By Ayomide Otitoju
The Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, has held the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit 2025, bringing together First Ladies from across Africa and Asia to advance healthcare capacity-building and women’s empowerment.
The summit, inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of MFFLI, was co-hosted by H.E. Madam Marie Khone Faye, First Lady of Senegal. Madam Faye was officially appointed as Ambassador of the Merck Foundation’s “More Than a Mother” campaign during the event.
Also in attendance were the First Ladies of Angola, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé & Príncipe, and Zimbabwe.
Speaking at the summit, Dr. Kelej welcomed Madam Faye, noting that Senegal had already benefitted from 25 scholarships for doctors in oncology, diabetes, fertility, and embryology. She confirmed that more scholarships would soon be awarded in other underserved specialties.
In her remarks, Madam Faye described her appointment as an honour and praised the Merck Foundation’s impact across the continent. She highlighted Senegal’s progress in training doctors, particularly through the French-language Diabetes Mastercourse, and announced the launch of the “Educating Linda” program to promote girl-child education.
“I firmly believe in empowering girls through education, as it plays a crucial role in building stronger and healthier nations,” Madam Faye said.
The MFFLI Summit continues to serve as a platform for collaboration between the Merck Foundation and African First Ladies, with the shared aim of strengthening health systems, advancing women’s empowerment, and expanding access to quality education.
