H.E. Mrs Toyin Ojora Saraki Recognised as One Young World Counsellor.

For Immediate Release – 12 August 2025

Today, on United Nations International Youth Day, the global community reflects on the indispensable role of young people in driving the Sustainable Development Goals through innovative, community-led solutions. Exemplifying this commitment, Her Excellency Mrs Toyin Ojora Saraki, President and Founder of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA) and Counsellor of One Young World (OYW), joins an eminent cohort of global leaders, including Terry Crews, Adwoa Aboah, Kat Graham, Maria Ressa, Tawakkol Karman, François Pienaar, Tendai Mtawarira, Kimberly Teehee, and Mark Tewksbury, who will gather at the One Young World Summit Munich 2025 to inspire, mentor, and mobilise the next generation of change-makers, bridging grassroots innovation with global influence.

One Young World, recognised as the foremost global forum for young leaders driving transformative social change, serves as a catalyst for strategic youth engagement, cross-sector collaboration, and the amplification of solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. In her role as Counsellor, H.E. Mrs Saraki contributes to this mission by offering strategic mentorship, connecting emerging leaders to international networks, and enabling youth-led innovations to influence both national policy and global development frameworks.

At the One Young World Summit Montréal/Tiohtià:ke in 2024, H.E. Mrs Saraki, in collaboration with WBFA’s long-standing social impact partner Reckitt, launched Project Oscar – Light for Life alongside youth and disability advocate Oscar Anderson MBE. Inspired by Anderson’s lived experience, the programme delivers neonatal jaundice screening, treatment, and kernicterus prevention training to healthcare workers across Nigeria, an initiative which demonstrates how, when supported, youth leadership and cross-sector collaboration can create life-saving health solutions.

This commitment to bridging global vision with local action is reflected in WBFA’s integrated programming, which includes school-based PSHE-WASH curricula that strengthen health literacy and hygiene practices, adolescent health initiatives that promote wellbeing and gender equity, and grassroots advocacy that ensures young voices are not just heard but actively shape policy and practice. From local classrooms to the global stage, WBFA equips youth with the knowledge, skills, and agency to lead meaningful change in their communities and beyond.

“With over 65% of SDG targets tied to local governance, meaningful youth participation is essential,” said H.E. Mrs Saraki. “Young people are indispensable partners in bridging the gap between policy and practice. As a Counsellor of One Young World, I am committed to working alongside governments, civil society, the private sector, and development partners to equip youth with the resources, opportunities, and platforms they need to drive transformative progress.”

This International Youth Day, WBFA reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that youth voices remain integral to the sustainable development agenda, aligning grassroots action with high-level policy to achieve measurable outcomes and long-term impact.

Related: See the full list of One Young World Counsellors attending the Munich 2025 Summit.

Media Contact:
Zelia Bukhari – zelia.bukhari@wbfafrica.org