By Damilola Fatunmise
In recognition of her outstanding achievements and leadership in public health, community-centered innovation, and environmental health advocacy, Ms. Busayo Olamide Tomoh has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Health by Helm Weldios University of Management and Technology. This distinction marks a defining moment in her distinguished career and affirms her place among leading voices shaping the future of global health systems through research, advocacy, and practice.
Conferred in February 2023, the honorary degree celebrates Ms. Tomoh’s exceptional body of work, which spans health systems strengthening, policy-oriented field interventions, youth and women’s health empowerment, and a broad spectrum of scholarly research. Helm Weldios University, a forward-thinking academic institution known for recognizing exemplary professionals who combine technical excellence with social impact, described Ms. Tomoh’s contributions as “a benchmark for inclusive leadership, scientific integrity, and transformational development in public health.”
The decision to award Ms. Tomoh this prestigious honor was based on a holistic evaluation of her achievements across academia, nonprofit health initiatives, and grassroots community programming. As a researcher, strategist, and advocate, she has led impactful projects that have reshaped public health programming in underserved communities across Nigeria and the African continent. Her work has directly addressed urgent global health challenges including sanitation inequities, healthcare accessibility gaps, disease prevention strategies, and telemedicine integration.
Over the past decade, Ms. Tomoh has emerged as a leading expert in the design and implementation of health programs that center marginalized populations and are informed by data, policy, and empathy. Her leadership in projects supported by USAID’s E-WASH initiative has contributed to large-scale improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in multiple Nigerian states, reaching thousands of residents through advocacy, infrastructure enhancement, and hygiene education. She has also played a strategic role in documenting HIV/AIDS programs with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), and in designing youth climate-health advocacy campaigns in partnership with UNICEF Nigeria. These roles underscore a commitment to multidisciplinary, real-world interventions that improve both policy frameworks and on-the-ground realities.
Beyond the field, Ms. Tomoh is a prolific academic contributor. With over 10 peer-reviewed journal publications, she has explored critical issues at the intersection of public health, digital innovation, and healthcare systems engineering. Her recent publications evaluate the impact of telehealth in rural environments, health system resilience in the face of pandemics, and the role of artificial intelligence in diagnostics—all with an emphasis on equity, scalability, and sustainability. Her work has appeared in respected journals.
In announcing the honorary doctorate, Helm Weldios University praised Ms. Tomoh’s ability to bridge academic rigor with practical application. The university emphasized that the degree was not simply in recognition of past accomplishments, but a declaration of trust in her continued influence in reshaping global health systems through scholarship, strategic innovation, and inclusive leadership. University representatives also noted that Ms. Tomoh’s integrated approach to science, public communication, and field engagement is exactly the kind of multidimensional excellence they seek to elevate through such honors.
For Ms. Tomoh, the conferral represents both a personal and professional milestone. In remarks shared following the announcement, she expressed deep gratitude for the recognition, stating: “This honorary doctorate is not just a celebration of my journey, but a reflection of the collective efforts of many—community leaders, public health workers, researchers, and educators—working to build a more just, healthier world. I am honored to receive this distinction and committed to continuing the work it represents.”
What distinguishes Ms. Tomoh’s trajectory is not merely the breadth of her experience, but the values underpinning her work—equity, data-driven change, grassroots inclusion, and long-term impact. She has consistently used her platform to amplify the voices of women, rural populations, and young people in conversations about public health policy and science-driven solutions. Her career reflects a rare blend of scholarship and service, rooted in the belief that health is not just a biomedical challenge, but a social justice imperative.
The honorary doctorate further affirms Ms. Tomoh’s place among a small and respected group of public health professionals whose expertise commands international recognition. It opens new doors for collaborative research, policy consultation, and high-level advisory roles, while strengthening her already influential voice in the global health arena. Whether advising government institutions, mentoring emerging health scholars, or contributing to regional health resilience frameworks, Ms. Tomoh is poised to deepen her impact in the years ahead.
As public health systems across the world face mounting pressure from climate change, population growth, disease emergence, and structural inequality, the need for leaders like Ms. Tomoh has never been more urgent. Her recognition by Helm Weldios University of Management and Technology is not only a celebration of her accomplishments to date—it is a signal of confidence in her ongoing ability to lead, innovate, and inspire.