestone, the first birthday of Baby J, born one year ago to my exceptional and dear P.A., Aminat, and her husband, Sam. Their journey into parenthood began under the compassionate care of our WBFA midwives, whose expertise ensured safe delivery and excellent postnatal guidance. Today, Baby J is thriving, a joyful testament to the transformative power of informed, respectful care.

As we also mark the end of World Health Worker Week, I extend my deepest gratitude to every WBFA midwife, nurse and healthcare worker whose commitment brings our mission to life, every single day.

📸: With Baby J and Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Country Representative and Head of Mission to Nigeria @WHONigeria, July 2024.

#WorldHealthDay2025 #WHWW2025
#HealthyBeginnings #HopefulFutures
#WorldHealthWorkerWeek #WellbeingForAll ...

Today, on #WorldHealthDay 2025, I join my @WellbeingAfrica Foundation in welcoming the launch of the year-long World Health Organization campaign, `Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures`, which calls upon the global health community and Member States to intensify efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritise women`s longer-term health and wellbeing.

The urgency of this campaign is highlighted by alarming statistics: nearly 300,000 women die annually due to pregnancy or childbirth complications, over 2 million babies die in their first month of life, and around 2 million more are stillborn; this equates to approximately one preventable death every seven seconds.

In alignment with the campaign’s goals, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa programmatically provides high-quality care that supports women, their children and families physically and emotionally before, during, and after birth, and through direct policy, advocacy and implementation, WBFA ensures health systems evolve to address not only direct obstetric complications but also mental health conditions, noncommunicable diseases, family planning needs, amongst more, for a whole-being, holistic approach.

As an organisation holding consultative status with the @UN_ECOSOC, a member of the WHO Civil Society Commission, accredited as a non-State actor with the @WHO_Africa, a participant in the UN GlobalCompact, and a member of the WHO Implementing Best Practices #IBP Network, WBFA is committed to effective investments that improve health outcomes.

As the @WHOFoundation Inaugural Global Health Ambassador, I am proud to also champion the #OneWorldMovement which unites us to advance the WHO’s mission for global health equity, enabling faster emergency responses, delivering care where it’s needed most, and ensuring #healthforall, everywhere.

In Nigeria, across Africa, and globally, we must listen to women, support families, invest in skilled providers, and build resilient health systems with #UHC that respond to obstetric, paediatric, and broader needs, as the health of mothers and babies is the foundation of healthy communities.

#HopefulFutures
#WellbeingForAll
#MaternalMonday ...

Today, as we commemorate the @UnitedNations International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2025, under the resonant theme “Leveling the Playing Field: Sport for Social Inclusion,” I am reminded of the enduring power of sport to foster dignity, unity, and equal opportunity for all, regardless of gender, age, background, or ability.

At the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, we have long recognised that sport is not simply an extracurricular activity; it is a vital extension of education, particularly within our Personal, Social, Health and Economic #PSHE and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene #WASH programming in schools.

Through the #WBFA School Sports Programmes, we deliver inclusive and empowering experiences to primary and secondary school-aged pupils, using Netball, Baseball, and Softball collaborations to spark participation, cultivate leadership, and unlock youth potential, especially for girls and young women, many of whom are constrained by social and cultural barriers that discourage their participation in sport.

This mission of inclusion through sport resonates deeply with the joint advocacy I have been privileged to advance alongside inspiring global figures. During #UNGA78, I engaged with @RogerFederer where we discussed how his RogerFederer.Foundation has impacted over two million children across southern Africa by using sport as a vital bridge to early childhood education, confidence-building, and community engagement.

Likewise, at the 27th @MilkenInstitute Global Conference, I was inspired by my discussions with Masai Ujiri @mars_jiri, President of the Toronto @Raptors and founder of @GiantsofAfrica, whose basketball camps and youth leadership programmes are cultivating a movement of excellence, resilience, and opportunity for young people across the African continent.

Locally rooted sports initiatives can generate global ripples of transformation, reinforcing a vision we at the Wellbeing Foundation Africa proudly uphold, as we blend frontline-based sport with systemic approaches to education, creating a profound instrument not only of play, but of health, hope, and healing.

#IDSDP2025
#WellbeingForAll ...

Health Workers Save Lives – Health Workers: The Heart of Health

This World Health Worker Week 2025, I and my @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, as members of the Frontline Health Workers Coalition @FHWCoalition are honouring the unwavering dedication and impact of health workers everywhere. This year’s theme, "Health Workers Save Lives – Health Workers: The Heart of Health," emphasises Strengthening, Investing, Protecting and Valuing health workers, who facilitate good health and contribute to economic growth.

#WBFA, is committed to whole-system support for health workers as we work to improve the availability and quality of care. We foster environments where midwives and frontline workers can thrive. From capacity and competence building courses to improve frontline healthworkers access to modern training and tools, like @GEHealthCare VScan ultrasound training, NICU refresher courses, EmONC and AOSS simulation scenario skills, to continuous professional development education in infection prevention and control, respectful maternity care, and community advocacy, together with our partners, we empower doctors midwives and nurses with tools to improve outcomes.

As we reflect this week, let us reaffirm: health workers are not a line item in budgets they are the heart of impact. When supported with tools, trust, and opportunity, they lead lasting transformation.

#WHWW2025 #HealthWorkersSaveLives #HeartOfHealth #MamaCare360 #MidwivesMatter #FrontlineFriday ...

This morning, I was delighted to meet the pupils, educators, and community health leaders at Oduduwa Primary School, Lagos, as we formally commenced Year Three, Phase Two of the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation @DettolNigeria Hygiene Quest Program and Curricula, a vital flagship initiative within our social impact partners @ThisIsReckitt @ReckittNigeria’s Clean Naija Campaign.

A comprehensive personal social health and economic education system delivered in our schools, to date we have reached over 269,000 students with foundational knowledge, daily hygiene habits and best-practice routines, tackling the root causes of preventable illness by reducing the incidence of diarrhoea, trachoma, and other waterborne diseases, advancing menstrual hygiene management to enable more girls to remain in school with confidence, and supporting the eradication of open defecation, a critical frontier in safeguarding both public health and human dignity, as we continue to empower a generation equipped not only with #WASH literacy but with the tools to live, learn, and lead in healthier, more resilient communities.

Efforts through #WBFADHQ are yielding measurable impact, reducing school absenteeism due to illness, strengthening infection prevention and control practices across communities, and improving maternal and newborn outcomes through sustained WASH engagement in healthcare facilities, while embedding climate wellbeing education alongside hygiene to foster intergenerational understanding.

We will continue to deliver with consistency, integrity, and ambition, because every child deserves to learn in a clean, safe, and healthy environment; every mother deserves the knowledge to protect her newborn from preventable illness; every healthcare worker deserves the tools to uphold infection prevention standards; and every community deserves access to the hygiene education that safeguards public health and strengthens national development from the ground up.

#CleanNaija #HygieneQuest #PSHE #PSHEWASH
#MenstrualHygiene #OpenDefecationFree
#WASHWednesday #ClimateHealthEducation #WellbeingForAll ...

As we welcome April with a #HappyNewMonth and observe Stress Awareness Month, I am drawn to reflect on the profound interplay between envisioning a positive future and engaging in creative expression as mechanisms for enhancing mental wellbeing. 

The @WorldEconomicForum aptly highlights that imagining a positive future is a crucial strategy to transform adversity into opportunities, while mobilising creativity, resilience, and innovation to forge sustainable and adaptive strategies forward. 

This perspective aligns with the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, which champions holistic approaches to health that encompass mental, emotional, and social wellbeing. By fostering environments that promote future-thinking and compassionate, creative engagement, we empower individuals and families to navigate stress more effectively and cultivate lasting resilience.

One practical step you might consider this month is art therapy, a powerful and accessible embodiment of this philosophy. Research from @DrexelUniv shows that both viewing and creating art can significantly lower cortisol levels, the body’s primary stress hormone, regardless of previous artistic experience. 

At its core, cultivating a positive mindset helps us process emotion, enhance self-awareness, and strengthen our internal capacity to adapt. Even simple creative acts can offer a non-verbal release for complex feelings, promoting mental clarity and emotional equilibrium.

When these insights come together, it becomes clear that nurturing hope and engaging in reflective practices are not secondary, but central to supporting and safeguarding our mental wellbeing. This Stress Awareness Month, I invite you to explore restorative outlets that resonate with you, as you envision an optimistic future. 

📸: The @Plus234Art Fair is uplifting the burgeoning art industry in Nigeria by providing a platform that supports emerging artists and encourages increased interest in art acquisition. Showcasing over 300 works, including paintings, sculptures, and digital art, the fair encourages people from all walks of life to support the arts.

@Tola_Akerele @Ecobank_Nigeria @tcaglagos @tca_gallery

#StressAwarenessMonth
#Menta ...

Yesterday evening, I had the honour of joining an extraordinary gathering of Nigerian and Global Women Leaders at the ARISE Gala – Women Making Impact 2025, held in commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the grand finale of International Women’s Month.

It is both humbling and heartening to be recognised for contributions to Healthcare and Social Impact, among so many distinguished Nigerian women across all sectors whose leadership, resilience, and vision continue to shape the future of our nation and continent.

In accepting this award, I reaffirm my enduring commitment to advancing a world, through my @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, where health and wellbeing are universal rights; where every individual is treated with respect and dignity; and where evidence-based action drives inclusive progress.

A truly wonderful way to conclude Women’s Month, and I extend my gratitude to the Board of Editors at @ARISENewsOfficial and @THISDAYStyle for this meaningful honour, with my congratulations to the remarkable community of women celebrated.

#IWD2025 #NigeriaAt65 #WomenMakingImpact
#HealthAndWellbeing #WellbeingEconomy
#WellbeingForAll #CultureIsContinuous
#GratefulForHisGrace ...