Accra, June 6, 2017—Young Bridge Foundation (YBF), a leading youth development advocate in Africa and organizer of African Youth And Governance Conference (AYGC) has expressed its heartfelt sympathies to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); staff and partners, on the sudden death of UNFPA Executive Director, Dr Babatunde Osotimehin.
Mr Seth Oteng, Executive Director of YBF said, “Dr Babatunde Osotimehin contributed enormously to improving the lives of youth globally, especially, in the area of sexual and reproductive health and rights. It thus not wrong to say that young people across the world and especially the AYGC Community of youth drawn from over 40 African countries and Diaspora have been bereaved of somebody exceptionally dedicated to championing their cause.”
“Under Dr. Osotimehin’s leadership, UNFPA has been a trusted partner of YBF and the AYGC Initiative since its inception in 2009. UNFPA offices across Africa have always supported the AYGC logistically and technically, and he has personally followed AYGC sessions via online streaming. We sincerely mourn with them on this sad event,” Mr Oteng added.
A distinguished international public health leader, Dr Osotimehin was extensively respected for his work on sexual and reproductive health, as well as, his work on HIV.
As Executive Director of UNFPA, Dr Osotimehin led the organization’s works on HIV prevention, especially, among adolescents and young adults, promoting condoms and ensuring that women and adolescent girls receive HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health services.
He also led Nigeria’s AIDS response as Minister of Health and as the Director General of Nigeria’s National Agency for the Control of HIV and AIDS.
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