SPEAKER
Mrs Ladidi Kuluwa Bako-Aiyegbusi
Mrs Ladidi Kuluwa Bako-Aiyegbusi,mni, was born on 31st May 1970. She graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State in 1990. She obtained a Master Degree in Molecular Genetics from the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, another Master Degree in Public Health from Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-ife, Osun State, and a Certificate in Health Planning and Management from the University of Maiduguri, Borno State. She graduated from the Senior Executive Course 44 in 2022 from the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), where she was conferred with the award of Member National Institute (mni).
Ladidi is a seasoned Public Health Specialist and career Civil Servant with over 31 years of experience in Nigeria’s public sector. She has served in key Departments of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, including Food and Drugs, Public Health, Family Health, and currently Nutrition.
Ladidi’s professional skills and expertise in policy formulation, advocacy, resource mobilization, and health literacy campaigns resulted in coordinating National Health Communication Responses during emergencies notably are technical support to the Risk Communication Pillar of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control during Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in 2014, Lassa Fever Disease outbreak in 2016 and COVID-19 outbreak between 2020-2021.
In August 2023, Ladidi assumed the role of Director and Head of the Nutrition Division. Thereafter, and due to her outstanding performance, she was elevated as the pioneer Head of Nutrition Department in November 2023 following the upgrade of the Nutrition Division to a Department.
As the Director and Head Nutrition Department, significant achievements include coordination of the training of 9,592 service providers in 36 States and FCT on Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) package aimed at creating awareness among the general public on locally available food items, and appropriate feeding practices to adopt to effectively tackle malnutrition. Likewise, under her leadership, Nigeria set a world record of 31,254 mothers breastfeeding simultaneously during the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week. In addition, Nigeria has been recorgnised Globally, as the first country to develop a National Roadmap and Training package to standardise the Roll-out the use of Multiple Micronutrient Supplement by pregnant women to improve well-being and birth outcomes.
In 2024, in recognition of her role in tackling malnutrition in Nigeria, Ladidi was recognized as one of the 2024 Gates Foundation Goalkeepers. Likewise, in 2025, Ladidi was enlisted in the 2025 TIME100 Health, a global and prestigious recognition of the 100 most influential individuals shaping the future of global health. In addition, due to her dedication to duty, Ladidi has received several awards amongst which are: Fellow of the Institute by Dietetics in Nigeria; Royal Meritorious Achievers Award for Good Performance by the Royal Trust Media; Ambassador Award by the Dietitians Association of Nigeria; Exemplary Work Promoting Health in Nigeria Institute by the Institute for Leadership and Development for Communication; National Health Promotion Ambassador by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; Excellent Leadership and Humanitarian Service by the Legislative Writer’s Forum, to mention a few.
Ladidi is married to Mr. Fola Aiyegbusi, and they are blessed with children and grandchildren.