The WHO Foundation has announced the appointment of Mrs. Toyin Ojora Saraki as WHO Foundation Ambassador for Global Health. According to the organization in a statement, Mrs. Saraki, a former first Lady of Kwara State is a highly esteemed global advocate with decades of work dedicated to women’ and children’s health and empowerment, ending gender-based violence, and improving lives in sub-Saharan Africa.

Chief Executive Officer, WHO Foundation, Anil Soni applauded Mrs Saraki’s tireless commitment to improving global health through her advocacy work.

In his statement, “I am deeply honoured to have Toyin serve the WHO Foundation as our first Ambassador for Global Health.

“Her energy and deep commitment to educating, advocating and fundraising on behalf of WHO Foundation’s mission will make a critical difference to global health initiatives. Her Ambassadorship will enable us to power the vital work of WHO through the Triple Billion goals for a fairer and more equitable world,” Soni said.

Mrs Saraki, responding to the appointment said: “I am delighted to become the inaugural WHO Foundation Ambassador for Global Health. The WHO Foundation is a force for good in the global health ecosystem and is driving catalytic change to overcome today’s most pressing global health challenges. I look forward to working with the Foundation to propel one of the world’s most influential global health initiatives forward.”

Mrs. Saraki, who is the Founder-President of The Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), is a Nigerian 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 leads Nigeria CSO’s Primary Health Care Revitalisation Support Coalition, served as the Inaugural Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) 2014-2020, is a Johns Hopkins Women Advocates For Vaccine Access Champion, and is

Special Adviser to the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) of the World Health Organisation’s(WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO). She was named by Devex as Universal Health Coverage Global Champion, Save the Children Newborn Health Champion for Nigeria; and is a Global Champion for the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood.