"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

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Speeches Section

Advocacy in Action

SPEECH FROM July 3rd, 2025

Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, esteemed colleagues, and valued partners in health, It is an honour to address you on the occasion of the 65th Anniversary of Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, a health institution of enduring national significance, and the very facility at which I was born. As both a national symbol of progress in maternal […]

SPEECH FROM July 1st, 2025

Your Excellencies, First Ladies and Former First Ladies of Nigeria States, Outgoing Chairperson of the First Ladies Against Cancer Initiative, Her Excellency Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, Newly Inaugurated Chairperson of First Ladies Against Cancer Initiative, Her Excellency Barrister Mrs Chioma Uzodimma, and distinguished colleagues, partners, and friends, It is with deep purpose that I stand before […]

SPEECH FROM June 30th, 2025

LAGOS, NIGERIA | 28th June 2025 – Her Excellency Mrs Toyin Ojora Saraki, Founder and President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, has been officially inducted into the Friends of FLAC network, a distinguished alliance of national leaders, advocates, and partners committed to strengthening cancer care and prevention across Nigeria. The induction took place during the […]

Such a lovely lunch and an honour to catch up, together with Ekua, with dear Aunty Karuna, our much cherished wonderful mum to Avinash and Kabir, the amazing duo behind @TempleMuse this week.

We enjoyed browsing the Kenny Adewuyi @Kenny.AdewuyiOfficial SOLE TO Soul exhibition, which was curated by @SMOContemporaryArt

Kenny’s Bronze sculptures are his interpretation of the world around him, presenting everyday issues he observes without sugar-coating. In SOLE TO Soul, Kenny expresses the vulnerabilities common to every individual and community, and the common rope that binds us together even in our uniqueness.

Depression, modern-day slavery, need— are themes explored in his work, yet there is a gut-wrenching beauty in every piece he crafts. A Master of Fine Art, Kenny has perfected his preferred technique (the lost wax technique) over 3+ decades of his career, pouring his soul into every sculpture, taking the long way and filling every mold with intention.

Thank you Aunty Karuna for this lovely interlude, and for calming and strengthening the busy week in #Lagos with your unique serenity!

#LadiesLunch #BronzeSculpture #SOLETOSoul #ArtExhibition #KennyAdewuyi
#Grateful #GratefulForHisGrace
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Yesterday`s exclusive evening of art, culture, and conversation co-hosted in collaboration with @MyTorrista by Sterling at the British High Commission Residence in Lagos, was an enlightening experience which I was pleased to attend, honouring the kind invitation of the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Jonny Baxter @UKinNigeria.

Timeless Voices: Preserving Culture, Inspiring Change is a thoughtfully curated showcase, presented by @SterlingBank’s Tourism Art Exhibition under the @Uncover_Naija initiative, bringing together some of Nigeria’s most compelling contemporary artists in a profound celebration of identity, heritage, and human connection.

My sincere commendation to Mr @Abubakar.Suleiman, MD/CEO of Sterling Bank, the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, the curators, and the participating artists for illuminating the vital role of the arts in inspiring change, preserving cultural legacy, and strengthening diplomacy and civic dialogue through creative expression.

@mbn_hq @sterlingbank @cafeonenig
#UncoverNaija
#CultureisContinuous
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I am pleased to share that my @WellbeingAfrica Foundation proudly participated in the Africa Primary Health Care Forum 2025, held this week in Abuja under the compelling theme, Reimagining Primary Health Care for Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa.

At this pivotal convening, the WBFA team, led by Mr. Anselm Nonye Ezeanya, our National M&E Manager, presented the research abstract “Redefining Primary Healthcare for Neonatal Jaundice Management: A Wellbeing Foundation Africa Capacity-Building Approach,” a critical contribution to the ongoing discourse on community-centred health systems and neonatal survival.

Despite being a detectable and treatable condition, neonatal jaundice remains a significant cause of preventable newborn deaths, contributing to an estimated 14% of neonatal mortality in Nigeria.

The WBFA #ProjectOscar – #LightForLife programme, supported by our social impact partners @ThisIsReckitt, delivered in partnership with @NEST360Org, @SCIDaR_, @LSHTM, @LagosStateGovt @LagosHealth and rooted in the lived experience and advocacy of @Oscar.Anderson.7967 exemplies our integrated approach of combining early detection, maternal education, and referral strengthening to transform outcomes in primary care.

To date, we have trained 139 health workers (including 11 doctors and 128 midwives) across 12 primary healthcare centres, equipped with 12 phototherapy units and 12 bilirubinometers. Through our #Mamacare360 platform, we have reached 47,462 mothers, with 1,520 receiving Bilistrips for home-based screening. As a result, 1,748 newborns have been screened, 182 identified with high bilirubin levels, 109 referred, and 90.1% treated successfully.

I extend my sincere appreciation to all who joined the Forum in pursuit of stronger health systems across the continent. In particular, I acknowledge the presence and contributions of Mr Abubakar Abba and Mr Roger Kanee of @Chai_GlobalHealth, Mr Carlos Yerena of @ReachDigitalHealth, Ms Praise Agbe of @PathfinderInt and Mr Ayobami A. Bakare of Oxygen for Life, whose engagement highlights the importance of multisectoral collaboration in advancing Universal Health Coverage.

#WellbeingForAll
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Vendredi, à l`occasion de la Célébration de la Fête Nationale Française, j`ai eu l`honneur d`assister à la réception offerte par le Consul Général de France à Lagos, M. Laurent Favier @FranceinNigeria, au Lycée Louis Pasteur, sur l’Île Victoria.

Je remercie sincèrement le Consulat Général de France pour son aimable invitation et pour avoir organisé une rencontre diplomatique de haut niveau, reflétant les liens forts d`amitié, de coopération et de valeurs communes entre la République Française et la République Fédérale du Nigéria.

À l`approche de la Fête Nationale Française, qui commémore les principes universels de liberté, d`égalité et de fraternité, nous nous souvenons du pouvoir de ces convictions à transcender les frontières, unissant les nations dans la quête de justice, de dignité et de progrès humain.

Ces idéaux continuent de façonner la relation riche et dynamique entre la République Française et la République Fédérale du Nigéria, fondée sur le respect mutuel, les échanges culturels et la collaboration stratégique. Je me réjouis de poursuivre mon engagement pour faire progresser un avenir commun, fondé sur ces valeurs durables.

#BastilleDay2025
#AllianceFrançaise
#FrenchNationalDay
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With deep admiration and heartfelt gratitude, I join the global health and rights community in celebrating the extraordinary leadership of Dr Natalia Kanem @atayesheunfpa, @UnitedNations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of @UNFPA (2017–2024), as she concludes her transformative tenure, during which she oversaw life-saving policy, development, and humanitarian work in over 120 countries, anchored in the aim that “every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.”

A physician and public health expert with over three decades of service in global development, Dr Kanem brought to UNFPA not only her clinical and policy acumen, grounded in her medical training at @Columbia University, but also an enduring commitment to dignity, data, and rights-based progress. Under her leadership, UNFPA evolved into a globally trusted catalyst for action, ensuring that every woman and girl can realise her full potential, free from harm, and with access to the care and choices she deserves.

As a UNFPA Planning Champion Advocate and Member of the UNFPA-led ICPD30 Global Steering Council since 2019, it has been my great honour to collaborate closely with Natalia across many shared missions, particularly in improving the health and lives of women and children by championing their wellbeing. Through our @WellbeingAfrica Foundation’s sub-implementation of the UNFPA-led NLift integration into our #MamaCare360 programme, we have witnessed the practical impact of her legacy, translating global commitments into lifesaving, community-anchored frontline action.

Natalia`s leadership was never confined to boardrooms or briefing documents; it lived in the delivery rooms, digital data dashboards, and dignity restored to women worldwide. Her vision to realise the “three zeros” zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender-based violence, remains a north star for us all.

Thank you, Natalia, for your integrity, sisterhood, and relentless drive for equity. You leave behind a stronger UNFPA, a united global movement, and a generation inspired to carry the torch forward.

#WellbeingForAll
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On this @UnitedNations World Population Day, as global discourse increasingly echoes concerns over declining fertility rates and impending population collapse, the United Nations Population Fund @UNFPA offers vital insight through the 2025 State of World Population report, The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency in a Changing World, outlining that the true global crisis is not one of population numbers, but of rights, agency, and unmet reproductive intentions.

Empowering youth to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world reminds us that only by centring their voices and aspirations in policy and practice can we ensure reproductive decisions are made freely, with dignity, and supported by systems to thrive. Across sub-Saharan Africa, too many young people face persistent barriers to realising their desired family lives. From limited reproductive healthcare, economic insecurity, to unequal care burdens and fears around climate and conflict, the result is the same, people are denied the freedom to decide, if, when, and with whom to have children.

UNFPA’s global survey data reveals that one in three respondents experienced unintended pregnancy, while one in five were pressured into having children against their wishes. In Nigeria, 32% of respondents cited financial instability as a barrier to fulfilling fertility aspirations, while 17% noted the high cost of childcare, and 19% referenced inadequate housing. These figures highlight the urgency of addressing reproductive autonomy as a personal right and a national imperative.

It is therefore incumbent upon all stakeholders, governments, civil society, and healthcare providers, to foster environments that uphold and expand reproductive agency. The @WellbeingAfrica Foundation continues on the frontlines to champion rights-based approaches across Nigeria, advocating and implementing comprehensive reproductive healthcare, equitable access to education and employment for women and girls, and the provision of family and fertility support systems that genuinely reflect the needs and aspirations of those they intend to serve.

#WorldPopulationDay
#WellbeingForAll
#FrontlineFriday
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Yesterday afternoon, I had the honour of attending the United Nations Population Fund @UNFPANigeria Africa Social Impact Summit Pre-Event Luncheon, convened ahead of the 2025 edition of @TheASISummit, co-hosted by @UN_Nigeria and the @SterlingOneFoundation.

This high-level gathering served as a strategic alignment among Africa’s foremost development leaders, philanthropists, and public sector stakeholders. I was pleased to be joined by Dr. Mojisola Alere, Director of National Programmes, Grants, Policy and Research at the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation in our shared mission to advance rights-based, locally driven solutions for health, gender, and climate justice.

As ASIS 2025 begins today under the theme “Scaling Action for the SDGs: Bold Solutions for Climate Resilience and Policy Innovation,” as a member of the UNFPA-led ICPD30 Global Steering Council since 2019, and as UNFPA Planning Champion Advocate whose WBFA sub-implemented the UNFPA-led NLift integration into our flagship MamaCare360 program, I was deeply encouraged by the commitment in the room to move beyond rhetoric to delivery, in marshalling localisation of resources and impact especially on urgent issues such as maternal health, youth empowerment, gender equity, and community resilience in the face of climate and demographic change.

I commend @UNFPA for its leadership in safeguarding reproductive health and rights across Africa, and I celebrate the vision of Sterling One Foundation, whose convening power has established #ASIS2025 as a pillar for catalytic impact investment, multisector partnerships, and policy transformation on the continent. 

The Wellbeing Foundation Africa stands ready to continue strengthening ties between local community priorities and global commitments, expanding scalable innovations on the frontline, including digital health tools for mothers and girls, and climate safe #WASH-integrated care, furthering #WBFA participation in the Africa Social Impact Summit 2025 this week, as it evolves into a launchpad for action, anchored in African leadership, amplified by community voices, and driven by measurable outcomes that uplift lives across the continent.

#WellbeingForAll
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I am honoured to have been represented by the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation Lagos Team at the official book launch of Dr. Eniayewun Ademuyiwa Benjamin, outgoing Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Health Service Commission, titled “Transforming: My Journey Through the Lagos State Health System.”

My goodwill statement delivered by Dr. Mojisola Alere PhD, Director of Programs, Partnerships and Grants Research and Development celebrated Dr. Eniayewun’s visionary leadership, applauding his enduring legacy in strengthening primary healthcare, championing community-driven innovations, and steering a resilient, strategic response to public health challenges across Lagos State @LagosHealth.

“In a time where the urgency to strengthen health systems has never been greater, Dr. Eniayewun’s memoir is both timely and necessary. His book, in its reflective candour and detail, does more than recount personal milestones, it offers a window into the challenges, triumphs, and unwavering commitment it takes to lead systemic transformation within one of Africa’s most populous and complex megacities.”

I commend the bold step to document these impactful experiences and note that this important work will serve as a guiding light for health professionals, public sector leaders, policy architects, and future generation.

The event was graced by the First Lady of Lagos State; H.E. Dr Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu JokeSanwoolu, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu; Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, and other notable dignitaries.

#Wellbeingforall #HealthLeadership
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May the soul of His Majesty, The Departed Olubadan of Ibadanland rest in peace, Amen

#Repost @bukolasaraki
I received the news of the transition of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akinloye Olalere Owolabi Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, with a profound sense of loss. Kabiyesi joined his ancestors in the early hours of this morning, barely two days after celebrating his 90th birthday and just a year on the throne. Ibadan has lost a bridge builder, and Yorubaland, a revered custodian of its rich heritage. On behalf of my family, I extend heartfelt condolences to the royal household, the Olubadan-in-Council, Governor Seyi Makinde, and every son and daughter of Ibadan. May the Almighty grant him eternal rest.
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I was delighted to join @lagosstategovt First Lady H.E. Dr Ibijoke Sanwoolu, Hon Commissioner For Health Professor Akin Abayomi, dignitaries and philanthropies at the @LagosIslandMaternityHospital 65th Anniversary Symposium and Celebration - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow; and am honoured to be conferred as an LIMH Born Ambassador.

For over 6 decades, #LIMH stands tall as a symbol of state resilience and excellence in maternal, newborn, and child health, evolving from a post-independence facility into a modern specialist referral and training institution, reflecting sustained professional dedication and systemic reform.

Advancing this legacy of care, @WellbeingAfrica implements a suite of evidence-based programmes at #LIMH to strengthen #MNCH outcomes. Our #MamaCare360 Antenatal and Postnatal Education Programme delivers @WHO-aligned health classes to thousands of mothers at LIMH, supporting maternal nutrition, respectful care, birth preparedness, and family planning, while the WBFA @GEHealthcare Technical Partnership has trained LIMH and @lagoshealth midwives in the use of portable ultrasound tools, improving early detection of pregnancy complications, reinforcing the critical role of midwifery-led antenatal diagnostics.

WBFA #NicuPlus provides continuous counselling to mothers of premature and vulnerable newborns in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, including lactation guidance, kangaroo care, and provision of breast pumps to support sustained breastfeeding, maternal–infant bonding, and early survival while WBFA #ProjectOscar – #LightforLife Neonatal Jaundice Screening, Treatment, and Prevention Program, supported by @ThisIsReckitt, has equipped LIMH with advanced phototherapy devices and BiliDx bilirubinometers, enabling rapid diagnosis and treatment of neonatal jaundice and reducing the risk of long-term neurological harm.

I congratulate Lagos Island Maternity Hospital`s 65 years of service as the Wellbeing Foundation Africa reaffirms its commitment to a continuum of care that spans both community and facility levels, ensuring that mothers and newborns in Nigeria receive safe, equitable, and respectful care.

#WellbeingForAll
#ThriveThursday
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A new month isn’t just about flipping the calendar. It’s about renewing hope, setting fresh intentions, and connecting with the people we care about.

This July, may every “I hope” become “I’m glad” as we walk into this new month with our heads held high and our hearts wide open.

Dear July, be kind to my people. Bring them laughter that echoes, rest that truly restores, and success that lasts!

Happy New Month!

#HappyNewMonth
#GratefulForHisGrace
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Sunday evening was a wonderfully joyous celebration to usher in Reni`s 60th birthday in the unique style and inimitable spirit of Lagos 1965!

In wishing dearest Reni a happy birthday as we ended the month of June, I also wished her another 60 years and more of incredibly stylish fulfilment of her dreams, with every divine blessing!

#HappyBirthday
@RenOfLife
#ReniFat60
#GratefulForHisGrace
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I had the distinct pleasure of joining my dear husband, H.E. Dr @BukolaSaraki, in celebrating the joyous union of Jennifer and Victor, together with the Onaiwu and Okenwa families, their cherished friends, and well-wishers on Saturday at Abuja..

As the happy couple embark on this beautiful journey of marriage, I warmly extend my wishes for a lifetime filled with happiness, harmony, and enduring love. May their shared future be richly blessed with grace and abundance.

#gratefulforhisgrace
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