Her Regal Majesty, Olori Ambassador (Dr.) Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi, wife of the Ooni of Ife, on Tuesday hosted a high-powered delegation of national and international malaria elimination partners at the Palace of the Ooni of Ife in Ile-Ife, reaffirming her commitment to advancing public health initiatives and supporting Nigeria’s quest for a malaria-free future.
The delegation comprised representatives of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, Global Fund, National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Society for Family Health (SFH), and the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), who are currently in Osun State to support and monitor the 2026 Mass Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN) Distribution Campaign.
The campaign, one of Nigeria's largest malaria prevention interventions, is expected to distribute more than 2.8 million insecticide-treated nets across Osun State this month, reaching millions of households and vulnerable populations.
Receiving the delegation at the palace, Olori Temitope emphasized the importance of collective action in addressing malaria and other public health challenges confronting communities across Africa.
"I am delighted to receive this distinguished delegation from the Society for Family Health and other partners working tirelessly under the Federal Ministry of Health's malaria elimination efforts," she said.
"As a Malaria Ambassador, I remain fully committed to advancing the fight against malaria, strengthening awareness, supporting prevention initiatives, and promoting healthier communities across Nigeria. Malaria remains one of the greatest public health challenges affecting our people, particularly women and children, and we must continue to unite our efforts to defeat it."
She further noted that meaningful progress can only be achieved through collaboration among governments, development partners, traditional institutions, healthcare professionals, and community stakeholders.
"The journey towards a malaria-free nation requires sustained commitment, innovation, and partnership. Together, we are driving change, saving lives, and creating healthier futures for generations yet unborn. I commend all the organizations represented here for their dedication and sacrifices in this noble cause."
Olori Temitope also highlighted the growing role of traditional institutions in health advocacy, stressing that royal platforms can serve as powerful vehicles for mobilizing communities and promoting life-saving interventions.
"Our royal institutions have always played important roles in societal development. Through advocacy, awareness creation, and community engagement, we can help bridge gaps between health programmes and the people they are designed to serve."
The visit further underscored the healthcare advocacy efforts championed by Olori Temitope alongside her husband, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, through the Hopes Alive Initiative for Africa (HAI), a humanitarian platform dedicated to improving lives through healthcare, education, youth empowerment, women-focused interventions, and sustainable community development.
Over the years, HAI has become a significant vehicle for promoting social impact and expanding access to critical services for underserved populations, reflecting the royal couple's commitment to using their influence to improve the well-being of communities across Nigeria and beyond.
Speaking during the engagement, Osun State Malaria Elimination Programme Manager, Dr. Olufemi Oroge, noted that the visiting partners were in the state to support and monitor the ongoing 2026 ITN distribution campaign.
According to him, the campaign marks the fifth mass malaria prevention campaign conducted in Nigeria since 2013 and introduces two major innovations being piloted in Osun State: the integration of tuberculosis case-finding into malaria interventions and school-based distribution of insecticide-treated nets, currently being implemented in Osogbo Local Government Area.
Dr. Oroge revealed that sustained interventions have contributed significantly to reducing malaria prevalence in Osun State from 33.4 percent in 2015 to 12.9 percent in 2025.
"This progress demonstrates that coordinated investments, community participation, and evidence-based interventions are producing measurable results. However, the work is not finished, and we must continue strengthening partnerships to achieve malaria elimination."
Representatives of the partner organizations commended Olori Temitope for her unwavering commitment to health advocacy and community development, describing traditional leaders and influential advocates as critical allies in the effort to increase public awareness and strengthen community ownership of malaria prevention programmes.
The meeting concluded with renewed commitments from all stakeholders to deepen collaboration, expand public sensitization efforts, and accelerate progress toward malaria elimination in Osun State and Nigeria as a whole.
