“Every story has a spark. And ours began with a phone call…

Her voice was calm, but sober. She said, ‘I think I have a patient with Ebola. Don’t tell anyone.’ That was my beloved aunt, Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh. Her legacy is the seed from which this organization, DRASA Health Trust, grew.

DRASA was born as a promise to honor that courageous legacy. And as I stand here 10 years later, I am proud to say that we have done exactly that.”
— Niniola Williams, Managing Director, DRASA Health Trust.

On October 20, 2025, we hosted a hybrid celebration in Abuja, Nigeria, to mark 10 years of protecting health and preventing infections.

The celebration, themed “A Decade of Championing Health Together,” convened our partners, government stakeholders, Health Champions, and friends of DRASA for a colorful reflection on our journey since 2015. It featured the challenges, victories, and the lives transformed through the power of disease prevention.

Notable dignitaries attended the event, including Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Hon. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof Muhammad Ali Pate ably represented by Dr. Nse Akpan, Director, Port Health Services, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, Managing Director, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA); and Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, former Minister of Health, among others. Their participation underscored the strong partnerships DRASA has cultivated over the years.

Also present were DRASA Board Members Mr. Bankole Cardoso, Mr. Deji Akinyanju, and Dr. Ama Adadevoh.

A Decade Sparked by Courage, Nurtured by Commitment

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Honorable Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Dr. Nse Akpan congratulated DRASA on its milestone achievement and reaffirmed the Ministry’s continued support for its mission to strengthen Nigeria’s health systems. He emphasized the need for collective action in health security, reminding all present that “health security is everyone’s business.”

A Decade of Impact and a Vision for the Future

Reflecting on DRASA’s early days, the Managing Director, Mrs. Niniola Williams, spoke passionately about the organization’s journey, from its beginning, rooted in courage, to its countrywide impact today.

According to her in the beginning, “All that mattered was our unshakable belief that disease prevention is powerful, communities are capable, and Nigeria can build a health system that keeps people safe every single day, not just during outbreaks.”

She emphasized DRASA's impact over the years, noting the development of more than 96,000 Health Champions across 32 states in Nigeria, along with the creation of 28 national and state policies and guidelines. She shared stories from DRASA’s Health Champions and demonstrated that true impact comes from the actions of ordinary people who provide local life-saving solutions to public health challenges that inspire healthier communities throughout Nigeria.

Unveiling the Endowment Fund

Looking to the future, Niniola shared DRASA’s vision for the next decade, one where every Nigerian is empowered to stop the chain of infection within their sphere of influence.

“That is the Nigeria we are building together,” she said, “where prevention is everyone’s business and dignity is everyone’s right.”

She also announced plans for the DRASA Academy, a state-of-the-art Center of Excellence for Health featuring Nigeria’s first dual-purpose simulation training centre for nurses and health professionals and a multimedia studio to educate the public. From a nurse practicing patient care in a realistic ward, to a butcher learning safe meat handling in a mock marketplace, to a youth Health Champion producing viral TikTok mini-dramas that inspire behavior change, the DRASA Academy will serve as a living lab for health prevention and innovation.

She encouraged everyone to invest in this future by contributing to the DRASA Endowment Fund, which will sustain the mission of preventing infections and protecting health for decades to come.

In the same vein, Oghome Emembo, DRASA’s Partnerships Manager, elaborated on the fund’s purpose, which is to mobilize long-term sustainable financing to support DRASA’s efforts to safeguard public health in perpetuity.

Voices of Change: Discussions with Health Champions

One of the event’s most inspiring moments was the Health Champions segment, which featured Flash TEDx-style stories from two Health Champions, Former Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu and Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim, Consultant Clinical Microbiologist and Head of Department, Gombe State University/Federal Teaching Hospital.

Prof. Onyebuchi recounted how he received the news of the Ebola virus entering Nigeria as the then Minister of Health in 2014, and the efforts made by Dr Adadevoh in controlling its spread, signifying that her quick action greatly helped in controlling its spread. He also highlighted that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention were birthed from the Ebola crisis by the Federal Government to manage the situation through the efforts of Dr. Adadevoh. In his remarks, Prof. Chukwu commended DRASA’s efforts and emphasized the importance of teamwork, preparedness, and consistent healthy behaviors in safeguarding public health.

Dr. Ibrahim spoke about how insights gained from the Diploma in Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC) course, which DRASA implements with its partners, helped reduce newborn mortality rates in his facility and improve equipment sterilization practices, and supported them to identify and stop an infection that affected 3 seven-day-old babies.

This was followed by a panel discussion with three of DRASA’s Health Champions: Community Health Champion Mr. Sunday Ajayi, Youth Health Champions Ms. Glorious Erhuanga, and Ms. Precious Adesoye.

Each person shared reflections of transformation and impact:

• Sunday Ajayi recounted how his swift action saved a young child suffering from cholera and how he convinced a fruit seller with measles to seek medical care.
• Precious Adesoye, a 300-level Nursing student at Osun State University, reflected on how her time as a student in DRASA’s Health and Hygiene Club in her secondary school gave her an edge in nursing school and shaped her infection prevention practices.
• Glorious Erhuanga shared how her DRASA experience inspired and emboldened her to educate her peers on personal hygiene and disease prevention.

These stories underscored the powerful truth that disease prevention is not an abstract idea but something that is personal, practical, and powerful.

DRASA@10 Documentary Premiere and the Wish Wall

Another major highlight was the premiere of the DRASA@10 Impact Documentary, A Decade of Impact: Voices from the Frontline, which drew heartfelt reactions from the audience. Through archival footage, interviews, and testimonials, the documentary told the story of how one woman’s courage ignited a movement that continues to protect millions across Nigeria and beyond.

The celebration also featured a Wish Wall, tagged “What Do You Envision for the Future of Nigeria’s Health Sector in the Next 10 years?” Participants attending in person as well as those online shared their heartfelt hopes for a healthier Nigeria, a moment that combined reflection, optimism, and inspiration.

Performances

The event included some engaging activities, showcasing spoken word performances and songs that left a significant impact.

One highlight was Ore Macaulay, a renowned spoken word artist, whose intense and thought-provoking performance captured the attention and emotions of the audience. Through her carefully crafted words and dramatic expression, she addressed the effects of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), explaining the relevant actions and the shared responsibility required by everyone to help reduce the spread of AMR. Her performance climaxed with a charge to the audience to pledge, saying: “These microbes may be resistant, but they must meet my Nigerian resilience.”

Her performance got a standing ovation, leaving everyone with a feeling of shared responsibility and urgent action to reduce the spread of AMR.

Another memorable performance came from Nurse Kristine Akowa, DRASA’s IPC Program Officer, who presented a self-composed and recorded song in honor of the late Dr. Adadevoh. The beautiful melody, which incorporated elements of spoken word, created a refreshing atmosphere and encouraged the audience to reflect on Dr. Adadevoh's sacrifice and its influence on the founding of DRASA Health Trust. This performance also received loud cheers and a standing ovation from the audience, leaving them feeling refreshed, with new bursts of energy.

Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of DRASA, Mr Bankole Cardoso, gave a vote of thanks, appreciating all partners, donors, both local and international, DRASA Alumni, and everyone who has been a part of the DRASA story over the past decade for their support over the years.

The evening ended on a high note, filled with laughter, emotion, and renewed purpose. Guests left inspired by DRASA’s decade of impact and united by a shared sense of responsibility to protect themselves, their families, and their communities from infectious diseases.

As DRASA steps into its next decade, the message is clear: Together, we will continue to champion health, build resilience, and raise a generation of informed citizens practicing healthy behaviors.

Click here to watch the documentary

Click here to read our DRASA@10 Anniversary Event Communique

Click here to recap the entire event