Nigeria's Ex-President Joins Fight for Child Health

A powerful new voice just joined the fight for Nigeria's 100 million children.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo welcomed leaders from the Paediatric Association of Nigeria to his home in Abeokuta on Monday with a promise that moved them. He agreed without hesitation to become a national advocate for children's health and wellbeing.

Dr. Ekanem Ekure, president of the association, made the appeal directly. She told Obasanjo that more than half of Nigeria's population are children and adolescents, representing an enormous national asset that's being threatened by preventable diseases, malnutrition, and violations of their basic rights.

The former president understood the weight of what she was asking. He told the pediatricians that their profession deals with life and death, requiring not just medical expertise but deep empathy for patients too young to always explain what hurts.

Obasanjo shared a personal perspective that revealed why he said yes so quickly. Although his own children are now adults with children and grandchildren of their own, he said his responsibility to children will never end. "I will never stop having children because when I stop, my children will not stop, when my children stop, my grandchildren will not stop," he explained.

The pediatricians chose Obasanjo strategically. Dr. Ekure noted that his unique position as an elder statesman and former president gives his voice special power. When he speaks, government officials and the public listen.

The Ripple Effect

This partnership could transform how Nigeria addresses child health. Pediatricians work on the front lines every day, but they often lack the platform to influence national policy. Obasanjo's advocacy could amplify their voices where it matters most.

The timing matters too. Nigeria faces serious challenges in child health, with preventable diseases still claiming young lives. Having a respected former leader championing these issues could accelerate solutions and direct resources where they're desperately needed.

Obasanjo promised the pediatricians more than just his name. He committed to staying compassionate and engaged in their advocacy efforts, bringing his decades of leadership experience to their cause.

For millions of Nigerian families struggling to keep their children healthy, this alliance between medical expertise and political influence offers genuine hope for change.