Over 450 sustainability and public health leaders in Nigeria and across the globe thrown accolades and solidary in honour of a global consultant in public health and environment, Dr. Edwin-Isotu Edeh, on his 40th birthday titled “40 Shades of Gratitude.
At the birthday celebration in Abuja on Friday 15th September, they described him as a transformational leader, pathfinder, par excellence, patroit and acknowledged his unwavering service to nation building and humanity.
The event, which also culminated his 20 successful of impactful Public Health & Environment Leadership,” exemplified Dr. Edeh as an exceptional visionary environment and public health expert and a corner stone who has contributed immensely towards strengthening institutional growth and advancing policy formulation and implementation in Federal ministries of health, environment and water resources.
Global Health and Environmental Leaders Accolades at 40 Shades of Gratitude
According to the keynote Speaker, Dr. Richard Munang, PhD – Deputy Regional Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Africa, and the Regional Climate Change Coordinator of UNEP, “Our continent faces myriad challenges, from environmental to health crises, and yet, in Dr. Edwin, we see a beacon of hope. For 20 illustrious years, he has shown us that sustainable solutions can be woven from unity, vision, and unyielding commitment”.
A leading Sustainability Expert in Nigeria Mr. Eustace Onuegbu who joined the event online in his remarks said “Today, we celebrate a leader par excellence, a friend, and a fantastic role model for all those seeking to understand how to make mass impact.
Mr. Onuegbu who is board level management Consultant, ISO Management Systems Audit Partner, and a member of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. (UNCTAD) Committee on Cross Boarder Cartels added “Our gratitude towards Africa’s abundant resources—human and material—echoes Dr. Edwin’s own gratitude. He teaches us to cherish and harness these riches, crafting a future where Africa isn’t just surviving, but thriving”.
Another global leader in health and former Country Representative, World Health Organization Nigeria, and advisor to Africa’s COVID-19 Pandemic Response as well as supporting the Regional Health Emergency Program flagship, Wondimagegnehu Alemu, MD, in his keynote felicitation remarks, described Dr. Edwin-Isotu as emerging public health leader commitment to impact and excellence in promoting health and addressing determinants of health.
Registrar of the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), Dr Yakubu Mohammed who was the chairman of the event praised his remarkable journey from a humble beginning to becoming a vital figure in the health sector, committed to fortify public health as a pivot of preventive healthcare in West Africa and the entire African continent.
Dr. Mohammed pointed out “There are only a few Nigerian at 40 I know who have made such milestone achievements and impacts as Dr. Edeh. The celebrant who is championing the “One Health Approach” of the World Health Organization and Open Defecation Free (ODF) Nigeria, has also supported the preparedness and response to COVID-19 pandemic and HIV/AIDs and addressing 7 top priority diseases, expressed gratitude to God for his new age and 20 years of public service. He credited his career journey to consistency and result orientation, and encouraged Nigerians, especially young people, to work towards building their dream Nigeria, emphasizing their roles as national ambassadors.
The permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs Esther Didi Walso-Jack described the celebrant as a trail-blazer whose exceptional insights and commitment to working with stakeholders across MDA is commendable in driving WASH agenda in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, the pioneer and current Director-General of National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) Dr. Emem Omokaro, attested that the celebrant is loaded with game-changing ideas and strategies. “I admire his ability and interest to work with older generation even at youth”, she added.
Leadership and Impact of Dr. Edwin-Isotu Edeh at 40
Dr. Edwin Isotu Edeh, PhD is an award-winning United Nations’ Global Environmental Health Expert, Executive Career Mentor, Keynote Speaker and transformational leader with 2 decades of technical and strategic levels experience in environmental – public health issues spanning across industry, governance, academics and humanitarian spheres. He is a 2 time winner of Nigeria Sustainability Health Consultant of the Year 2021/22.
With exceptional mastery in raising and bringing out the best in people through clear vision, strategy and commitment to outstanding results, he is ranked Africa’s No.1 Mentor on Public Health & Environment (PHE) and listed among top Africa’s 1% leadership mentors on clear vision and career growth. He is poised with a vision to raise a generation of 1 million African transformational leaders and reliable top-notch professionals towards the achievement of African Union Agenda 2063: “The Africa We Want”, and has mentored over 350 emerging leaders, top-notch professionals and public health and environmental experts through the global ClearLift Africa and Pushfar mentorship platforms where he dedicates 2 hours every week to mentorship since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic”.
He is an award-winning author of a classic 426 page book: ‘Environmental Health: Understanding Current Issues and Solutions of the 21st Century’ published in 2016, which is serving as a standard text in seven (7) African universities. He has authored 3 other best-selling books, published 32 research articles, made 255 high- level presentation appearances, and delivered 61,320 hours of active academic teaching on 13 environment and health courses across 5 schools/faculties including Environmental Health, Health Information, Medical Laboratory, Community Health, Nursing/Public Health Nursing in Rivers State.
In 2021, Edwin-Isotu also coordinated the Signing of Nigeria’s first Health Ministerial Commitment to building a sustainable and Climate-Resilient Health System in Nigeria in line with the Paris Agreement, the United Nations COP26 Health Programme, and Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan 2022. He coordinated the 3rd and 4th Cycles of implementation of the United Nations Global Analysis and Assessment on Sanitation and Drinking Water (GLASS) Initiative in 36 states of Nigeria in 2018–2022. He has championed Sanitation Sanitation Safety (SSP), Hand Hygiene Initiative, Electronic Waste and Child Health intervention in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Bauchi, Nassarawa, Abia, Sokoto, Akwa Ibom states. Within the health system and in response to health emergencies, Dr. Edwin-Isotu has promoted health in over 52 policies, and advanced sustainable health system strengthening support to 18 institutions across sectors, facilitated the creation of 3 coordination platforms, addressing 5 key determinants of health addressed across 7 top priority diseases, supported preparedness and response to 2 pandemic including COVID-19 and HIV/AIDs and multiple outbreaks and emergencies cholera, yellow fever, lassa fever and chemical incidents, etc in line with International Health Regulation (IHR).
In leadership and governance, he has held several technical strategic leadership roles, model 5 creative corporate innovative solutions and contributed to the coordination development, and review of 62 Global & National Policies development and reviews including National Guidelines for WASH in Healthcare Facility (2022), National One-Health Multisectoral Plan (2018), Antimicrobial Resistance Policy for Environment Sector in Nigeria (2023), COVID 19 – IPC Protocol (2020, National Roadmap on Hand Hygiene for All, Clean Nigeria Build the Toilet Plan (2019-2025), National Guidelines for Integrated National Environmental Health Surveillance (INHESS), National Guidelines for Vector Control for the Control of Lassa Fever in Nigeria (2021), National Determining Contributions NDC (2021), Cosmetics Safety and Health Policy, Nigeria Youth-WASH Strategy (2023), Nigeria Environmental Sanitation Policy (2018) and its 8 operational Guidelines, National Electronic Waste Policy led by Federal Ministry of Environment, National Health Promotion Policy (2019), Global Strategy on Climate Change, Health and Environment (2021), Nigeria National Policy on Food Safety (2022), Public Health Strategy for Reduction of Risk Mercury (2019), just to mention but a few.
Dr. Edwin Isotu championed 2 national data generation and analytics ecosystems, including the Integrated National Environmental Surveillance System (INEHSS) and the Nigeria WASH Accounts initiative, which tracks Nigeria’s total expenditure on WASH. He provideS technical guidance and support to 25 environmental and green institutions for system strengthening, supported preparedness and response to the Nigeria Flood Disaster, Blacksoot and Humanitarian crises in the North East, established 4 systems sustainability coordination platforms. He is a great advocate of the clean Nigeria build the toilet campaign towards ending open defication in Nigeria. He has developed 5 innovative corporate solutions on Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) and provided direct support to 18 eco- startups. He has co-championed 5 African social change initiatives and Community Clean-ups in 8 states, in addition to 3 Personal Social Responsibility (PSR) projects.
Dr. Edwin Isotu’s insights and real-world experiences will empower you to lead with confidence, inspire your teams, and make a lasting impact on your organization or institution. His contributions towards Governance & Policy; Industry, Academics, Health Systems & Interventions; and Environmental Sustainability are unparalleled.
24 African Icons of Positive Leadership and Influence Honored
The event with a Theme song: “God of Wisdom, we have come to appreciate thee”also featured special honoring of 24 African Icons Positive Leadership & Influence in the continent whom according to the celebrant, exerted positive influence on him. In his words “The man I have become today is a clinical function of the influence, insights and guidance I have received from great men and women in families, communities, bethels, workplace across the continent whom paths had shone great light upon me”. Most of know in that “in Africa that it takes a community to raise a child”, he added.
The great icons drawn from all works of life include: Vusi Thembemkwayo, Dr. Wodimagegnehu Alemu, Dr. Uche Aaron, HRH Chief Alfred Diete-Spiff, Arch Bishop King Tuador Wiko, Dr. Richard Munang, PhD, Prof. Prince C. Mmon Sir (Chf.) Hon Godson Dienye, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, Dr. Gogomary I. Oyet PhD, Dr. Lynda Ozor, Mr. Tein Teinbo Seleyefubara Jack-Rich, CON, Mr. Bartholomew Nengia.
Others include Prof. Oladele Osibanjo, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu,HE Emem Christopher Essien, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, Dr. Moses Otonye Bereiweriso, Obong (Sen.) Godswill Akpabio, Bishop Mgboawaji Micah, Prince Owajiochit E. Nsirem-Edeh, Prof. Prince C. Mmom, Dr. Silas Eneyo, Engr Suleiman H. Adamu and the Olu of Warri His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR.
In his statement titled the Speech of Gratitude, he asserted that: That in Africa we must learn to promote advancing the good of the society not to hate or envy them, so that they can be positive example to future generation. These men are incredible beacons, strategic guiding maps and “technical mirrors of positive influence that deserved a million shades of applause”.
