Sterling One Foundation Honors Today’s Woman Magazine NG & Other Partners at Exclusive Dinner
Sterling One Foundation‘s partners and Health Workers Fund board members gathered for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This meeting was an exclusive dinner that took place at the prestigious Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos to celebrate their amazing journey so far. The aim was to appreciate the board members and partners of the Health Workers Fund, a financial intervention initiative dedicated to supporting the workforce assigned to help, treat and protect citizens during the pandemic.
Among the many corporate partners who were appreciated was Today’s Woman Magazine led by veteran broadcaster, Adesuwa Onyenokwe. The magazine’s huge involvement in the Health Workers Fund is a testament to its unwavering commitment to changing not just women’s lives but society as a whole. For the past 26 years since its inception, it has towed this path judiciously.
Other partners who were honoured include Hygiea HMO, Cerebre Digital, TRACE TV, Ventures Africa, Netcore Solutions and Sterling Bank. Board members of the Health Workers Fund also honoured at the event include Dr. Olaokun Soyinka (Chairman of the board); Mr. Obinnia Abajue (MD Hygeia HMO); Dr. Halimah Sanda (Founder/CEO, Romeo & Zainab Boudib Foundation), Mr. Obinna Ukachukwu (Divisional Head, Health and Education, Sterling Bank); Dr Victoria Egunjobi (Deputy Director, Lagos State Ministry of Health); Mr. Daniel Ikuenobe (former Chairman, Economic Management team, Edo State); Princess Toyin Adegbite-Moore (Executive Director, West Africa at African Venture Philanthropy Alliance) and Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe (CEO, Sterling One Foundation). Technical advisers to the board are Dr. Babayemi Osinaike (Head of Accidents and Emergencies, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)) and Mr. Abubakar Suleiman (Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sterling Bank).
In his address, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka thanked other board members for their sacrifice. He also appreciated the Foundation for putting the event together to not only allow board members to meet each other physically but also appreciate each other’s efforts on the task.
In her remark, Olapeju Ibekwe commended the management of Pulse Nigeria for their contribution and partnership at the peak of the pandemic. She noted that the often nameless and faceless frontline health workers were the real heroes who literally sacrificed themselves to keep Nigerians safe. Mrs Ibekwe also added that the project partners were also COVID-19 heroes who stood to be counted in defence of the warriors at a critical time of need, noting that 154 health workers benefited from the Fund from across the nation’s geo-political zones. Later she reiterated the Foundation’s commitment to continue collaborating and partnering with stakeholders in furtherance of achieving the sustainable development goals.
Partners and members of the board expressed their excitement, not just about their contributions, but also what the future holds in terms of other projects in healthcare. They all pledged to continue being a part of this change that the Sterling One Foundation had initiated.
Some of the beneficiaries of the Fund communicated their surprise that they did not believe that the fund was real at the beginning. They expressed their profound appreciation to the Fund’s donors, partners, and board members. A short but highly emotional documentary titled ‘On The Battlefront’ was shared at the event, where one of the beneficiaries, Dr. Adeife Adetola who was part of the core COVID-19 response team in Lagos narrated her journey of fear, bravery, mental instability, and loneliness in giving service to people she did not know before.
Esteemed guests who graced the occasion were the General Manager, Lagos State Health Management Agency, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba; Education and Cultural Affairs Specialist, United States Consulate, Mr. Clemson Ayegbusi; Chairman, International Facilities Services, Dr. Tunde Ayeye; President, Directors Guild of Nigeria, Dr. Victor Okhai; Technical Assistant to the Honorable Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr. Olamide Okulaja; CEO, The Dutch Nigerian American, Michigan, Mr. Ned Andree; Partner, ABFR & CO. Mrs. Morenike Nedum; Head, Research, Sarpong Capital Limited, Ms. Yomi Adebayo among others.
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TW Magazine is a Media Partner with the Sterling One Foundation
