‘How I turned personal struggles into movement for underserved communities’
By Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye
Dr Faith Adole, a Nigerian-American healthcare executive and founder of the U-VOL Foundation, is revolutionising global healthcare by addressing disparities in underserved communities. With over 15 years of clinical and leadership experience, she combines her expertise as a nurse with a passion for advocacy, emphasising medical outreach, health education, clean water initiatives, and women’s empowerment.
Her foundation, U-VOL (United Vessels of Love), embodies the values of love, compassion, service, and integrity—advancing health equity through community-driven healthcare and wellness initiatives across multiple countries. In Nigeria, U-VOL has led impactful medical outreach programmes while implementing sustainable solutions such as solar-powered clean water systems and the ValueHer Initiative, which trains and equips frontline maternal health providers. She spoke to Saturday Sun about her activities
What inspired you to establish the U-VOL Foundation, and how has your personal journey shaped its mission?
U-VOL Foundation was born out of both conviction and calling. As an Advanced Practice Nurse that has worked and served across underserved communities in the US and internationally, I witnessed critical gaps, not just in access to care, but in advocacy, quality, and representation. I saw the need for medical outreach efforts that went beyond charity and instead offered dignity, sustainability, and high standards of care. I also recognised the lack of diverse voices in global health leadership, and I knew that had to change.
Growing up between two worlds, Nigeria and the US, shaped my worldview. It gave me a deep appreciation for cultural nuance and a clear understanding of the disparities many communities face. U-VOL, which stands for United Vessels of Love, was inspired by my faith and a call to serve. Our core values—love, compassion, service, integrity, and humility—reflect that foundation.
The vision behind U-VOL was always bigger than me. It was never just about delivering care. It was about answering a deeper call to restore dignity, elevate underserved voices, and create a movement rooted in love and lasting impact.
You’ve emphasised empowering African nurses and midwives to lead in global health settings. Why is this focus so important to you?
Because representation matters. African nurses and midwives are the backbone of healthcare in many communities (both rural and urban), yet they are often left out of leadership conversations. By empowering them, we’re not just filling gaps, we’re shifting the narrative as well as paradigms for years to come. I want future generations to see themselves reflected in global health leadership and know their voice, knowledge, and cultural insight are essential.
What challenges did you face while implementing healthcare initiatives like the ValueHer programme in underserved communities? And how did you overcome them?
Launching the ValueHer Initiative came with significant challenges. As a grassroots organisation introducing a pilot programme, securing funding and establishing trust with larger donors was no small feat. Finances were tight, and navigating the international landscape required persistence and strategic partnerships.
We could have launched the programme at a more modern facility, but we chose to begin in a rural care centre that lacked basic infrastructure—no consistent electricity, limited medical equipment, and scarce supplies. It felt like starting from a clean slate. But we were relentless in our pursuit to create real, lasting impact. Rather than bring in outside solutions, we worked hand in hand with the local workforce from day one. We implemented a train-the-trainer model that empowered midwives, nurses, and community health workers who understood the landscape intimately. It was a community-driven effort from the ground up.
The ValueHer Initiative succeeded because it wasn’t about us delivering aid—it was about co-creating change with those who live and serve in these communities.
U-VOL Foundation has impacted multiple African nations and the U.S. What strategies have been key to scaling your programmes internationally?
We lead with cultural humility and strong local partnerships. Instead of imposing solutions, we identify gaps with community input and design programmes that are scalable, data-driven, and rooted in local context. Our train-the-trainer model has been especially key—equipping local providers to become educators and change-makers within their own communities.
How do you ensure sustainability in your interventions, such as clean water projects and maternal health training sessions?
We don’t just install systems – we build capacity. For our clean water projects, we use solar-powered boreholes and train locals to maintain them. For maternal health, we train midwives using low-tech, high-impact tools and provide midwife kits and follow-up support. It’s not sustainable unless the community owns it.
As a healthcare executive with extensive experience, what role do you believe African women can play in global health leadership?
An essential one. African women bring experience, resilience, and innovation. They understand both systemic challenges and community needs intimately. When we uplift their voices, we create more equitable, responsive, and impactful health systems.
What has been the most rewarding moment for you since founding U-VOL Foundation in 2015?
One of the most rewarding moments was returning to a village in Nigeria – Ojegbe village in Obi Local Government Area of Benue State – three years after we installed a solar-powered clean water system. This was a community that had never had access to clean water before, and where previous efforts by others had unfortunately failed. We were the first to bring solar technology to the area, and with it, a sustainable solution that truly changed lives.
When we came back, not only was the water still flowing strong, but the joy on the faces of the community—the elders, the children, the local leaders—was something I’ll never forget. Hearing how access to clean water had improved health, reduced long treks by women and girls, and brought dignity to everyday life reminded me why we do this work. It was a beautiful affirmation that when you lead with love, collaboration, and community trust, lasting change is possible.
How do partnerships with local governments, institutions, and stakeholders contribute to the success of your programmes?
They’re foundational. We can’t work in silos. Federal as well as local governments legitimize and scale our work, institutions provide academic and technical support, and community stakeholders ensure cultural alignment. When we work together, our impact multiplies.
You’ve received several humanitarian awards. How do these recognitions influence your work and motivate your team?
These awards serve as powerful reminders that our work truly matters and that people are paying attention. For my team—especially the young African healthcare professionals—they provide meaningful validation of their dedication and ignite a deeper passion for what we do. Recognition transforms exhaustion into renewed energy and commitment. While some of these honours were awarded in Nigeria and across Africa, our organisation operates on an international scale, so acknowledgments from beyond Nigeria are equally relevant.
Some notable awards we have received within Nigeria and Africa are National Diaspora Merit Award for Volunteerism and Healthcare – NIDCOM (Nigeria); Humanitarian of Africa – Africa Heart Award for selfless and outstanding service to humanity – Hexa Media (Africa) and Global Leadership and Philanthropy – Face of Humanitarian Award – Doctors on Call (Nigeria).
Each of these recognitions not only celebrates our achievements but also inspires us to continue striving for positive impact worldwide.
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals for U-VOL Foundation’s impact on healthcare equity globally?
To scale and replicate our healthcare programmes across more underserved regions, deepen our telehealth education systems, and develop a global health leadership pipeline for underrepresented groups. We aim to transform local stories into global legacies.
You were born in the United States but trace your roots to Nigeria. How has your multicultural upbringing shaped your approach to global health equity?
It taught me empathy across borders. I learned to hold space for multiple truths and experiences. That duality fuels my passion for inclusive, culturally competent care—and my belief that everyone deserves dignity, regardless of where they live.
What pivotal moment in your American journey inspired you to transition from clinical nursing to founding U-VOL Foundation?
By the time I founded U-VOL, I had already transitioned from bedside nursing to serving as an Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner, functioning much like a General Practitioner. I was also working in leadership roles as a clinical director and healthcare administrator, so leadership wasn’t new to me. The true turning point came during a medical outreach trip to Nigeria. Volunteering in rural and underserved areas, I witnessed not only the overwhelming need for access to care, but also the deep lack of quality, empowerment, and advocacy in these settings. It wasn’t just about offering services—it was about restoring dignity and building systems that could last.
That experience shifted everything for me. I realised I couldn’t just treat individuals—I had to respond to a greater calling to address the systemic issues and create a platform that centered high-quality, community-driven care.
You’ve spoken about overcoming systemic barriers in global health leadership. What’s been the most unexpected challenge you’ve faced as a black woman in this field?
Having to constantly prove my credibility—despite my credentials, impact, and lived experience. But each time I’m underestimated, I use it as fuel to open more doors for others like me.
The most unexpected challenge has been how deeply ingrained doubt and bias can be, especially when it comes to recognising leadership in someone who looks like me. Despite my advanced degrees, clinical expertise, and years of experience as a healthcare executive, I’ve often had to over-justify my qualifications to be taken seriously. And that’s not just in international space. It happens in boardrooms, conference settings, and even in collaborative partnerships.
As a woman, there’s also an unspoken pressure to constantly perform at a higher level, to be “flawless” in order to gain the same level of respect others might receive without question. That can be exhausting, but it has also made me resilient. I’ve learned not to internalise that doubt. Instead, I use it as fuel—to open doors, to build tables, and to create space for other women and underrepresented leaders to rise.
How did your early career experiences, like working at Taco Bell, influence your perspective on serving marginalised communities?
It taught me dignity in all work and the importance of listening. I served people who were invisible to many—and that’s stayed with me. Now, I lead with that same heart of service in everything I do.
NIDCOM’s recognition of U-VOL’s work has been instrumental. How has this partnership amplified your maternal health initiatives in Nigeria?
NIDCOM has been a powerful ally—bridging the Diaspora with home. Their support has given us credibility, opened doors to key in-country stakeholders, and made it easier to scale impactful programmes like our medical missions in hard-to-reach areas.
We began working with NIDCOM in 2021 during one of our primary care medical missions in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria. From the start, they have played a vital role in helping us navigate the challenges of working in regions with tough infrastructure and growing insecurity.
They connected us with their focal point officers across various states, who helped us access remote communities, liaise with local leaders, and coordinate critical logistics. While NIDCOM did not directly provide transportation, they facilitated introductions to vetted local partners who supported our team’s safe travel and delivery of medical supplies.
As a Nigerian-American and founder of U-VOL, it has been incredibly meaningful to receive support from a national body like NIDCOM. Even though U-VOL is not a Diaspora organisation by definition, I carry that identity, and NIDCOM’s encouragement helped ease the uncertainty that often comes with navigating systems from abroad. Their support affirmed that our work was welcomed and needed, and it strengthened our ability to expand our maternal health initiatives with greater confidence and access.
If your life were a movie, you’d title it ‘Beauty from Ashes.’ What does this reflect about your journey and mission?
It reflects grace through adversity. I’ve both personally experienced and witnessed hardship, loss, and systemic barriers—but each challenge became a stepping stone. U-VOL is proof that even from brokenness, purpose can rise and serve others.
Beauty from Ashes reflects the grace, growth, and purpose that have emerged from some of the most challenging seasons of my life. Before founding U-VOL, one of my biggest battles was internal—struggling with academic setbacks, low self-worth, and a lack of confidence. It was truly a battlefield of the mind. I had to grow into myself, learn to understand my strengths and weaknesses, and develop the emotional intelligence needed to lead with clarity and compassion.
Even as I gained qualifications—including earning my first master’s degree in my early twenties—external challenges persisted. As a young Black woman stepping into leadership, I often felt the pressure to prove myself. In the early days of U-VOL, when meeting with community leaders in Nigeria, I was frequently overlooked. People would assume the man standing beside me was the leader of U-VOL, not me. Even after correcting them, some had a hard time believing it. They saw me as too young, too far removed, not Nigerian enough (by their standards) or simply not the kind of person they expected to be behind something so impactful.
Those moments were disheartening, but they didn’t define me. Instead, they deepened my resolve. Every challenge became an invitation to rise above, to lead with love, and to create space for others who have been underestimated. U-VOL Foundation is the fruit of that journey. It is proof that from insecurity, bias, and broken systems, something deeply beautiful can grow—something rooted in purpose, driven by compassion, and led by someone who once had to fight just to believe in herself.
What’s one lesson you’d share with your younger self, starting this non-profit journey?
Don’t wait for everything to be perfect. Start with what you have. Purpose doesn’t require permission. And you are more powerful than you think.
You’ve mentioned enjoying travel and national parks. What’s your favourite travel destination, and how does nature recharge you for your work?
Yosemite National Park in California is definitely one of my favourite places. There’s something powerful about standing beneath those towering sequoias or looking out over the vast valley. Nature humbles me—it reminds me of how small we are in the grand scheme of things and allows me to reflect on God’s creation. It’s grounding and deeply spiritual. I also find so much joy in experiencing new places, cultures, food, and people. Travelling reminds me of the beauty in our diversity and the common threads that connect us all. Whether I’m hiking a quiet trail or sharing a meal in a new country, it recharges my spirit and renews my clarity and compassion for the work I’m called to do.
What’s your go-to comfort food after a long day of advocacy?
A warm plate of jollof rice, chicken and plantains. It’s comfort, culture, and fuel all in one!