Oluremi Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment to Girls’ Health and Education at MERCK Foundation Summit

Oluremi Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment to Girls’ Health and Education at MERCK Foundation Summit

Dubai, UAE – June 18, 2025 – Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed her commitment to advancing the health and education of women and girls in Nigeria, emphasizing the critical link between female education and national well-being.

She made this known while participating in the 7th MERCK Foundation First Ladies Initiative (FLI) Summit held in Dubai, which also marked the Foundation’s 13th anniversary. The high-level event brought together First Ladies from 13 other nations, all united in their shared goal of promoting healthcare and gender empowerment in Africa and beyond.

Senator Tinubu underscored the importance of increasing access for Nigerian girls to healthcare-related academic programs, noting that doing so would contribute significantly to improving the country’s healthcare system.

“I am committed to expanding this highly beneficial program through my Office and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare,” she stated. “By empowering more Nigerian doctors, we can strengthen public healthcare and improve the overall well-being of our people.”

Drawing on her experience as an educator, Senator Tinubu highlighted the work of the Renewed Hope Initiative, which she leads, in supporting girl-child education and youth empowerment.

She also lauded the MERCK Foundation’s impact over the past 13 years, particularly its provision of scholarships to doctors and medical professionals across Africa and Asia.

“Dr. Kelej informed me that many of these trained doctors will be able to establish specialized clinics within their local health centers. This means they can deliver critical care, helping to prevent and manage chronic conditions right in their communities,” she said.

Other First Ladies in attendance—including those from Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Liberia, Angola, Senegal, and Cape Verde—echoed similar sentiments, praising the MERCK Foundation for its dedication to education, healthcare, and the empowerment of African women.

Chairman of the MERCK Foundation, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, reiterated the organization’s mission to ensure every individual, particularly young girls, has the opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilled life.

“Girls’ education is not a luxury,” he said. “We must end the discrimination that continues to limit their potential.”

CEO of the Foundation, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, stressed the MERCK Foundation’s continued commitment to bolstering the continent’s healthcare workforce and advancing girl-child education.

So far, the Foundation has awarded scholarships to 2,270 medical practitioners from 52 countries in 44 key health specialties. Through its Educating Linda program, it has also provided full scholarships to 956 girls across Africa, in addition to running community awareness campaigns targeting infertility stigma, gender-based violence, diabetes, and hypertension.

The summit aimed to deepen collaboration with African countries through the leadership of their First Ladies, as the Foundation continues its mission to transform health and education outcomes across the continent.