AKINBODE OLUWAFEMI HONOURED FOR DECADES OF PUBLIC INTEREST AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK

AKINBODE OLUWAFEMI HONOURED FOR DECADES OF PUBLIC INTEREST AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK
By prince Benson Davies

The Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, has been honoured with the Outstanding Service to Humanity Award by the Rotary Club of Abuja Metro.

The presentation took place on Monday during the Club’s 17th Investiture Ceremony held at the Armed Forces Officers Mess and Suites in Asokoro, Abuja. The award is one of Rotary’s top recognitions given to individuals whose work reflects the organization’s principle of Service Above Self through leadership, integrity and commitment to community development.

According to the Club, Oluwafemi was nominated unanimously by its Board of Directors and Awards Committee for his consistent contributions to advocacy, humanitarian service and nation building.

Speaking at the event, the President of Rotary Club of Abuja Metro, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi, said the honour was in recognition of Oluwafemi’s leadership and his dedication to causes that improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“Your remarkable leadership, philanthropic efforts, and unwavering commitment to humanitarian causes have distinguished you as a worthy recipient of this Honour. Through your service and impact, you have exemplified the ideals of selflessness and transformational leadership that Rotary seeks to celebrate and promote,” he stated.

In his response, Oluwafemi thanked the Club for the recognition. He said the award reinforces the importance of working toward a just and equitable society.
“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,” he said.

Other personalities honoured at the ceremony included former Rotary International President, Jonathan Majiyagbe, former Senator Babafemi Ojudu, and former Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments, Mrs. Maryam Uwais.

For over 30 years, Oluwafemi has been active in public interest advocacy across Africa. His work covers areas such as environmental justice, public health, corporate accountability and democratic governance.

As Founder and Executive Director of CAPPA, he leads one of Africa’s foremost civic organizations focused on corporate accountability, healthy food systems, climate action, water justice and democracy.

He has driven major advocacy campaigns that shaped public policy in Nigeria. These include contributions to 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 championed fiscal policies to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.

His impact in public health has attracted international recognition. He is a recipient of the Bloomberg Award for Global Tobacco Control for his role in advancing tobacco control policies in the region.

Beyond advocacy, Oluwafemi has a strong background in media and storytelling. He produced and directed Africa’s Cooked and Sinking Communities in 2023, a documentary that highlights the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities in Kenya, Cameroon and Nigeria. He is also the Executive Producer of Sweet Poison, a 2026 documentary that examines the health effects of excessive sugar consumption and the influence of the food and beverage industry in Nigeria.

He has held leadership positions with The Guardian newspaper, Journalists for Democratic Rights, JODER, and Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FoEN, where he served as Deputy Executive Director. He currently sits on the boards of several national and international non-profit and educational organizations.

In a statement, CAPPA described the award as a fitting acknowledgment of Oluwafemi’s lifelong commitment to social justice, defending communities from harmful corporate practices, and promoting policies that prioritize human dignity over profit.