"Women must take part in creating policies and legislation that reflect the society they want to live in"
Toyin Ojora Saraki
A brief introduction
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
IN FOCUS FROM January 12th, 2026
This Maternal Monday brings inspiration, as a mother, a woman, a citizen, and an advocate, on why the launch of the Built For Her Foundation is vital, and what it signals for Nigeria’s future at this moment. Founded by Dr Teniola Saraki MBBS (Imperial), Built For Her was shaped by a clear conviction that women […]
IN FOCUS FROM December 10th, 2025
Digital Dignity, An Everyday Essential for Human Rights By H.E. Toyin Ojora Saraki, Founder & President of The Wellbeing Foundation Africa 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 […]
IN FOCUS FROM December 3rd, 2025
On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, observed under the 2025 theme Fostering Disability Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress, I am pleased to mark the first anniversary of The Wellbeing Foundation Africa’s Project Oscar – Light For Life, a Neonatal Jaundice Screening, Treatment, and Kernicterus Prevention Programme, supported by our social impact partners […]
The e-health check tool is available for free at https://covid19.wbfafrica.org/ and users can access real-time updates on how to stay connected, safe, and healthy during the pandemic on Instagram and Twitter @Wellbeing_PPMD, and @WellbeingPPMD on Facebook.
Speeches Section
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 […]
We gathered to observe the third-day Fidau prayers in honour of our late father, Otunba Adekunle Ojora, the Otunba of Lagos and Lisa of Ife.
The prayers were led by the Chief Imam of Ijora, together with our family Imams and the Chief Imam of Agbaji, Ilorin. We are deeply grateful for their guidance in prayer, and for the presence of family and well-wishers who continue to stand with us in remembrance and supplication.
May Almighty Allah God grant him a place among the righteous in Aljannah Firdaus.
Ameen.
...
We are deeply grateful for the Janazah prayers held at the Lagos Central Mosque, and for the final rites conducted at The Vaults and Gardens, as we laid my beloved father, H.R.H. Otunba Adekunle Ojora (CON, OFR, FNIPR, JP, FCL, FSO, Grand Ufficiale al Merito della Repubblica Italiana, Commendatore della Repubblica Italiana, Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver of the Republic of Austria, Honorary Freeman of the City of London, 1992), Otunba of Lagos and Lisa of Ife, to rest.
Our sincere appreciation goes to His Eminence, the Grand Mufti of Ilorin, His Eminence, the Chief Imam of Lagos, and all the Imams who led the prayers, stood with our family, and upheld the sanctity of Islamic burial rites with grace and compassion.
Their presence, guidance, and supplications brought immense comfort at a moment of profound loss, reminding us of the mercy and order found within belief.
May Almighty God accept their prayers, reward their service, and grant my father a place among the righteous in Aljannah Firdaus, and grant our family the strength to carry this loss. Amen.
...
We received, with profound gratitude and humility, the bearers of Royal Staffs of Office at Ijora and Olowogbowo, honouring the memory of my father through their presence, at the dignified traditional Igbe panegyric eulogies.
Such gestures carry deep meaning, speaking to continuity, community, culture, and the enduring bonds between lineage, leadership, and service.
My family and I are sincerely thankful for this show of respect, solidarity, and shared history during our time of mourning.
May Almighty God reward every prayer, every step taken, and every expression of goodwill extended to us.
Amen.
...
We are truly grateful for your presence, prayers, amity, kind words of remembrance, and goodwill as our revered father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, HRH The Otunba Adekunle Ojora, joined his forbears and was laid to rest in peace.
We pray that Almighty God continues to bless you for keeping Daddy in your prayers.
Amen.
H.E. Mrs. Toyin Ojora Saraki
For the entire family.
...
Inalilahi wa Ina Ilaehi Rajiun
With total submission to the will of Almighty Allah (SWT), the Ojora family of Lagos hereby announces the passing of our beloved patriarch, Otunba Adekunle Ojora, the Otunba of Lagos and Lisa of Ife, who returned to his creator early this morning.
We say Alhamdulilahi for a life well lived, and we comply with Allah`s words that: "Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him we will all return" (Q2:156).
He was 93 and will be buried in Lagos according to Islamic rites. He was survived by his lovely wife, Erelu Ojolape Ojora, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
We urge all members of the public to join us in praying to Allah to grant His servant, who has lived a dignified life, reprieve in the grave and a place in Aljannah Firdaus.
H.E. Mrs. Toyin Ojora Saraki
For the entire family.
...
Today, I was pleased to review the @OneYoungWorld Summit Munich 2025 Report, which offers a clear, evidence-based assessment of both scale and outcomes. As a Counsellor to One Young World, and through my work with the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, I have long believed that youth leadership must be evaluated not through aspiration alone, but through demonstrable results, with the data emerging from Munich strongly reinforcing this approach.
During #OYW25, more than 2,200 young leaders from 196 countries convened in person, supported by 144 partner organisations spanning government, civil society, and the private sector, with a programme that featured 338 speakers, including 122 young leaders selected through rigorous and highly competitive processes that prioritised demonstrated impact and leadership credibility.
Post-Summit evaluation confirms measurable value. Over 93% of Delegates reported a strengthened understanding of global challenges, nearly 83% indicated increased leadership capacity, and more than 80% cited tangible professional development gains, with the Summit achieving an average Delegate rating of 4.54 out of 5, reflecting both depth of engagement and relevance.
Equally important is the Summit’s commitment to access. From close to 70,000 scholarship applications, 468 fully funded places were awarded, ensuring that global leadership pathways are shaped by talent and purpose rather than financial circumstance.
When young leaders are trusted, challenged, and supported within serious, evidence-driven frameworks, they deliver outcomes of real value. I remain proud to serve as a Counsellor within the One Young World community, and I am encouraged by what this report affirms.
#OneYoungWorld
#WellbeingForAll
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Today, on the International Day of Clean Energy, we are reminded that clean energy is essential to social infrastructure, including health facilities and schools, and that reliable power supports continuity, safety, and public trust. The @UnitedNations’ call for a just and inclusive clean energy transition is directly relevant to climate-exposed settings, where energy access continues to shape health and education outcomes.
In Nigeria, through the work of my @WellbeingAfrica Foundation and partners, this is evident at the Eruku Maternity Referral Centre in Kwara State under the Alaafia Kwara initiative, delivered through partnerships with Development Africa, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, where solar power supports consistent maternal and newborn care. Alongside our advocacy for state-led solar electrification at facilities such as Cottage Hospital Eruku and public schools, these investments have strengthened service delivery and community confidence in essential public institutions.
As a Member of the @BayerOfficial Sustainability Council and through my engagement with the Sustainable Markets Initiative, my focus is on advancing integrated climate and health solutions, and I am encouraged by the leadership of Sustainable Energy for All, under Damilola Ogunbiyi, in advancing electrification across health and education as part of broader development priorities.
Clean energy for all must reach hospitals, schools, and communities, because universal energy access remains inseparable from equitable development.
#CleanEnergyDay
#AlaafiaKwara
#WellbeingForAll
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Happy birthday Shola @sholly_oj! Wishing you continued good health, happiness, and success in all that you do!
#Cousin #Aburo #HappyBirthday
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As global leaders convene in Davos, Switzerland, for the @WorldEconomicForum Annual Meeting 2026 under the theme A Spirit of Dialogue, the need for inclusive, cross-sector engagement on the defining challenges of our time has never been clearer.
As a @BayerOfficial Sustainability Council Member and a WEF Champion of the Global Alliance for Women’s Health, I am grateful to Bayer for the invitation to engage with the roundtable Empowering Health: How Innovative Finance Drives Consumer Health and Self-Care Adoption, convened in partnership with @GoalsHouse, although I was unable to be there in person this year. The roundtable rightly centred on how innovative financing instruments, including blended finance, catalytic capital and health value bonds, can unlock scale for self-care solutions while safeguarding equity, sustainability and accountability.
Through the work of my @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, we have consistently observed that self-care is a fundamental driver of effective primary healthcare, supporting prevention, early action and continuity of care, particularly for women and communities facing the greatest barriers to access. When individuals are empowered to manage their health, health systems are better positioned to allocate resources strategically, improve outcomes and respond effectively to emerging pressures.
These conversations reflect the WEF’s 2026 emphasis on investing in people, advancing responsible innovation and strengthening cooperation across divides. Advancing self-care at scale will require deliberate collaboration across public, private and philanthropic sectors, ensuring that innovation delivers measurable, lasting benefit for those who need it most.
#WEF26
#ASpiritOfDialogue
#InvestInPeople
#WellbeingForAll
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As the @WorldEconomicForum Annual Meeting 2026 takes place this week in Davos, I welcome the @UNFPA-led side event Invest in Health, Invest in People: Corporate Action for Workplace Wellbeing and the launch of the inaugural Annual Report of the Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business, convened at InTent, Hotel National.
Although I was unable to be present, I am grateful to @UNFPA, and in particular to Ms Diene Keita, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, for the invitation to contribute as an Opening Speaker, and to our longstanding partners @FerringPharmaceuticals and Coalition stakeholders for advancing a rigorous, evidence-based case for corporate investment in women’s health as a driver of productivity, workforce participation, and long-term economic value.
The Coalition’s work rightly positions sexual and reproductive health and rights in the workplace not as discretionary benefits, but as high-return investments that reduce absenteeism, improve retention, and strengthen human capital across global value chains. This framing is essential to aligning business strategy, ESG priorities, and public policy in an increasingly competitive global economy.
Through my @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, we have long advanced women’s health as both a national and economic priority, and we look forward to continued collaboration with the Coalition, especially as the report provides a practical blueprint for translating commitment into measurable outcomes for people, businesses, and economies.
#WEF26
#InvestInHealthInvestInPeople
#WorkplaceWellbeing
#WellbeingForAll
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With deep sadness, we mourn the passing of the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh (Dr.) Muhammad Bashir Salihu.
He devoted his life to service and spiritual leadership in Ilorin, guiding generations through scholarship, wisdom, and humility. His counsel and teachings strengthened faith, unity, and moral clarity, leaving a lasting legacy within the community.
May Almighty Allah accept his decades of service, grant him Al-Jannatul Firdaus, and comfort his family, the Ilorin Emirate, and the entire Muslim Ummah. Ameen.
...
My dear brother Dapo, today we mark your birthday with hearts full of remembrance.
You lived with conviction, stood firmly by those you loved, and carried a presence that made people feel protected, seen, and valued.
May you rest in divine peace, held in eternal mercy, until the day we are reunited.
Always remembered. Always cherished.
...
Today on #ArmedForcesRemembranceDay, I join Nigerians across our country and in the diaspora in honouring the sacrifice and commitment of the men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces who gave their lives in the defence of our nation and its enduring stability.
Their service reflects discipline, courage, and duty across generations. We remember with respect those who did not return, and we hold close the families whose lives continue to carry this legacy, marked by strength, dignity, and contribution to national life.
At the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, we are reminded that national security is deeply intertwined with human security. The wellbeing of a nation is expressed through the health, mental wellbeing, and sustained care extended to those who serve, to veterans, to widows and children, and to communities carrying the long-term impact of conflict.
We hold in our prayers all those currently serving on the frontline, entrusted with the protection of our peace and our future.
#AFRD2026
#ThankASoldier
#WellbeingForAll
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This #MaternalMonday brings inspiration, as a mother, a woman, a citizen, and an advocate, on why the launch of the Built For Her Foundation is vital, and what it signals for Nigeria’s future at this moment.
Founded by Dr Teniola Saraki MBBS (Imperial), Built For Her is shaped by a clear conviction that women and girls must be visible in data, prioritised in research, supported by responsive systems, represented in leadership, and invested in with intention if progress in women’s health, across the life course, is to be sustained.
Its first flagship initiative, the Built For Her National Medical Degree Scholarships, delivered in partnership with the Nigerian Medical Students’ Association, has awarded medical scholarships to 30 outstanding female medical students across all six geopolitical zones. I congratulate this inaugural cohort, whose achievement strengthens Nigeria’s future health workforce while advancing women’s participation across clinical care, research, and leadership.
Reflections shared by health leaders at the weekend’s launch reinforced a long-established truth. Women’s representation in medicine shapes how health systems function, influencing access, quality, and trust. Persistent underinvestment in women’s health, highlighted in The Women’s Health Gap: A $1 Trillion Opportunity to Improve Lives and Economies and reinforced in Blueprint to Close the Women’s Health Gap: How to Improve Lives and Economies for All by the @McKinseyHealthInstitute, continues to drive poorer outcomes for women and girls across the life course and weaker health system performance overall.
The @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, grounded in the belief that advancing women’s health today shapes wellbeing, resilience, and opportunity for generations to come, endorses the vision of the Inaugural Built For Her Foundation Medical Scholarship Program, whose commitment and leadership reflect this shared mission and whose contributions will help strengthen health systems, expand opportunity, and advance wellbeing for women and communities across Nigeria.
#BuiltForHer
#WellbeingForAll
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There is no greater joy than watching a child discover her purpose, and choose a life of service. My heart is full as I celebrate my daughter, Dr. Teniola Saraki, on the launch of the Built For Her Foundation and its inaugural medical scholarships for 30 NIMSA scholars from across Nigeria.
To witness a third generation of service in our family, one that gives, builds, cares, and designs with intention, and her commitment to advancing women’s health through systems-centred philanthropy, is a profound blessing.
With gratitude to the @BuiltForHerFoundation ’s Founder, Dr. Teniola Saraki MBBS (Imperial), and Trustees, Ms Teniayo Saraki BA (Hons), LSE; MSc, Georgetown, and Ms Soraya Koshoni BA (Hons), King’s College London, for initiating this work with such integrity and care.
Teniola, may this work grow with grace, serve with humility, and always remain rooted in care.
#GratefulSunday #BuiltForHer #GenerationNow #ProudMum #GratefulForHisGrace
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As a @WorldEconomicForum Champion of the Global Alliance for Women’s Health, I welcome the transition of #WEF’s Women’s Health Impact Tracking Platform WHIT to the Global Centre for Asian Women’s Health GloW @glownus at @NUS_singapore Medicine.
As one of the 70-plus experts who contributed to the consultations that shaped WHIT, I am encouraged to see the platform move into its next phase. This transition is central to the long-term sustainability of WHIT, securing the institutional stewardship, governance, and continuity required for lasting global impact.
Developed by the Forum’s Global Alliance for Women’s Health in collaboration with the @McKinsey Health Institute, WHIT translates complex datasets into clear, usable insights, creating a unified evidence base for policy, advocacy, research, and funding.
By tracking progress across efficacy, care delivery, and data, WHIT helps illuminate where gains are being made and where persistent gaps remain.
Through my work with the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, I have seen how the availability of robust, comparable data strengthens accountability, informs investment, and accelerates progress in women’s health, particularly in low- and middle-income settings. What remains under-measured relative to burden is too often under-prioritised.
Platforms such as WHIT are therefore critical to closing the women’s health gap and accelerating data-driven action globally.
Read more about the transition using the link in my bio.
#ClosingTheWomensHealthGap
#WEF26 #DataForEquity
#WellbeingForAll
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Across Nigeria, air pollution continues to undermine health in ways that are cumulative, preventable, and deeply unequal. Evidence synthesised by the @WHO identifies exposure to polluted air as a major environmental risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and adverse maternal and newborn outcomes, with impacts that accumulate across the life course.
This burden is driven in large part by tobacco exposure and household air pollution from polluting cooking fuels. Millions of households rely on solid fuels and kerosene for daily cooking, resulting in repeated inhalation of fine particulate matter and toxic gases within domestic environments. Sustained exposure impairs lung development and function, increases the risk of #COPD, and contributes to severe respiratory illness, particularly among women and young children.
At my @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, clean air is recognised as a foundational determinant of maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health. Healthy pregnancies, safe births, and thriving childhoods cannot be achieved where toxic air exposure is normalised. This is why access to clean cookstoves and modern household energy is central to protecting women and children, reducing preventable respiratory disease, and advancing prevention, equity, and long-term human development.
Silent killers persist where exposure is tolerated and action is delayed. With no safe level of air pollution, progress depends on coordinated leadership across government, healthcare, and development partners, anchored in evidence-based policy, clean household energy transitions, and effective tobacco control. These system-wide actions are essential to reducing preventable disease, strengthening health systems, and securing the wellbeing of future generations.
📸: @HuffPost, The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, & Healthy Indoor Air #UNGA80
#SilentKillers
#AirQuality
#WellbeingForAll
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As we move into the opening days of 2026, the World Health Organization’s reflection on the milestones of 2025 offers a steady and encouraging signal for global health. In a year shaped by funding constraints, geopolitical strain, and sustained pressure on scientific institutions, the @WHO demonstrated that cooperation grounded in evidence continues to deliver results for people and communities worldwide. Progress across disease elimination, expanded vaccination, emergency preparedness, and the adoption of the first Pandemic Agreement shows what is possible when multilateralism, science, and shared responsibility remain central to decision-making.
At my @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, these global milestones closely reflect our work across Nigeria, Africa and in fragile and humanitarian settings. From respectful maternity care and midwifery strengthening to community-based primary health care, immunisation, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene, and health systems accountability, the evidence consistently points to strengthening women’s health, and upskilling and resourcing frontline health workers as the foundation of robust, high-functioning health systems.
As 2026 begins, our focus remains on translating global commitments into delivery on the ground, protecting hard-won gains, and accelerating action for women, newborns, adolescents, and families. With science, solutions and solidarity, we can build a healthier, safer and more hopeful future for everyone.
#HealthyBeginnings
#HopefulFutures
#WellbeingForAll
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As we begin a new year and step into the first Monday and work week of January, I welcome the New Year babies already born into our world, and honour the midwives whose dedication and skill made their safe arrival possible.
Behind every safe birth is a midwife, delivering life-saving, respectful maternal and newborn care, often through nights, holidays, and moments when the world is at rest. Throughout the festive season, midwives have remained at the frontlines, safeguarding women and newborns at one of life’s most vulnerable moments. Their contribution is often unseen, yet indispensable, and it must be protected, prioritised, and sustained.
At the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, we remain committed to advancing quality maternal healthcare by supporting midwives, nurses, doctors, and health workers, reinforcing health systems, and ensuring every woman can access safe and equitable care delivered by trained and valued professionals.
On this first #MaternalMonday of 2026, #WBFA honours midwives everywhere whose expertise saves lives and secures healthier futures for families and communities.
#MidwivesMatter
#WellbeingForAll
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Over the weekend in Ikoyi, @bukolasaraki and I joined family and friends as the Segbefia and Bakare families hosted a wonderful soirée in celebration of Fafa and Pekun, following their beautiful wedding in Accra. It was an evening filled with laughter, music, and love, a truly joyful celebration of their union and the journey ahead! ...
We are deeply grateful for the Janazah prayers held at the Lagos Central Mosque, and for the final ...rites conducted at The Vaults and Gardens, as we laid my beloved father, H.R.H. Otunba Adekunle Ojora (CON, OFR, FNIPR, JP, FCL, FSO, Grand Ufficiale al Merito della Repubblica
We received, with profound gratitude and humility, the bearers of Royal Staffs of Office at Ijora ...and Olowogbowo, honouring the memory of my father through their presence, at the dignified traditional Igbe panegyric eulogies.
Such gestures carry deep meaning, speaking to
We are truly grateful for your presence, prayers, amity, kind words of remembrance, and goodwill as... our revered father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, HRH The Otunba Adekunle Ojora, joined his forbears and was laid to rest in peace.
We pray that Almighty God continues to
Inalilahi wa Ina Ilaehi Rajiun
With total submission to the will of Almighty Allah (SWT), the ...Ojora family of Lagos hereby announces the passing of our beloved patriarch, Otunba Adekunle Ojora, the Otunba of Lagos and Lisa of Ife, who returned to his creator early this morning.
Today, I was pleased to review the @OneYoungWorld Summit Munich 2025 Report, which offers a clear, ...evidence-based assessment of both scale and outcomes. As a Counsellor to One Young World, and through my work with the @WellbeingAfrica Foundation, I have long believed that youth
Today, on the International Day of Clean Energy, we are reminded that clean energy is essential to ...social infrastructure, including health facilities and schools, and that reliable power supports continuity, safety, and public trust. The @UN s’ call for a just and inclusive clean
As global leaders convene in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum @WEF Annual Meeting ...2026 under the theme A Spirit of Dialogue, the need for inclusive, cross-sector engagement on the defining challenges of our time has never been clearer.
As a @Bayer Sustainability
15 Macdonald Road,
Ikoyi, Lagos,
Nigeria
Toyin Saraki 2025. All Rights Reserved.
©️ Her Excellency Toyin Saraki Global Office & Philanthropy
The e-health check tool is available for free at https://covid19.wbfafrica.org/ and users can access real-time updates on how to stay connected, safe, and healthy during the pandemic on Instagram and Twitter @Wellbeing_PPMD, and @WellbeingPPMD on Facebook.
