Today, Her Excellency Toyin Saraki, Founder-President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, was announced as the newest member on Concordia’s Leadership Council. Joining a roster of global influences and leaders, Concordia commented:

"With over two decades in advocating for maternal, newborn, and child health across Africa, Mrs Saraki has dedicated her life to empowering communities through education and gender equality. Founded in 2004 in Nigeria, WBFA strives to improve health outcomes for women, infants, and children across Africa. Through a multi-faceted strategy consisting of research, programmes, policy, education, and advocacy, WBFA—along with its sister organization, Wellbeing for Women Africa—is facilitating tangible, lasting progress towards the attainment of the SDGs, with a particular focus on SDG 3, Good Health and Well-being; SDG 5, Gender Equality; and, SDG 6, Clean Water and Sanitation.”

Concordia welcomed Mrs Saraki as a Speaker at the launch of the 2019 Concordia Africa Initiative in London. In a conversation titled African-Led Philanthropy: Recasting the Aid-Dependent Narrative, Mrs Saraki shared her insight into the ways in which African philanthropists and corporate foundations can advance meaningful innovations to create social impact across the continent. Emphasizing the need to ensure the longevity of philanthropic projects, Mrs Saraki highlighted the critical role of community-level buy-in in cultivating a sense of ownership, responsibility, accountability, and—ultimately—sustainability.

“It was an honor to host Mrs Saraki at our inaugural Africa Initiative, where she demonstrated her unwavering commitment to the youth of Africa and shared her invaluable perspective on the role of innovative philanthropic models across the continent,” remarked Concordia Co-Founders Nicholas Logothetis and Matthew Swift. “It is with great pride that we welcome Mrs Saraki to our esteemed Leadership Council, and know that she will play an integral role in shaping our priorities, approach, and growth as we develop our Africa Initiative at the Annual Summit in New York this September and beyond.”

Upon accepting the invitation, Mrs Saraki commented: “I am honoured to join the Concordia Leadership Council, the leading organisation in fostering, elevating and sustaining cross-sector partnerships for social impact. I look forward to bringing my experience as a global advocate for inclusive health, education and economic strategies focused on improving the wellbeing and livelihoods of women, children and youth to the dialogue; I am hugely encouraged by the prospect of cascading the power and effect of the Council’s vision, mission and strategic leadership into frontline collaborations that transform the lives of my fellow Africans for the better.”

Mrs Saraki joins the Leadership Council alongside being global champion for Universal Health Coverage, Special Advisor to the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), and the inaugural Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation on Midwives (ICM).