Nigeria has secured representation in the leadership of a global civil society platform with the election of Dr. Oluwayemisi Deborah Adegboye as secretary of the NGO Committee on Global Health Systems, a substantive committee of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organisations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO).
Adegboye’s election, held in New York on the margins of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, extends her work in health advocacy, women’s leadership, community development and environmental sustainability from Abuja to an international platform.
Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Adegboye said the new responsibility was a continuation of her years of professional, civic and community service.
‘Leadership has never been about waiting for permission,’ she said, explaining that she believes in identifying opportunities to contribute while creating spaces for others to participate and grow.
Adegboye is chair of the Health Team of DoTheDream Youth Development Initiative and an executive member of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, FCT, where she has been involved in health and environmental initiatives, including the association’s 50th anniversary Legacy Tree Planting project.
She is also founder of The ReTAIE Academy, an initiative focused on personal development, leadership and purposeful living, and serves as Health Mandate Team Lead at Lighthouse International Churches, Shabak Centre, Abuja.
Her environmental interests extend to her role as chairman of the Women’s International Green Summit and Exhibition (WIGSE-27), where she contributes to discussions on green innovation and climate action.
Adegboye said her experiences across the different platforms had reinforced her view that effective leadership requires service, accountability and a willingness to create opportunities for others.
She identified her participation in Women in Global Health programmes, including the Intersectionality Course, Speakers Bureau and Global Health Advocates training, as an important influence on her approach to leadership and advocacy.
The experience informed what she describes as the ‘PRISA leadership framework’ – Power, Room, Intersectionality and Inclusivity, Speak and Advocacy.
Under the framework, Adegboye said leadership positions should be treated as a responsibility rather than an instrument of control, with influence used to amplify the voices of people who may not ordinarily have access to decision-making spaces.
She encouraged women to actively pursue leadership opportunities while creating room for others to participate and grow, linking the principle to her work through The ReTAIE Academy in promoting personal and leadership development.
She said the Intersectionality and Inclusivity components had also taught her to look beyond single-issue approaches and recognise the different circumstances that shape people’s experiences.
Adegboye said her new role with CoNGO would enable her to bring her professional and community experiences into wider discussions on global health, development, women’s leadership and sustainability.
She stressed the importance of ensuring that local experiences inform international development discussions, noting that global policy issues often have direct implications for communities.
Adegboye said her move to the international platform would complement, rather than replace, her grassroots engagement and provide an avenue for community perspectives to feature in broader health and development conversations.