Resilient Health Futures

Yecenu Sasetu at the Gatefield Health Summit in Abuja on October 22–23, 2025

By Yecenu Sasetu

I attended the third Gatefield Health Summit (GHS 2025). No, I was actually the Master of Ceremonies for the two days the event was held. Health advocates, leaders, analysts, professionals, students, and journalists gathered in Abuja on October 22–23 for the Summit, which has now become a platform for dialogue on public health futures in Africa.

This year’s theme, “Resilient Health Futures,” carried both urgency and hope. Across Nigeria and the continent, health systems continue to face immense pressure, from epidemics and economic shocks to japa-ing of medical professionals. Yet amid these realities lies a deeper truth: Africans continue to adapt, innovate, and rise stronger.

I opened the event with a heartfelt reminder that health is not merely the absence of illness, but a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. I did something different: I reminded people to pause and be in the moment. We took deep breaths and said the affirmation: "I release tension, I welcome peace, I love myself." Since you are reading this, pause, take a deep breath, reflect, and say it too. Affirmations remind us of who we are and what we deserve.

CEO and Founder of Gatefield, Adewumi Emoruwa, followed with a keynote that reframed resilience beyond systems and policies. “Resilience,” he said, “is not about how long you live, but how well you live. Food needs resilience. Funding needs resilience. Pandemics need resilience. Women’s health needs resilience. Trust needs resilience.” His message was a loud call for Africa to build health systems that are not dependent, but determined; not imported, but inspired.

But perhaps the most powerful moments came on day two during the segment titled “Stories of Resilience: Lived Experiences Shaping Policy.” Moderated by Gloria Okwu, a breast cancer survivor and Senior Information Officer at the National Institute of Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), this session gave voice to those whose lives embodied the summit’s theme. It was a living testimony to strength. Gloria’s poise and quiet confidence filled the room as she introduced each storyteller, reminding everyone that “the numbers we hear are not just numbers, they are people.”

The audience listened intently as Dr. Aisha Mustapha, a gynaecologist and cancer survivor, spoke of navigating both sides of the healthcare system, as a healer and as a patient. Kenneth Anetor, an advocate against drug and alcohol abuse, shared his journey of confronting addiction and reclaiming purpose. Ummi Musa Umar recounted surviving post-partum eclampsia, turning a near-death experience into a mission to help other mothers. And Aminat Daniya, another breast cancer survivor, stood as a symbol of courage and recovery.

Each story brought the theme of resilience to life, showing that the human spirit can endure unimaginable pain and still choose hope.

By the end of the two-day event, one thing was clear: resilience is theory, but is also found in survivors who speak, in advocates who act, and in communities that refuse to give up.

For Shades of Us, this summit was a mirror, showing the power of empathy in building a truly resilient health future. The lived experiences of these champions reawakened our commitment to use media, dialogue, and community engagement to amplify voices that push for stronger, more compassionate health systems across Africa.

And for me, your Health Prefect, it was a reaffirmation of purpose, a reminder that my work as a Health Journalist is a contribution to a Resilient Health Future.

Yecenu Sasetu at the Gatefield Health Summit in Abuja on October 22–23, 2025