As Nigeria continues to grapple with the global upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, one name continues to stand out in Nigeria’s fight against the virus—Tolulope Folarin, Senior Epidemiologist and COVID-19 Response Coordinator with the World Health Organisation (WHO). Appointed to lead the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Intensification Project, Tolulope played a decisive role in strengthening public trust and ensuring life-saving information reached millions during one of the most volatile public health crises of our time.

Under her leadership, WHO and its partners implemented a state-wide risk communication strategy that reached over 358,000 individuals across 174,000 households. Beyond numbers, this intervention significantly reshaped the narrative around COVID-19 in Lagos State, directly addressing misinformation and stigma. Lagos State, with a population of nearly 20 million people, has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying spread of misinformation. The state’s dense population made it a key centre for the virus’s spread in Nigeria.

As part of the RCCE’s response to the misinformation and spread of COVID-19, Ms. Folarin introduced feedback mechanisms that allowed real-time adjustments to messaging, ensuring that concerns from communities were addressed promptly and respectfully. She also designed community mobilisation efforts that broke down barriers of fear and mistrust, effectively reducing discrimination against those infected and fostering resilience at the grassroots level. Colleagues and stakeholders describe her as a visionary epidemiologist, one who blends data-driven strategy with people-centred engagement. Her work has enhanced public compliance with preventive measures and also laid the foundation for sustainable health communication frameworks that continue to serve Nigeria’s broader health system.

“In this current phase of our response to the pandemic, building trust is as important as distributing vaccines or increasing testing capacity,” Dr Akinola, a WHO official familiar with her leadership and innovative efforts, noted. “Tolulope’s leadership ensured that communities felt heard, respected, and protected.” For her exceptional work, Tolulope has been widely commended within WHO and beyond. As Nigeria reflects on its pandemic journey and current efforts to continue to save lives, Tolulope’s contributions stand as a testament to the importance of bridging science and leadership with compassion and community outreach in the face of global health crises.