Merck Foundation partners with Nigeria’s First Lady to expand healthcare and education programs
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, has reinforced its commitment to advancing healthcare capacity, supporting girl education, and breaking infertility stigma in Nigeria through a high-level meeting with First Lady H.E. Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The delegation, led by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and CEO Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, formalized a long-term partnership with the First Lady, who was officially appointed as Ambassador of the “More Than a Mother” initiative.
Dr. Kelej highlighted that the partnership will focus on scholarships for Nigerian doctors in 42 critical and underserved specialties, alongside social programs tackling infertility stigma and supporting education for girls. She confirmed that 63 scholarships have already been awarded to Nigerian doctors.
Healthcare training across multiple specialties
Out of the 63 scholarships, eight focus on fertility, embryology, sexual and reproductive medicine, and women’s health. Thirty-eight target diabetes, cardiovascular medicine, endocrinology, and obesity management, enabling graduates to establish clinics in their communities. Another seventeen address specialties such as oncology research, psychiatry, dermatology, pain management, respiratory medicine, elderly care, critical care, and rheumatology.
Prof. Dr. Haverkamp emphasized that the Merck Foundation has provided over 2,282 scholarships to doctors from 53 countries in 44 critical specialties, aiming to improve healthcare systems in Africa, Asia, and beyond.
Educational support and creative awareness campaigns
The ‘Educating Linda’ program has funded the schooling of 20 high-performing but underprivileged Nigerian girls. Merck Foundation has also trained Nigerian journalists through three editions of its Online Health Media Training to address issues such as infertility stigma, gender-based violence, child marriage, and female genital mutilation.
In collaboration with the First Lady, Merck Foundation launched eight awards for 2025 across media, fashion, film, and music to promote awareness on infertility stigma, women’s empowerment, and prevention of diabetes and hypertension. Submission deadlines are September 30, 2025, for “More Than a Mother” awards and October 30, 2025, for diabetes and hypertension categories.
Entries can be sent to submit@merck-foundation.com, with more details available at www.Merck-Foundation.com.
