"Women must take part in creating policies and legislation that reflect the society they want to live in"

Toyin Ojora Saraki

A brief introduction

Global advocate for women’s and children’s health and empowerment

 

As Founder-President of The Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), Mrs Toyin Ojora Saraki is a global advocate for women’s and children’s health and empowerment, with two decades of advocacy covering reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health; ending gender-based discrimination and violence; and improving education, socio-economic empowerment, and community livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa.

Mrs Saraki is the Emeritus Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM); special adviser to the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), was named by Devex as UHC Global Champion, is the Save the Children Newborn Health Champion for Nigeria; and is a Global Champion for the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood

A global advocate

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Speeches Section

Advocacy in Action

SPEECH FROM December 17th, 2025

A Quiet Revolution in Care: WASH as the Foundation of Health System Quality By: H.E. Mrs Toyin Ojora Saraki & John Oldfield There is an invisibly simple way to assess whether a health system is structurally capable of delivering safe care, particularly at the moment when life is most vulnerable, and it is not found […]

SPEECH FROM December 10th, 2025

On Human Rights Day 2025, the world reasserts a continued promise that human rights are the everyday essentials of a life lived in freedom and dignity. Seventy-seven years ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed as a “common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations,” a global blueprint for laws and […]

SPEECH FROM October 7th, 2025

Foreword by H.E. Toyin Saraki  As we mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month under the World Health Organization’s theme Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matters, I am honoured to spotlight the newly released Devex feature, “New Index Aims to Help Countries Close Breast Cancer Care Gaps,” following my conversation with Senior Editor Rumbi Chakamba during […]

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the @Plus234Art Fair 2026, a vibrant celebration of Nigeria’s creative spirit, guided this year by the theme “Inclusivity.” The fair reminds us that inclusivity in the arts is not simply about showing more, but about seeing more, removing the barriers that shape who gets recognised and whose stories are told.

By widening the frame beyond familiar narratives and collaborating with universities, art schools, NGOs, and cultural custodians across the country, the +234 Art Fair continues to spotlight emerging and often overlooked voices within Nigeria’s dynamic art ecosystem.

I commend the organisers for creating a platform that nurtures talent, expands access, and brings the unseen into view, strengthening the cultural landscape and creative future of our nation.

#234ArtFair #NigerianArt #CreativeNigeria
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Yesterday, I had the honour of attending the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria @HFN_Nigeria Annual Conference 2026, held under the theme “Leveraging Private Sector Innovation to Achieve Quality Outcomes and Universal Health Coverage.”

This convening brought together leaders from government, private sector, and the medical and scientific community to examine how collaborative action can strengthen Nigeria’s health system and accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage. I commend HFN for its continued leadership in mobilising the private sector as a vital partner in shaping a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable health landscape.

As Nigeria navigates demographic growth, evolving health challenges, and economic pressures, achieving Universal Health Coverage requires transforming how healthcare is financed, delivered, and sustained. The private health sector already plays a vital role in providing services, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and innovation, and when aligned with strong policy and effective regulation, its expertise can significantly improve quality, access, and long-term sustainability across the health system.

Through the work of the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, we have seen firsthand the transformative impact of partnerships that connect public health priorities with private sector capability. Our programmes supporting maternal, newborn and child health, midwifery strengthening, nutrition, health literacy, and climate-safe #WASH demonstrate that innovation, when paired with community engagement and accountability, can deliver measurable improvements in health outcomes.

Achieving Universal Health Coverage is ultimately a shared national endeavour. It requires collaboration across sectors, strengthened health financing systems, robust quality assurance, and data-driven decision making that guides both policy and investment.

I commend the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria for sustaining this vital platform for dialogue and partnership as we collectively advance toward a healthier and more prosperous Nigeria.

#HFNConference2026 #UniversalHealthCoverage #PrivateSectorForHealth WellbeingForAll
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Women`s Month opens today at a deeply concerning time for our world.

The sense of uncertainty touches people everywhere. We hold hope for a swift and peaceful resolution, guided by wisdom and compassion, and for the safety and dignity of all innocent lives.
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Celebrating 88 years of my mother, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora, Mummy, Grandma and Great-Grandma, with gratitude rooted in faith.

You have lived a life of devotion, strength and love, and today we mark this birthday in communion and thanksgiving for all you are and all you have given. 🙏❤️

#HappyBirthday
#GratefulForHisGrace
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I was pleased to join family friends and well-wishers to celebrate Princess Olufunmilayo Omisore (JP) on the occasion of her 80th birthday!

It was a moment of gratitude for a life defined by faith grace and service and for the leadership and warmth she has extended to so many. May Almighty God continue to bless her with strength good health and joy and may her legacy of compassion continue to inspire.

#HappyBirthday
#ElegantEighty
#GratefulForHisGrace
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Last week in Lagos, the @WellbeingAfrica Froundation convened the Final Quarterly Stakeholder Review Meeting of Project Oscar – Light for Life, our neonatal jaundice screening, treatment, and kernicterus prevention programme, at the Skills Lab Centre of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital @LUTHOfficial, to review progress, validate outcomes, and align with frontline partners and health leadership on the next phase of policy scale and long-term sustainability.

Delivered in social impact partnership with @ThisIsReckitt @ReckittNigeria, with technical collaboration from @NEST360Org and @SCIDaR_, and in close coordination with @LagosHealth, @LagosPHCB, Primary Health Care leadership, and public health facilities, this partnership model reflects deliberate alignment between global evidence, national priorities, and facility-level practice.

In Lagos State, Project Oscar – Light for Life has demonstrated the impact of embedding standardised neonatal jaundice care within routine newborn services. To date, 9,151 newborns have been screened, enabling earlier identification and timely clinical action; 987 infants have been identified with elevated bilirubin levels, 325 have been referred through structured hub-and-spoke pathways, and 937 have received prompt treatment, supported by 290 trained healthcare workers, functional diagnostic and phototherapy capacity, and harmonised screening and referral protocols across participating facilities.

Across the wider programme health education footprint, Project Oscar – Light for Life has engaged 74 health facilities across 5 States, and delivered structured education to over 107,762 pregnant women and nursing mothers, strengthening early recognition, appropriate care-seeking behaviour, and continuity of care from household to facility.

As Project Oscar – Light for Life transitions from implementation into institutionalisation, neonatal jaundice management must move from project to practice, sustained through policy and financing, to safeguard newborn lives from the earliest light.

#ProjectOscar
#LightForLife
#WellbeingForAll
#FrontlineFriday
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Today, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent for Christians in Nigeria and around the world. Through the sign of ashes, I am reminded of the Lenten call to repentance and conversion of heart, as we hear the words, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”

May this Lenten journey form our faith through prayer, discipline, and service to others, and lead us towards clarity and grace, further strengthening our resolve to walk with humility and compassion.

#AshWednesday
#LentenJourney
#GratefulForHisGrace see
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