Distinguished Champions, Partners, and Global Health Advocates,

It is with great honour that I address you today as a Champion of the Global Alliance for Women’s Health, hosted by the World Economic Forum. I am proud to bring forth the lived frontline experience of Nigeria and the Wellbeing Foundation Africa to this critical Champions Dialogue, held during the seventy-eighth World Health Assembly.

We gather at a defining moment, one that calls for a revitalised narrative for women’s health that places the wellbeing of women not on the margins of health policy but at its very centre. For far too long, the health of women has been undervalued and underfunded, despite overwhelming evidence that investing in women’s health, especially in areas such as maternal, newborn, and child health, unlocks far-reaching gains for economies, health systems, and future generations.

As the Founder of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, I have witnessed firsthand the multiplier effect of healthy women in communities. Nigeria, a country that I am proud to represent, has taken a lead role in transforming maternal health outcomes through the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiative, MAMII. This bold national framework aligns closely with the Global Activators Network, which I have actively contributed to through strategy and implementation.

In March, I had the privilege of delivering a keynote commitment at the Global Activators Network on Maternal Health Workshop in Abuja, which welcomed the World Economic Forum in collaboration with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. This landmark engagement reinforced Nigeria’s position as the first country to officially join the Network, marking a historic step toward addressing maternal mortality through collective, cross-sector action.

In that same spirit of collective action, the Midwifery Training Focus Group and the Maternal Health Supplies Working Sessions, which my Wellbeing Foundation Africa has actively contributed to, particularly in sharing learnings, are vital platforms for implementation progress. Our discussion on national integration pathways for midwifery training, partnered with WHO, UNFPA, Maternity Foundation and others, demonstrates our shared resolve to equip health workers with modern tools and continuous learning. Equally, our dialogue on quality-assured maternal health supplies spotlights urgent innovations like biomarker diagnostics for preeclampsia and strategies to build a resilient supply chain.

These efforts are not isolated; they are components of a systems-based, data-driven, and equity-focused approach to safeguarding the lives of mothers and newborns. From the WBFA Mamacare360 Antental and Postnatal Education to NICUPlus lactation support, from WASH access to clean facility births, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa integrates community-based trust with policy-level transformation, ensuring that women are not left behind.

As Champions, let us unite to ensure that the new narrative we shape is rooted in evidence, equity, and economic foresight. Women’s health must no longer be seen as a siloed concern but as a foundational pillar of resilient health systems, thriving societies, and sustainable futures. Let us future-proof this vision through smarter science, stronger economies, and safer generations to come.

Because it should never cost a woman her life to give life.

Thank you.

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.

Building Trust for a Healthier World

As the World Health Summit 2024 convenes in Berlin, an international platform for global health, setting the agenda for a healthier future and wellbeing for all, I was pleased to virtually engage and provide a keynote goodwill at the World Health Summit 2024 Pre-Conference Partners Symposium on Self-Care, organised by the World Health Organization Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, in collaboration with the Global Self-Care Federation.

Amplifying the Joint Statement on Self-Care Interventions for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights to Advance Universal Health Coverage, endorsed by the UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, the Symposium aimed to develop a global action plan to operationalise actions to help guide academic researchers, industry, health policy and decision-makers, and funders, as they design and fund health systems and people-centered activities to influence self-care policies and practices.

The success of self-care interventions relies heavily on a well-trained health workforce that can support these initiatives with competency-based education. The Wellbeing Foundation Africa midwives, nurses, and other frontline health personnel play a pivotal role in promoting trust in self-care and ensuring that individuals have the knowledge and confidence to use these tools effectively.

This will serve to move the world closer to achieving the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals targets, including Universal Health Cover, in line with the WHO’s thirteenth and fourteenth General Programmes of Work (GPW-13 and GPW-14), as supported by the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, and together through strategic investment, policy innovation, and collaborative action, we can accelerate progress toward a world where health and wellbeing are within reach for all.

 

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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 and newborn health and a site of personal significance, today offers a meaningful opportunity to evaluate sectoral gains, examine systemic challenges, and reaffirm shared commitments to improving outcomes for women and children in Nigeria.

Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, historically and affectionately known to many as the “Baby Factory,” has operated as a central facility within Nigeria’s maternal healthcare infrastructure since its formal commissioning in July 1960. The foundation stone, laid by the Duchess of Gloucester in May 1959, and the subsequent inauguration by Lady Robertson, marked a critical investment in post-independence public health development. Over the past six decades, the hospital has served as a specialist referral centre and clinical training facility, delivering thousands of births annually and producing generations of quality health professionals in obstetrics and gynaecology.

The hospital’s structured adoption of emergency obstetric protocols has yielded measurable outcomes, with maternal mortality declining from 93 documented deaths in 2013 to 38 in 2023, an achievement which highlights the effectiveness of local leadership, clinical protocol enforcement, and alignment with internationally recognised standards, and exemplifies the viability of targeted investment and sustained adherence to quality-of-care frameworks within maternal health systems.

This pursuit of excellence resonates with the mission of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, which I founded in 2004, inspired by personal experience and a vision for national change. After a traumatic birth experience in 1991 that resulted in the loss of one of my premature twins, I resolved to ensure that no woman should ever have to suffer preventable loss during childbirth. Today, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa works across Nigeria to deliver antenatal and postnatal education, support healthcare worker training, particularly in EmONC and Advanced Obstetric Surgical Skills, improve water, sanitation and hygiene practices, and elevate maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health through evidence-based programmes and strategic advocacy.

Our flagship MamaCare360 programme, operational in seven states across public health facilities, including Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, has delivered structured antenatal and postnatal classes to more than 1,000,000 pregnant and nursing mothers. The curriculum, led by WBFA professional, globally trained midwives and aligned with World Health Organization guidelines, addresses maternal nutrition, infection prevention, respectful care, newborn health, and family planning, among other key areas. The programme has contributed to improved health-seeking behaviour and increased uptake of skilled birth attendance.

To ensure continuity of care beyond facility walls, the Foundation administers digital midwifery support groups via WhatsApp, connecting over 9,000 women, including LIMH mothers, to real-time health guidance. The Wellbeing Foundation Africa has also implemented its specialised NICU Plus programme at Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, an extension of the MamaCare360 initiative designed to support mothers with newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Through structured sessions led by our WBFA  midwives and nurses, NICU Plus provides targeted education on lactation, kangaroo care, and neonatal health, with a focus on improving outcomes for premature and medically vulnerable infants. The programme includes the provision of essential equipment, such as breast pumps, to enable sustained breastfeeding and mother–baby bonding during critical care. This intervention reflects WBFA’s commitment to continuum-of-care models that extend beyond delivery, addressing the complex needs of both mothers and newborns in intensive care settings. The presence of NICU Plus within LIMH further demonstrates the value of public–NGO collaboration in advancing maternal and newborn health outcomes at the tertiary care level.

Complementing the continuum-of-care framework, Lagos Island Maternity Hospital is also a designated site of Wellbeing Foundation Africa’s Project Oscar – Light for Life, supported by our social impact partners Reckitt and targeting the early detection and treatment of neonatal jaundice and hyperbilirubinemia. In alignment with WHO and AAP clinical guidelines, the Foundation has donated advanced phototherapy units and BiliDx transcutaneous bilirubinometers to LIMH, enhancing frontline capacity to diagnose and manage neonatal jaundice with accuracy and immediacy. These technologies enable point-of-care bilirubin assessment and evidence-based phototherapy initiation, reducing the risk of kernicterus and long-term neurological impairment in affected neonates. By equipping facilities with essential diagnostic and therapeutic tools, Project Oscar – Light for Life highlights the importance of neonatal-specific innovations in reducing preventable newborn morbidity and mortality in Nigeria.

In parallel, a technical partnership between the Wellbeing Foundation Africa and GE Healthcare has facilitated the deployment and training of midwives in the use of portable ultrasound devices at Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, equipping frontline providers with critical diagnostic tools for antenatal care. This initiative has strengthened the hospital’s capacity to detect complications such as multiple pregnancies, breech presentations, and placental abnormalities at earlier stages, thereby enabling timely clinical decision-making and more effective birth preparedness. By decentralising access to essential diagnostic technology and integrating it into midwifery-led care, the programme has contributed to improved maternal and fetal outcomes, while reinforcing the role of midwives as essential providers of comprehensive, evidence-based care within public health facilities.

Effective maternal and newborn health systems require concurrent action at both the community and policy levels. In my capacity as WHO Africa Regional Special Advisor and as Inaugural Global Health Ambassador for the WHO Foundation, I continue to advocate for domestic health financing aligned with the Abuja Declaration, including a minimum 15% budget allocation to health. This must translate to the availability of emergency obstetric services, the deployment and retention of skilled personnel, and the elimination of financial barriers to access.

Nigeria continues to report one of the highest global burdens of maternal mortality, with an estimated 75,000 maternal deaths annually. One in eight children does not survive to their fifth birthday. These outcomes reflect structural gaps in financing, human resources, and service delivery. However, documented improvements in facilities such as Lagos Island Maternity Hospital provide replicable models for scale.

Available evidence confirms that investment in health education, human resource capacity, and referral systems improves maternal and neonatal outcomes. Lagos Island Maternity Hospital offers a demonstrable case of progress resulting from institutional commitment, professional development, and community engagement.

The 65th anniversary of this hospital presents a moment to consolidate gains and accelerate reforms. A transition from survival-focused care to resilient, equitable, and rights-based health systems must guide future action. The right to safe childbirth and dignified maternal care must be institutionalised.

I acknowledge the sustained contributions of the hospital’s midwives, nurses, doctors, and administrative personnel. Their collective service has enabled institutional continuity and improved patient outcomes. I also recognise the strategic engagement of stakeholders gathered here today in the broader mission to advance maternal and child health in Nigeria.

Thank you.

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 you today, honoured to join this distinguished Network of Friends of FLAC. I recognise this invitation as an opportunity to lend my voice as President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, to this noble mission, transforming cancer care in Nigeria from a story of neglect into a legacy of equity, survival, and hope.

Allow me to begin by expressing profound respect for the leadership of the First Ladies Against Cancer Initiative. This coalition, composed of current and former First Ladies of our great nation, represents the very best of public service, convening not for ceremony, but for strategic, compassionate action. Your steadfast advocacy for cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and survivorship has brought clarity to a challenge too often overlooked, and visibility to those most vulnerable.

In the same breath, I wish to recognise and commend our valued partner today, Roche, for its longstanding commitment to oncology innovation, equity, and public-private collaboration in Africa. At the margins of the 78th United Nations General Assembly, I had the honour of joining a pivotal roundtable convened by the Business Council for International Understanding in partnership with Roche, focused on combating breast cancer through investment in noncommunicable diseases within the broader framework of Universal Health Coverage. Our discussions with Roche, the International Finance Corporation, and the World Bank Group highlighted the urgency of reimagining breast cancer care as a credible and measurable entry point for NCD integration, and of strengthening health worker training, financing strategies, and access to screening and treatment across Africa.

Roche’s partnership in these dialogues reflects the essential role that responsible private sector actors must play in building equitable health systems. According to the most recent GLOBOCAN data published in 2024, Nigeria recorded over 134,000 new cancer cases last year, and nearly 89,000 cancer-related deaths. Breast and cervical cancers remain the leading causes of cancer mortality among women, while childhood cancers and prostate cancer contribute significantly to the burden. Tragically, in Africa today, one in two women diagnosed with breast cancer will not survive beyond five years. These are not distant abstractions, they are Nigerian mothers, daughters, sisters, and children.

It is for this reason that the Wellbeing Foundation Africa continues to pursue a data-driven approach to cancer advocacy. In 2018, in partnership with Amref Health Africa and with support from Takeda Oncology, we conducted Nigeria’s first independent Rapid Assessment of Cancer Prevention and Control. This study remains essential in understanding the national landscape of oncology. We revealed critical gaps, a severe shortage of trained health personnel, a notable absence of specialists in rural areas, poor coordination of drug supply chains, and inadequate diagnostic and treatment infrastructure. These structural deficiencies not only compromise care, they cost lives.
Yet that report also catalysed progress. It informed Nigeria’s revised National Cancer Control Plan and has helped guide national and subnational strategies to strengthen health workforce training, expand cancer registries, and embed cancer screening into primary healthcare. The Wellbeing Foundation Africa has continued to act on this evidence by integrating breast and cervical cancer screening into our Mamacare360 midwifery-led community antenatal and postnatal programming, working to educate women about symptoms and self-examinations, and referring at-risk individuals into formal care pathways.

As the Wellbeing Foundation Africa advances the broader vision of Universal Health Coverage with a gender-responsive lens, one that centres women’s health as a priority entry point to system-wide resilience, we aim to improve the standard of care across Nigeria, with particular attention to breast cancer survival rates, which, when diagnosed and treated early, can reach 80 to 90 percent.

I believe that FLAC, through its strong leadership and national presence, is uniquely positioned to accelerate these gains. The Friends of FLAC network, of which I am proud to now be a part, as a Former First Lady of Kwara State 2003-2011, as a former Chair of Nigeria Governors Wives Association 2007-2011 and as a former Chair, Forum of Senators Spouses 2015 – 2019, will serve as an amplifier, helping to mobilise resources, strengthen patient support systems, and push for policy reform that makes cancer services accessible, affordable, and dignified. Our role is to support FLAC’s vision not just in word, but in deed, by embedding cancer advocacy into maternal health platforms, strengthening data systems, and holding ourselves accountable for measurable progress.

Excellencies, distinguished guests, I believe this is a moment of national awakening. The cancer burden in Nigeria is growing, but so is our collective ability to respond. As someone who has had the honour of serving as First Lady, I have seen how the convening power of that role, when wielded with intention, can bring voices together across divides and spark lasting change. With the leadership of First Ladies nationwide, investment from our partners, and the commitment of frontline institutions like the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, we can move from fragmented efforts to a unified, strategic response. We can normalise cancer screening through education and community engagement, we can scale up HPV vaccination for every eligible girl, we can expand coverage of care through national health insurance, and most importantly, we can build a health system rooted in knowledge, self-care, and dignity, one in which no Nigerian is left behind.

The fight against cancer is not only a medical imperative, it is a moral legacy. It reflects the value we place on each and every Nigerian life. Let history remember that this generation of leaders, nurturers, and nation-builders did not turn away. That we came together, as First Ladies, as policymakers, as civil society, and as global partners, to walk a path lit by courage, guided by evidence, and anchored in compassion.

Thank you. May our work together today build a legacy of survivorship, resilience, and restored hope for all.

Monday, 2nd June 2025 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM WAT
United Nations House, Diplomatic Drive, Abuja

Goodwill Message by Her Excellency, Mrs Toyin Ojora Saraki
Founder and President, The Wellbeing Foundation Africa

Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, colleagues in health and stakeholders in development, 

I am pleased to convey my goodwill and full support on the occasion of the formalisation of a transformative partnership agreement between the World Health Organization Nigeria Country Office and the TY Danjuma Foundation. This partnership reflects an important evolution in Nigeria’s approach to sustainable health financing and primary health care service delivery, and demonstrates the growing role of national philanthropy in advancing our collective health objectives.

As Founder-President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa and as the Inaugural Global Health Ambassador for the WHO Foundation, I welcome this agreement as a constructive outcome of our shared ambition to strengthen health systems by reinforcing domestic leadership and investment. Since assuming my role with the WHO Foundation in 2021, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa has worked to widen the engagement between the WHO Country Office and Nigeria’s philanthropic community, advocating for greater domestic resource mobilisation and providing a bridge between technical frameworks and local implementation capacity. 

The Wellbeing Foundation Africa’s frontline programming, policy engagement, and glocal advocacy are directly aligned with the goals this partnership seeks to advance and with the TY Danjuma Foundation mission of enhancing the quality of life of Nigerians by supporting initiatives that improve access to health and educational opportunities. With a longstanding focus on maternal, newborn, and child health, our interventions are rooted in community-level delivery, responsive to national systems, and guided by global standards. Across our work, we prioritise evidence-based approaches that strengthen primary health care, promote respectful maternity care, and improve health outcomes for women, infants, and families. These efforts are anchored in equity, informed by robust data, and executed in alignment with national strategies and WHO technical guidance, with the World Health Organization serving as the central normative authority and standard.

This new partnership between WHO Nigeria and the TY Danjuma Foundation is, therefore, timely and well-positioned. It offers a complementary approach to filling persistent financing gaps, particularly in PHC systems where underinvestment continues to limit impact. According to WHO’s Investment Round estimates, sub-Saharan Africa requires an additional US$20 billion annually to close the UHC financing gap. In Nigeria, where total government expenditure on health remains below 5 per cent, there is a growing consensus on the need for innovative domestic financing mechanisms. Increasing national health spending by just 1 per cent of GDP could prevent over 3 million deaths each year by 2030, and generate up to a 4 per cent gain in economic productivity.

By aligning philanthropic capital with public sector goals, this partnership strengthens national ownership of health outcomes and builds accountability for sustainable delivery. It also reinforces the WHO’s model of leveraging non-state actors to support health priorities, while maintaining coherence with the WHO’s normative and strategic leadership. Importantly, it demonstrates that health progress can be driven through deliberate cooperation among trusted actors with shared values and mutual commitments.

On behalf of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, I reaffirm our commitment to continuing to support the implementation of this partnership and other aligned initiatives. As Nigeria navigates complex health challenges, from maternal and child mortality to pandemic preparedness and health worker capacity, coordinated action remains essential. We look forward to working alongside both WHO and the TY Danjuma Foundation to ensure that the benefits of this collaboration are realised at scale, in service of equitable, quality health for all. 

I thank all those who have contributed to making this agreement possible, and wish the implementing teams every success in the period ahead.

Thank you.