Meet Osadare Opeoluwa Kayode
A Public Health Professional, and an alumnus of The Next Hundred Public Health Stewards (TNH-PHS) program Cohort 10, his journey demonstrates how the right opportunities, mentorship, and community can transform passion into meaningful impact.
Opeoluwa’s introduction to TNH-PHS came through a trusted recommendation. A friend and a TNH-PHS Cohort 8 alumnus, who encouraged him to apply after recognizing his passion for public health. Curious to learn more, he explored the programme and immediately saw a pathway that aligned with his aspirations. He wanted more than theoretical knowledge, he wanted practical experience implementing public health interventions at scale alongside mentors and peers who shared his commitment to improving health outcomes.
His passion for public health, however, began much earlier.
Growing up with a mother who is a public health professional, Opeoluwa witnessed firsthand the difference dedicated professionals can make in people’s lives. What began as a desire to help individuals, gradually evolved into a broader vision of strengthening health systems and equipping young people to become leaders and changemakers themselves. Today, he believes public health is not only about service—it is equally about leadership, innovation, and creating opportunities for others to thrive.
Before joining TNH-PHS, Opeoluwa worked as a Training and Technology Administrator with the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, where he focused on health education and promotion. While the role provided him with a strong foundation, he knew there was still room to grow. He was looking for an experience that would challenge him, broaden his perspective, and strengthen both his technical and leadership skills.
TNH-PHS proved to be that opportunity, providing the environment he had been searching for.
From the programme’s orientation to the immersion phase, Opeoluwa found himself immersed in an environment that encouraged continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation. The experience provided structure, mentorship, and practical exposure that pushed him beyond his comfort zone and taught him how to navigate multi-stakeholder environments with confidence.
His immersion at GemHub Initiative further strengthened that growth. Working within the youth and education thematic areas, he contributed to programme planning, community engagement, data collection and analysis, monitoring and evaluation, and health education campaigns. These experiences allowed him to bridge the gap between theory and practice while developing the adaptability, teamwork, and problem-solving skills needed to create sustainable public health impact.
For Opeoluwa, the journey did not end when the immersion concluded.
Becoming part of the TNH alumni network introduced him to a community of passionate young professionals who continue to inspire, support, and challenge one another. Through the network, he has expanded his perspective on leadership and collaboration while growing in confidence, project management, advocacy, and technical expertise. The relationships and opportunities that followed have continued to shape his professional journey and reinforce his commitment to improving public health in Nigeria.
One milestone that best captures this growth is the successful implementation of the Gem Leadership Conference 1.0. Drawing on the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills he gained through TNH-PHS, Opeoluwa played a key role in bringing the conference to life. Watching the initiative successfully come together and seeing the positive impact it had on participants became one of the defining moments of his TNH journey, affirming both his growth and his purpose.
As he looks to the future, Opeoluwa hopes to deepen his expertise through further studies while pursuing a career focused on epidemiology, research, and data analytics, contributing to evidence-informed solutions that strengthen health systems and improve health outcomes across Nigeria and beyond.
For young people who dream of transforming public health, his advice is straightforward but powerful: “Start where you are, with what you have.“
He believes that while the challenges facing public health are significant, meaningful change begins with consistent action, a willingness to learn, and collaboration with others. Above all, he encourages young professionals not to wait for permission to lead, reminding them that Nigeria needs their ideas, their voices, and their skills now more than ever.
