Funmi Adewara, chief executive officer of Mobihealth International, has been honoured by the World Bank for her role in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number three.
The SDGs three seeks to promote access to healthcare, ensure healthy lives and promote well-being at all ages.
Mobihealth International is said to be Africa’s first fully integrated telehealth start-up leveraging technology in harnessing diaspora, local doctors and medical service providers through a secure electronic medical record and video software.
Adewara, a graduate of the University of Ibadan, is one of the seven women entrepreneurs rewarded with the 2020 SDGs and Her Awards.
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Other winners include Annisa Hasanah Ashyad of Ecofun Indonesia; Bassma Ali of G-Gateway; Kayumba Chiwele of PyscHealth Zambia; Melina Taprant of Wise Greece; Marysela Zamora of Nosotras; and Maliha Khalid of Doctory.
The seven winners were selected from a pool of 2,400 applicants from around the world who took part in the competition.
Jill Wilkins, the director of partnerships and practice groups (external and corporate relations) of the World Bank, said the competition endowed by the World Bank Group and its partners – the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UN Women and the Wharton School Zicklin Centre – showcases women entrepreneurs who support the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through their business operations.
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“The competition provides an opportunity to showcase women-led businesses that are not only supporting goals in health, food security, education, climate change, gender equality and industry, but also demonstrating resilience as they respond to the challenges of COVID-19,” he said.
Reacting to the development in a statement, the United Kingdom-based Nigerian medical doctor said the award will boost her zeal in working to see that more people have access to healthcare irrespective of their socioeconomic class.
“I feel highly honoured for this coveted award and I thank the organisers of the competition for this huge recognition of what we do with our healthcare platform,” she said.
“Our work at Mobihealth International is predicated on our belief that an improved access to healthcare will bring about accelerated development for the people of the world. This is why we work to remove as much barriers to healthcare as possible.
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“This award is a motivation to do more to see that people who need quality medical attention receive same irrespective of their race, gender, social status or financial standing.”
I am super excited and humbled to win @WorldBank #SDGandHer 2020 Awards! What a great honour- thank you!
Looking forward to d award ceremony along with 6 other global winners.@MyMobihealth, @Fmohnigeria @DigiCommsNG @nidcom_gov @MBuhari @WHOLive here: https://t.co/pfGArorZxR https://t.co/mZG4ZID0qj
— Funmi Adewara (@funmi_adewara) September 27, 2020
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BUHARI HAILS ADEWARA ON ACHIEVEMENT
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President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated Adewara on winning the award.
The president’s congratulatory message was contained in a statement by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, on Friday.
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He said the doctor’s achievement has again hoisted Nigeria’s flag in the international scene.
“President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates Dr Funmi Adewara, a UK-based Nigerian Medical Doctor on winning World Bank SDGs And Her Global Award 2020, thus hoisting Nigeria’s flag proudly in the international arena once again,” the statement reads.
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“The award came in the same season that the President in his National Day broadcast just applauded Nigerian professionals at home and abroad, whom he said ranked among the very best in the world.
“Dr Adewara is one of the seven winners of the award globally, among 2,400 women, a feat that President Buhari describes as ‘an attestation once again of the stuff Nigerian professionals are made of.
“The President praises the University of Ibadan and Cambridge University-trained medical doctor for her illustrious work in promoting access to healthcare for the world’s population in line with SDG 3 that seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being of all ages.
“Dr Adewara is Chief Executive Officer of Africa’s first fully integrated telehealth startup leveraging technology in harnessing diaspora and local doctors through a secure electronic medical record and video software.”
Other dignitaries and institutions have congratulated Adewara on the feat.
Congratulations to @funmi_adewara from 🇳🇬, founder of @MyMobihealth as one of the 2020 #SDGsAndHer awards winner for going the extra mile to achieve the #GlobalGoals, especially in the health sector.
She emerged one of the 7 selected global winners among 2400 women.@UN_Women pic.twitter.com/R8UM0Rw5fY— United Nations Nigeria (@UN_Nigeria) September 30, 2020
Congrats again to @funmi_adewara . Thanks for making us proud #ProudlyNigerian https://t.co/p2TGNBw5T5
— world (@s2_vpd) September 29, 2020
Congratulations @funmi_adewara #ProudlyNigerian pic.twitter.com/uNxe8lRvwm
— Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (@nidcom_gov) September 29, 2020
Join me in congratulating these entrepreneurial women & #SDGsandHer winners from #Nigeria & #Zambia for innovating and supporting their communities during #COVID19! Get inspired by @funmi_adewara & Kayumba Chiwele: https://t.co/W8QuEamlxb #GlobalGoals @UN_Women pic.twitter.com/bAEqMslXxw
— Hafez Ghanem (@HafezGhanem_Dev) October 2, 2020
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