Nigerian Advocate Elected To UN Civil Society Health Committee

Adegboye, who is Chair of the Health Team of DoTheDream Youth Development Initiative, was elected during proceedings held in New York on the margins of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday, she said her election represented an extension of years of work in health advocacy, community development, women’s empowerment and youth development.

“Leadership has never been about waiting for permission,” Adegboye said, adding that she believes in identifying opportunities to contribute while creating spaces for others to participate and grow.

She said her new role would provide an opportunity to bring experiences from community and professional engagements in Abuja into wider discussions on health, development, women’s leadership and sustainability.

According to her, issues discussed at international platforms are often reflected in the daily experiences of communities, making it important for global discussions to remain connected to local realities.

Adegboye is also an executive member of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), FCT, and has been involved in health and environmental initiatives, including the association’s 50th anniversary Legacy Tree Planting project.

She is the founder of The ReTAIE Academy, which focuses on personal development, leadership and purposeful living, and also serves as Chairman of the Women’s International Green Summit and Exhibition (WIGSE-27).

Adegboye said her participation in Women in Global Health programmes, including the Intersectionality Course and the Speakers Bureau and Global Health Advocates training, had influenced her approach to leadership and advocacy.

She said the experience informed what she described as the “PRISA leadership framework”, built around Power, Room, Intersectionality and Inclusivity, Speak and Advocacy.

She explained that power should be treated as a responsibility rather than an instrument of control, while women should seek opportunities to participate in decision-making and also create room for others.

On advocacy, she said efforts to influence policies and improve people’s lives should begin from the home and workplace and extend to communities, states, countries and international institutions.

Adegboye said her new responsibility would not take her away from grassroots engagement but would provide a broader platform to ensure that community experiences and voices are reflected in international conversations.

She expressed appreciation to the leadership and members of DoTheDream Youth Development Initiative, particularly its Executive Director, Mr Adebusuyi Olutayo Olumadewa, for their support throughout her journey.