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Toyin Saraki and Wellbeing Foundation Africa host High-Level Private Sector Roundtable with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)


On Monday in Lagos the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, led by its Founder-President Toyin Ojora Saraki, hosted a High-Level Breakfast Roundtable in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Mrs Saraki convened the roundtable as a member of the International Steering Committee for the Nairobi Summit on the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) 25 which will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 12th-14th November 2019.

A series of significant commitments were secured at the roundtable to assist the ICPD mission to end preventable maternal deaths, unmet need for family planning and gender-based violence. It is a major step in advance of the Nairobi Summit, which will bring together heads of state and ministers, parliamentarians, civil society organizations, representatives of the private sector, and thousands of others committed to the pursuit of reproductive health and rights – 25 years on from the promises made by 179 governments in Cairo in 1994 at the landmark International Conference on Population and Development.

H.E. Mrs Toyin Ojora Saraki, WBFA Founder-President, welcomed the commitments made: “I am delighted that the private sector in Nigeria will step up to help us urgently act to transform health outcomes for women, children and communities. Together we can create a new world: one in which no woman or girl dies from preventable complications in pregnancy or childbirth, and where no woman has to give birth without the help of a midwife, nurse or doctor. A world where no one is subjected to violence because of their gender, where no girl is forced to marry, where no girl or woman is subjected to female genital mutilation or other harmful practices. Thank you to the UNFPA for their partnership and to our private sector partners for their commitments. Now we must make that world a reality.”

A series of significant commitments were secured at the roundtable to assist the ICPD mission to end preventable maternal deaths, unmet need for family planning and gender-based violence. It is a major step in advance of the Nairobi Summit, which will bring together heads of state and ministers, parliamentarians, civil society organizations, representatives of the private sector, and thousands of others committed to the pursuit of reproductive health and rights – 25 years on from the promises made by 179 governments in Cairo in 1994 at the landmark International Conference on Population and Development.

 

In his comments, Mr Jesper Kamp, the Ambassador of the Embassy of Denmark, stated: "Denmark is proud to host the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 together with the Government of Kenya and UNFPA. The 25th anniversary of 179 States' adoption of the ICPD Programme of Action is an important occasion to reaffirm global and national commitments to continue the efforts to ensure rights and choices for all, especially women and girls' rights to decide over their own body and if, when, with whom, and how many children they want."

In her comments, Ms. Mariarosa Cutillo, Chief, Strategic Partnerships Branch for UNFPA, stated: "We are just two weeks away from the Nairobi Summit, and the event of today is sending a vibrant message of commitment and concrete actions from Nigeria to finish the unfinished business for women and girls, because the 2030 deadline is a deadline we can't miss. Today's event concretely shows this is possible.”

Mrs Titi Goncalves, Permanent Secretary for Health, Lagos State, commented:

“The Lagos State Government under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has established a firm private sector participatory platform - more organisations should emulate the Wellbeing Foundation Africa which works widely throughout Lagos State to improve women children's and adolescent health outcomes.”

 

Mr Dashe Dasogot, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at the UNFPA in Nigeria, stated:

“UNFPA Nigeria regards the Wellbeing Foundation Nigeria as a strong implementing partner in the scale up of Mamacare-Nutrition Initiative bringing midwifery-led reproductive health services and information to 11,000 women in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.”

Further attendees at the roundtable included H.E. Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, First Lady of Ogun State; Mr. Adebola Williams, CEO Red Media; Dr Titi Gonzales, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Lagos State; Amaka Onyemelukwe, Manager Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability at The Coca-Cola Company; Mrs. Kemi Ibru, CEO Women at Risk International Foundation; Mrs Joke Bakare, CEO MedPlus Pharmacy; Harriet Thompson, Deputy British High Commissioner in Nigeria;  Adekanla Adegoke, Head, Oando Foundation; Bola Tinubu, Founder of the Cece Yara Child Advocacy Centre; Busola Dakolo, Founder, Skills Kitchen; Dr George Uduku, Commercial Leader, Health Systems, West Africa, Philips Africa; Chienye Ogwo, CEO, Africa Initiative for Governance; Soromidayo George, Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Business Director, Ghana/Nigeria, Unilever; Dr. Ibironke Dada, Director of Quality, PharmAccess Foundation; Pearl Uzokwe, Director, Sahara Group, Mrs Ego Boyo, Ace Nollywood Actress and Movie Producer; Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Senior Pastor House on the Rock Churches; Mr. Segun Awosanya, Online Media Influencer and Founder, Social Intervention Advocacy Foundation; Eko Abudu, Educationist and President International Women Society; Mrs Amy Oyekunle, CEO of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa; and Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, Head of Sustainability, Access Bank PLC. The event was hosted by award-winning Nigerian actress Kemi "Lala" Akindoju.

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