{"id":8301,"date":"2026-04-05T14:42:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T10:42:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=8301"},"modified":"2026-04-05T15:18:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T11:18:46","slug":"message-from-dr-rasha-kelej-ceo-of-merck-foundation-on-meeting-the-first-lady-of-nigeria-at-the-12th-edition-of-merck-foundation-africa-asia-luminary-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=8301","title":{"rendered":"Message from Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, on Meeting The First Lady of Nigeria at the 12th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Main_Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8302\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Main_Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Main_Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><p>I am very happy to meet my dear sister<strong>\u00a0H.E. Senator OLUREMI TINUBU, CON, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria &amp; Ambassador of \u2018Merck Foundation More Than a Mother\u2019\u00a0<\/strong>at the\u00a0<strong>12<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Edition<\/strong>\u00a0of our annual conference,\u00a0<strong>\u201cMerck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary\u201d<\/strong>, held in partnership with the Government of The Gambia. The conference was inaugurated by\u00a0<strong>Mr. MUHAMMAD B. S. JALLOW, Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia<\/strong>, together with\u00a0<strong>Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>co-chaired by Mrs. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of Gambia and Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother, and me. The First Ladies of Burundi, Central Africa, Liberia, S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe, and Senegal joined as the Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Image-2_-Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8303\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Image-2_-Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Image-2_-Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Image-3_-Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8304\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Image-3_-Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Image-3_-Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><p>We had a meaningful discussion about our ongoing joint programs to build and advance healthcare capacity by providing scholarships for local Nigerian doctors. I am proud to share that till now we have provided\u00a0<strong>82 scholarships for local Nigerian healthcare providers\u00a0<\/strong>in many critical and underserved specialties like Fertility, Embryology, Sexual and Reproductive Care, Women\u2019s Health, Oncology, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Preventative Cardiovascular, Cardiology and Obesity &amp; Weight Management, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Care, Dermatology, Rheumatology, Critical Care, Psychiatry, Care for Older Person and Pain Management. Together, we will continue to work closely to transform future of patient care in Nigeria.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8305\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-2-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"1023\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8306\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-3.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-3-176x300.jpg 176w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Watch the Video of The First Lady of Nigeria &amp; Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother during the Day 2 of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 here:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"ast-oembed-container \" style=\"height: 100%;\"><iframe title=\"Nigeria FL @ Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Committee Meeting 2025, Gambia\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YqsSQSS85_I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure><p>Watch the video of\u00a0<strong>Merck Foundation CEO, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej\u00a0<\/strong>receiving\u00a0<strong>H.E. Senator OLUREMI TINUBU, CON<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria &amp; Ambassador of \u2018Merck Foundation More Than a Mother\u2019:<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"1023\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8307\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-3-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-3-1-176x300.jpg 176w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><p>On Day 1 of the conference, the Plenary Session of the&nbsp;<strong>Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025<\/strong>&nbsp;took place, featuring&nbsp;<strong>keynote speeches of&nbsp;First Ladies of Africa<\/strong>. Moreover, a high-level ministerial panel&nbsp;discussion was also held with African Ministers to discuss the Merck Foundation African Research Summit MARS strategy to build scientific research capacity and empower women in STEM with special focus on scientific research.&nbsp;<\/p><p>On Day 2 of the conference,&nbsp;<strong>Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative- MFFLI committee meeting<\/strong>&nbsp;was conducted between&nbsp;<strong>The First Ladies of Africa and Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO<\/strong>, where the&nbsp;<strong>African First Ladies<\/strong>&nbsp;shared the impact report of Merck Foundation programs in their respective countries, and future strategy was discussed.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8308\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-4.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-4-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8309\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-6.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-6-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Watch the video of MFFLI<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>committee meeting:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"ast-oembed-container \" style=\"height: 100%;\"><iframe title=\"Dr. Rasha Kelej @ Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Committee - 2025\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sc2XFyU3s10?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure><p>I am also very proud to share that Together with&nbsp;<strong>Nigeria First Lady,&nbsp;<\/strong>we have provided&nbsp;<strong>82 scholarships<\/strong>&nbsp;for local doctors in Nigeria in many critical and underserved specialties.<\/p><p>Merck Foundation has always believed in the importance of building healthcare capacity and has been working for it since 2012. We have so far provided more than&nbsp;<strong>2400 scholarships<\/strong>&nbsp;for healthcare providers from&nbsp;<strong>52 countries<\/strong>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<strong>44 critical and underserved medical specialties<\/strong>. We will continue to provide scholarships of doctors from Nigeria and beyond.<\/p><p>We have also announced the Call for applications for our 8 important awards in&nbsp;<strong>partnership<\/strong>&nbsp;with&nbsp;<strong>The First Lady of Nigeria&nbsp;<\/strong>for Media, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students, and new potential talents in these fields.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-12.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8310\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-12.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-12-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-13.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8311\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-13.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-13-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-14.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8312\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-14.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-14-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><p>Moreover, in partnership with&nbsp;<strong>The First Lady of Nigeria<\/strong>, we are launching our children\u2019s storybooks,&nbsp;<strong>\u201cMore Than a Mother\u201d, \u201cEducating Linda\u201d, \u201cJackline\u2019s Rescue\u201d, \u201cNot Who You Are\u201d, \u201cRide into the Future\u201d and \u201cSugar free Jude\u201d, \u201cMark\u2019s Pressure\u201d,&nbsp;<\/strong>and<strong>&nbsp;\u201cRay of Hope\u201d.<\/strong>&nbsp;The storybooks address various social and health issues like breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, stopping GBV, diabetes and hypertension awareness. Thousands of copies of the storybooks will be distributed to school children.<\/p><p>The 12th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 was streamed live across our social media platforms.<\/p><p>Kind Regards,<br><strong>Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.)<\/strong><br>CEO of Merck Foundation<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-15.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8313\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-15.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON-15-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-African-First-Ladies-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8314\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-African-First-Ladies-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-African-First-Ladies-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I am very happy to meet my dear sister\u00a0H.E. Senator OLUREMI TINUBU, CON, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria &amp; Ambassador of \u2018Merck Foundation More Than a Mother\u2019\u00a0at the\u00a012th\u00a0Edition\u00a0of our annual conference,\u00a0\u201cMerck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary\u201d, held in partnership with the Government of The Gambia. The conference was inaugurated by\u00a0Mr. MUHAMMAD B. S. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8302,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-message"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Message from Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, on Meeting The First Lady of Nigeria at the 12th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 | Rasha Kelej<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=8301\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Message from Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, on Meeting The First Lady of Nigeria at the 12th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 | Rasha Kelej\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I am very happy to meet my dear sister\u00a0H.E. Senator OLUREMI TINUBU, CON, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria &amp; Ambassador of \u2018Merck Foundation More Than a Mother\u2019\u00a0at the\u00a012th\u00a0Edition\u00a0of our annual conference,\u00a0\u201cMerck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary\u201d, held in partnership with the Government of The Gambia. The conference was inaugurated by\u00a0Mr. MUHAMMAD B. S. [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=8301\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Rasha Kelej\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KelejRasha\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-05T10:42:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-05T11:18:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Main_Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Nigeria-First-Lady-H_E_-Senator-OLUREMI-TINUBU-CON.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rasha Kelej\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Rashakelej\" \/>\n<meta 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