We hereby write you this open letter Mr. Honorable Minister to recommend Dr. Adebobola Bashorun for a national award of the order of the Niger (O.O.N). This recommendation is made because of his altruistic performances, peaceful and equalitarian nature, and his immense contributions to the development of his community, state and the entire country in general.
The contributions of Dr Adebobola Bashorun if peer renewed and side by side with others like him are devoid of political, religious, sectional or parochial considerations and this benevolence has catapulted him to the olympian height of being considered as a role model to the youths and therefore deserving of this award.
Dr. Adebobola Bashorun is the Director and National Coordinator of the National HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme (NASCP) under Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health. With nearly 25 years of experience in clinical medicine, public health, and health policy, he has delivered innovative, impactful results in science, data systems, and program implementation.
A trained medical doctor, field epidemiologist, administrator and public health specialist, Dr. Bashorun is also a Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP) scholar. His career spans leadership roles in maternal and child health, HIV strategic information, community health policy development, and regulation of community health practice in Nigeria. He has also worked extensively with international organizations in various leadership, advisory and technical capacities.
Dr. Adebobola Bashorun’s leadership has significantly advanced Nigeria’s efforts in maternal and Child health, HIV, hepatitis, and STI prevention and care, particularly through integration into national health systems and enhancement of workforce capacity. He has been instrumental in initiatives such as optimizing pediatric and adolescent HIV services, preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), and developing NDARS—the national HIV data reporting platform. He is a strong advocate and support various government interventions including active engagement in the Free to Shine Initiative led by Her Excellency, The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Niger, Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON.
He has contributed to lots of National policy documents to support HIV, Hepatitis and STIs control in Nigeria and the health systems at large. He is a strong advocate of the Sector Wide Approach led by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social welfare and the localization and ownership of country response and unlocking the health care value chain under the Renewed Hope agenda and Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
A prolific contributor to scientific literature and national health policies, he is widely recognized for his results-driven approach and evidence-based advocacy. Through his commitment to collaboration and innovation, Dr. Bashorun plays a pivotal role in steering Nigeria toward the goal of ending AIDS by 2030.
Indeed, Nigerian quest of building an egalitarian society can only be achieved only if we depart from the old ways of considering people not deserving of our national awards to a pragmatic and systematical new ways of considering deserving individuals for recognition as models winning our prestigious national award. The peaceful nature of Dr Adebobola Bashorun which encapsulates his adherence to the rules of the game and the constitution even when his personal gains are being denied are qualities big enough in this patriot that we can say made us proud in recommending him for this prestigious award.
We, therefore want to use the medium of this open letter to thank Mr. President for his renew hope agenda which emphasis rewards for hardwork, industry and peaceful acts and the location of only genuine patriots and role models for the conferment’s of our national awards and political rewards systems. We are therefore confident that our request will be granted if the records of Dr Adebobola Bashorun is anything to go by.
Long live, the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Long live, our Renewed hope dispensation
Signed
Comrade Ahmed Ali
For: Movement for an Egalitarian Nigeria
