The West African Academy of Public Health, a semi-autonomous department of the West African Institute of Public Health (WAIPH), has named AFDB’s President, Akinwumi Adeshina, and three other eminent people as winners of its 2020 Distinguished Fellowship Award.
The announcement was made by the African Development Bank through its verified Twitter handle, as seen by Nairametrics.
The three other winners alongside Adeshina are; Tedros Ghebreyesus of the World Health Organization; Leith Greenslade of JustActions; and Winnie Byanyima of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.
The four outstanding leaders were recognized for their unique style of impactful leadership which motivates emerging young leaders in the field of public health to strive to make a difference in their work.
In addition, Nairametrics gathered that Akinwumi Adeshina was specifically recognized for his efforts in involving the AFDB to provide the financial buffers to the African Union to help curb Africa’s COVID-19 pandemic.
What they are saying
A verified Tweet by AFDB reads:
- “Congrats are in order! #AfDB President @Akinwumi_Adesina has won a 2020 Distinguished Fellowship Award from @TheWaaph, along w/ @WHO DG @DrTedros ; @Winnie_Byanyima of the @UN & Leith Greenslade of @JustACTIONS for their inspiring leadership!”
Accepting the award, Mr. Adesina said:
- “I am greatly honoured to be selected to receive the Distinguished Fellowship of the West African Academy of Public Health together with Dr. Tedros, Winnie Byanyima, and Leith Greenslade! Africa and the rest of the world will overcome this pandemic against all odds.”
What you should know
- The West African Academy of Public Health was founded in 2015 with a motive to improve public health practice in the West African sub-region as a semi-autonomous department of the West African Institute of Public Health. It is a private outfit with presence in Nigeria and Ghana, and thematic focus in Research, Training and Implementation of programmes.
- The Distinguished Fellowship Award is the highest fellowship rank in the “Roll of Fellows’’ of the Academy, extolling the Roll of Fellows for their exceptional leadership and service to humanity in making a difference in the lives of people and inspiring young leaders to also excel in their public health work.