By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, was yesterday conferred with the Outstanding Service to Humanity Award by the Rotary Club of Abuja Metro in recognition of his exceptional contributions to public interest advocacy and community development.
A statement signed and issued by Media and Communications Officer, CAPPA, Robert Egbe.
The award, presented during the Club’s 17th Investiture Ceremony at the Armed Forces Officers Mess & Suites, Asokoro, Abuja, is one of Rotary’s highest recognitions for individuals whose professional and civic contributions have produced lasting impact in society. Reserved for men and women whose work exemplifies Rotary’s ideal of Service Above Self, the honour acknowledges exceptional leadership, integrity and dedication to the public good.
Oluwafemi was unanimously nominated by the Rotary Club’s Board of Directors and Awards Committee, which cited his enduring contributions to humanitarian service and nation-building.
“Your remarkable leadership, philanthropic efforts, and unwavering commitment to humanitarian causes have distinguished you as a worthy recipient of this Honour,” said Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi, Rotary Club of Abuja Metro President. “Through your service and impact, you have exemplified the ideals of selflessness and transformational leadership that Rotary seeks to celebrate and promote.”
Receiving the award, Oluwafemi expressed gratitude to the Rotary Club of Abuja Metro for the recognition.
“I am deeply honoured and grateful to the Rotary Club of Abuja Metro for this recognition. It strengthens my conviction that meaningful change lies in the pursuit of a more just and equitable society. I accept this award with humility and dedicate it to the countless Nigerians and communities whose resilience and courage continue to inspire our work every day.”
Other award recipients include a former Rotary International President, Jonathan Majiyagbe, former Senator and journalist Babafemi Ojudu, and former presidential special adviser, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, among others.
For more than three decades, Oluwafemi has been one of Africa’s leading public interest advocates, with a distinguished career spanning environmental justice, public health, corporate accountability and democratic governance.
He is the Founder and Executive Director of CAPPA, one of Africa’s foremost public interest organisations championing corporate accountability, healthy food systems, climate action, water justice, and democracy.
Throughout his career, he has led landmark advocacy campaigns, policy interventions and social justice movements that have influenced legislation and strengthened civic participation locally and globally. His work has contributed to major public health reforms in Nigeria, including the enactment of the National Tobacco Control Act 2015, the National Tobacco Control Regulations 2019, the Trans Fat and Oils Regulations 2022, and the National Sodium Reduction Guidelines. He has also been at the forefront of advocacy for stronger fiscal measures to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
His contributions to public health have earned international recognition, including the Bloomberg Award for Global Tobacco Control, which honours his role in advancing tobacco control policies across the region.
Beyond policy advocacy, Oluwafemi is an accomplished journalist, author and documentary producer. He produced and directed Africa’s Cooked and Sinking Communities (2023), an internationally acclaimed documentary examining the effects of climate change and environmental degradation on vulnerable communities in Kenya, Cameroon, and Nigeria. He is also the Executive Producer of Sweet Poison, a 2026 documentary exploring the public health consequences of excessive consumption of sugary drinks and the influence of the food and beverage industry on nutrition in Nigeria.
His career has also included leadership roles with The Guardian newspaper, Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER), and Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), where he rose to become Deputy Executive Director. He currently serves on the governing boards of several national and international non-profit organisations and educational foundations.
Congratulating its Executive Director, CAPPA said it was immensely proud of Oluwafemi for receiving the honour, describing it as a fitting recognition of a lifetime devoted to advancing social justice through evidence-based advocacy, defending communities against harmful corporate practices and promoting policies that place human dignity above commercial interests.
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