By Ayomide Otitoju
The Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, has concluded the 7th edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit 2025. The event was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees; Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of MFFLI; and H.E. Madam Zita Oligui Nguema, First Lady of the Gabonese Republic and Ambassador of Merck Foundation’s “More Than a Mother” campaign.
The summit brought together First Ladies from Angola, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, and Zimbabwe to advance dialogue on healthcare transformation and women’s empowerment.
Speaking at the event, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej highlighted ongoing efforts with Gabon, noting that scholarships for doctors in oncology and diabetes care have already commenced. “This is just the beginning of our efforts to transform the public healthcare landscape, and we will continue to scale up the number of scholarships,” she said.
First Lady Zita Oligui Nguema emphasized the positive impact of the partnership, initiated in 2024, particularly in strengthening healthcare capacity and addressing social challenges. She also announced progress on the Educating Linda program, which provides annual scholarships to 20 underprivileged yet high-performing girls in Gabon, ensuring they can complete their education.
“This program is close to my heart because each of these girls will now have the opportunity to pursue the career of her choice and dreams,” she stated.
The summit reinforced the Merck Foundation’s commitment to building medical capacity, promoting women’s empowerment, and expanding access to education across Africa and beyond.
