Closing Keynote Address 

Honourable Leaders, Distinguished Guests, and Esteemed Colleagues, 

It is both a privilege and a profound responsibility to address you today at the culmination of this pivotal dialogue on advancing sustainable global health systems. Our discussions over the course of this entire summit have reaffirmed an urgent and inescapable truth: the health of humanity, the health of our planet, and the health of economies are deeply interconnected. We can no longer afford to address these challenges in isolation. The future of healthcare in Nigeria, across Sub-Saharan Africa, and around the world depends on our ability to build sustainable, equitable, and resilient health systems that are prepared to withstand the challenges of today and the uncertainties of tomorrow.

As we reflect on the commitments made here today, we must acknowledge that the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat, it is already having devastating effects on health outcomes across Africa. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and environmental degradation are driving the spread of infectious diseases such as malaria, cholera, and respiratory illnesses, while extreme weather events, from droughts in the Sahel to devastating floods in Nigeria, are displacing families, disrupting healthcare services, and pushing vulnerable communities further into poverty. These environmental challenges exacerbate existing maternal and child health disparities, leaving pregnant women and newborns at even greater risk.

At The Wellbeing Foundation Africa, we have seen first-hand how climate change is not just an environmental crisis, but a health crisis, one that disproportionately impacts women, children, and marginalised communities. Through our work on maternal, newborn, and child health, we have witnessed how poor air quality increases the risk of preterm births and respiratory conditions in newborns. We have seen how the displacement caused by floods and droughts disrupts access to essential prenatal and postnatal care, putting both mothers and babies at risk. And we have seen how food insecurity, driven by climate-induced agricultural losses, is leading to rising cases of malnutrition and stunted growth in young children across Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.

These are not abstract statistics, they are lived realities for millions of people in the communities we serve, and they are why today’s conversations on transitioning to sustainable healthcare systems are so critical. If we are to build a healthier and more equitable future for all, then we must take bold steps to integrate climate resilience into every aspect of our healthcare infrastructure, from the way we deliver care in rural communities to the way we design and power our hospitals.

The commitments we have heard today, from decarbonising healthcare supply chains to investing in climate-smart hospitals, are essential steps forward, but we must ensure that these commitments do not remain theoretical aspirations, but translate into real impact for the communities that need them most. For countries like Nigeria, where healthcare infrastructure is already under significant strain, we cannot afford to have sustainability seen as a luxury, it must be a necessity, embedded in the very foundation of how we design and deliver care.

This means taking practical, scalable actions to transition to more resilient and climate-smart health systems. First, we must invest in renewable energy for healthcare facilities. In Nigeria, where over 60% of healthcare facilities lack reliable electricity, the need for sustainable energy solutions is not just an environmental responsibility, it is a matter of life and death. Solar-powered clinics and hospitals offer a transformative solution, ensuring that life-saving medical care can be delivered without the constant threat of power outages. The Wellbeing Foundation Africa has long championed solarisation projects for maternal and child health centers, guaranteeing that pregnant women can access essential services without disruption. Expanding these efforts will strengthen healthcare delivery across rural and urban communities alike.

Second, we must strengthen community-based healthcare and preventative care. The future of sustainable healthcare in Africa cannot be hospital-centric. We must prioritise primary and preventative healthcare at the community level, ensuring that diseases are detected and treated early, rather than relying on costly emergency interventions. Nigeria’s success in reducing maternal and child mortality has been driven by the dedication of frontline health workers, midwives, and community-based programs like WBFA’s MamaCare360 Antenatal and Postnatal Classes initiative. This program provides expectant mothers with essential education and support throughout pregnancy and beyond. By integrating climate and environmental awareness into these programs, we can empower families with the knowledge and resources they need to protect their own health in the face of environmental challenges.

Third, we must reform healthcare supply chains to reduce waste and carbon emissions. Nigeria, as the largest economy in Africa, faces a paradox—despite its economic strength, its healthcare supply chains remain highly inefficient, with significant waste, emissions, and gaps in distribution. The transition to sustainable health systems must include investment in green procurement, localised production of essential medicines, and the reduction of single-use plastics and medical waste. If multinational pharmaceutical companies can commit to decarbonizing their supply chains, then we must ensure that this progress extends to African healthcare ecosystems, where inefficiencies contribute to both environmental and health burdens.

Finally, we must integrate climate resilience into medical training and education. The next generation of doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals must be equipped with the knowledge and tools to respond effectively to climate-related health challenges. Around the world, global universities are leading the way by embedding climate-conscious medical curricula into their programs. It is imperative that medical schools in Nigeria and across Africa follow suit, ensuring that climate resilience and sustainability are not treated as optional add-ons, but as core components of healthcare education. By preparing our future healthcare workforce with climate literacy and sustainability expertise, we ensure that they are ready to lead in building a health system that is adaptive, responsive, and prepared for the challenges ahead.

While these strategies represent a pathway forward, the real challenge lies in implementation, and this is where I urge each of us, governments, business leaders, healthcare professionals, and civil society organisations, to take bold and decisive action.

We must invest, not just pledge. Commitments must be backed by sustained financing, innovative funding mechanisms, and public-private partnerships that enable real, on-the-ground impact.

We must collaborate across sectors. No single institution or government can drive this transition alone. The private sector, the public sector, academia, and civil society must work together to accelerate the adoption of sustainable health policies and practices.

We must put equity at the heart of sustainability. A net-zero healthcare transition must not widen the gap between rich and poor nations. Climate-smart healthcare solutions must reach the most underserved and vulnerable communities first, not last.

And most importantly, we must hold ourselves accountable. The commitments made today must be tracked, measured, and evaluated. The success of our collective efforts will not be judged by words, but by lives saved, emissions reduced, and healthcare systems strengthened.

As we look ahead to 2030, the actions we take now will define the future of healthcare in Nigeria, across Africa, and beyond. If we succeed, we will build a healthcare system that is resilient, equitable, and sustainable, one that is prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century with strength and foresight. If we fail, we will see rising climate-driven health crises, deepening inequalities, and unnecessary loss of life.

I refuse to accept the latter outcome. The Wellbeing Foundation Africa remains steadfast in its mission to drive this transformation, from the frontlines of maternal and child health to the highest levels of global policy advocacy, but we cannot do it alone.

Let us ensure that today’s discussions do not end here. Let us go forward with a renewed commitment to action, to collaboration, and to a vision of healthcare that is truly sustainable, resilient, and just. Let today be remembered not just for the promises we made, but for the actions we take. The future of health in Nigeria and across Africa depends on it. Thank you.