Toyin Saraki Biography explores the life of the Nigerian entrepreneur, philanthropist and global advocate for maternal, newborn and child health. She is widely known as the founder and President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), a Nigerian-based non-profit organisation focused on improving healthcare outcomes for women and children across Africa.
Beyond her philanthropic work, Saraki has built a career spanning business, law, public advocacy and social impact. She has worked with international organisations and health initiatives and has become an influential voice on maternal and newborn healthcare, midwifery and the wellbeing of women and children.
She is also the wife of Bukola Saraki, the former President of the Nigerian Senate and former Governor of Kwara State. However, Toyin Saraki has established a public profile through her own work, particularly her efforts to improve healthcare and promote women’s empowerment.
This biography covers Toyin Saraki’s age, husband, children, family background, education, career, philanthropic activities, Wellbeing Foundation Africa, awards, net worth and influence.
See also: Tony Elumelu Biography: Age, Early Life, Wife, Children, Education, Businesses & Net Worth 2026
Toyin Saraki Biography Highlights
- Full Name: Toyin Ojora Saraki
- Date of Birth: September 6, 1964
- Age: 61 years old in 2026
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Profession: Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Lawyer and Global Health Advocate
- Known For: Founder and President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa
- Husband: Bukola Saraki
- Children: Four
- Areas of Focus: Maternal health, newborn health, women’s empowerment and healthcare advocacy
- Organisation: Wellbeing Foundation Africa
Toyin Saraki Early Life and Family Background
Toyin Saraki was born into the prominent Ojora and Adele royal families of Lagos, Nigeria, with a family background rooted in traditional leadership, business and public life.
She is the daughter of Oloye Adekunle Ojora, the Otunba of Lagos, and the granddaughter of Omoba Abdulaziz Ojora, who held the title of Olori Omo-Oba of Lagos.
On her maternal side, Toyin is the daughter of Erelu Oodua, Iyaloye Ojuolape Ojora, née Akinfe. She is also the granddaughter of Iyaloye Sabainah Akinkugbe, who was a chieftess. The Akinfe family is a titled family of industrialists from Ondo State.
Growing up within families connected to traditional leadership and industry, Toyin Saraki was exposed to a background that combined Nigerian heritage, public service, business and community leadership. She later developed her own career in law, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and healthcare advocacy.
Toyin Saraki Age
Toyin Saraki was born on September 6, 1964, making her 61 years old in 2026.
She has spent much of her adult life working in business, philanthropy and social development. Her public profile has expanded significantly through her work with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa and her involvement in international maternal and child health advocacy.
Toyin Saraki Nationality and Heritage
Toyin Saraki is Nigerian.
She comes from the Ojora family, which has longstanding roots in Lagos and a prominent history in Nigerian business and public life.
Her marriage to Bukola Saraki also connects her to the Saraki family of Kwara State, one of Nigeria’s most influential political families. Despite these family connections, Toyin has built much of her own public identity through healthcare advocacy and philanthropy.
Toyin Saraki Education
Toyin Saraki began her early education in Lagos, attending St Saviour’s School, Ikoyi, before continuing at Holy Child College, Lagos.
She later moved to the United Kingdom, where she attended Roedean School in Brighton.
For her university education, Saraki studied law at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, where she earned her LL.B degree. She subsequently obtained an LL.M in International Economic Law from King’s College London, also part of the University of London.
After completing her legal education in the United Kingdom, she returned to Nigeria and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1989.
Her legal education and professional training provided the foundation for a career that would later span law, business, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and healthcare advocacy.
Toyin Saraki Career and Business Background
Toyin Saraki began her professional career in the corporate and legal sectors before moving increasingly into philanthropy and social development.
Her career has included work as a lawyer and entrepreneur, while her later activities have focused heavily on healthcare advocacy and charitable initiatives.
She has used her professional experience and public platform to advocate for better healthcare systems, particularly in areas affecting women and children.
Her work has brought her into contact with governments, healthcare professionals, international organisations and development agencies working to improve health outcomes across Africa.
Toyin Saraki Marriage to Bukola Saraki
Toyin Saraki is married to Abubakar Bukola Saraki, popularly known as Bukola Saraki.
The couple have been married for several decades and have built a family together. Bukola Saraki is a Nigerian physician and politician who served as the Governor of Kwara State from 2003 to 2011 and later became President of the Nigerian Senate from 2015 to 2019.
While her husband’s career has been largely associated with Nigerian politics, Toyin Saraki has developed her own professional identity through entrepreneurship, philanthropy and global healthcare advocacy.
Their marriage has made them one of Nigeria’s better-known public couples, but Toyin’s work with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa has given her an independent profile beyond her husband’s political career.
Toyin Saraki’s Children
Toyin Saraki and Bukola Saraki have four children.
The couple have maintained a relatively private approach to their children’s personal lives, although the family has occasionally appeared in public events and social settings.
As the wife of a former Senate President and the founder of a major philanthropic organisation, Toyin has balanced family life with a demanding career involving international travel, public advocacy and social impact initiatives.
Founding the Wellbeing Foundation Africa
One of the most important milestones in Toyin Saraki’s career was the establishment of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA).
The foundation focuses on improving maternal, newborn and child health while supporting women, families and healthcare workers.
Its programmes have addressed areas including maternal healthcare, reproductive health, newborn care, midwifery, health education and women’s empowerment.
Through the foundation, Saraki has worked to improve access to quality healthcare and strengthen the experiences of women and families during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period.
The organisation’s work has extended beyond Nigeria and has involved partnerships with healthcare institutions, governments, international development organisations and global health advocates.
Maternal and Newborn Health Advocacy
Toyin Saraki has become particularly recognised for her advocacy on maternal and newborn health.
Her work focuses on reducing preventable deaths among mothers and babies and improving access to quality care before, during and after childbirth.
She has consistently advocated for greater investment in healthcare systems, improved working conditions for health professionals and better access to skilled birth attendants.
Her advocacy has also highlighted the importance of midwives and frontline healthcare workers in improving maternal and newborn outcomes.
Through the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, she has supported initiatives aimed at strengthening healthcare education and improving the quality of care available to mothers and children.
Toyin Saraki Global Healthcare Advocacy
Toyin Saraki’s healthcare advocacy has taken her beyond Nigeria.
She has participated in international discussions and initiatives focused on maternal health, women’s rights, healthcare access and sustainable development.
Her work has brought her into engagement with global health organisations and international institutions, where she has advocated for stronger policies and investment in maternal, newborn and child healthcare.
Her public advocacy has helped position her as one of the Nigerian voices contributing to international discussions about women’s health and healthcare delivery in Africa.
Toyin Saraki Philanthropy and Global Health Advocacy
Toyin Saraki has spent more than two decades working in philanthropy and advocacy, with a particular focus on maternal, newborn and child health, gender-based discrimination and violence, education, socioeconomic empowerment and community livelihoods in Africa.
As Founder-President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), she has advocated for improvements in healthcare systems and policies aimed at reducing preventable maternal and infant deaths. Her work has also supported efforts to improve the quality of care available to women and newborns while promoting greater access to healthcare information and services.
In 2012, Saraki launched #MaternalMonday, a social media campaign through the Wellbeing Foundation Africa that uses digital platforms to raise awareness about maternal and newborn health issues. The campaign has helped bring conversations about pregnancy, childbirth and maternal healthcare to a wider audience.
Her involvement in philanthropy began before the establishment of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa. In 1993, she contributed to the establishment of Lifestream Charity, adding to her longstanding involvement in charitable and social development initiatives.
Saraki is also an advocate of the United Nations Every Woman Every Child initiative, which focuses on improving the health and wellbeing of women, children and adolescents around the world.
Her international roles have included serving on the board of the Global Foundation for the Elimination of Domestic Violence and the Africa Justice Foundation. In 2019, she was appointed to the International Steering Council of ICPD25, an international initiative focused on advancing commitments to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
She has also served as a Board Observer to the World Health Organization Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) and as a Special Advisor to the WHO Africa Regional Office.
Saraki’s advocacy roles have extended to several international health organisations. She has served as a Newborn Champion for Save the Children Nigeria, a Universal Health Coverage Champion recognised by Devex, a Family Planning Champion for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and a Global Champion for the White Ribbon Alliance.
In 2014, Saraki was appointed the inaugural Global Goodwill Ambassador to the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). The appointment reflected her longstanding advocacy for midwives and her work promoting quality maternal and newborn healthcare.
Through these roles, Saraki has built a career that extends beyond traditional philanthropy. Her work has involved healthcare advocacy, public policy, women’s rights and international partnerships, making maternal and newborn health a central theme of her public life.
Toyin Saraki Awards and Recognition
Toyin Saraki has received recognition for her contributions to healthcare advocacy, philanthropy and women’s empowerment.
Her work with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa has earned her recognition from organisations and institutions involved in global health and social development.
She has also been recognised for her advocacy on maternal and newborn health and for her efforts to strengthen healthcare systems and support women and children.
Her influence extends beyond traditional philanthropy, with her work placing her among Nigerian advocates who have contributed to international conversations about maternal health and women’s wellbeing.
Toyin Saraki Personal Life and Public Profile
Toyin Saraki has maintained a prominent public profile through her work in philanthropy and healthcare advocacy.
Her marriage to Bukola Saraki has also attracted public interest, particularly because of his former positions as Governor of Kwara State and President of the Nigerian Senate.
However, Toyin has established an independent identity through her work with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa. Her public activities have focused largely on maternal healthcare, women’s empowerment and social development rather than political office.
She continues to participate in public discussions and international initiatives focused on improving healthcare outcomes for women and children.
Toyin Saraki Legacy and Influence
Toyin Saraki’s influence is closely linked to her work in maternal and newborn health and her efforts to improve healthcare delivery in Africa.
Through the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, she has helped draw attention to issues affecting mothers, newborns and healthcare professionals. Her advocacy has also contributed to broader conversations about the importance of skilled healthcare workers, particularly midwives, in reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
Her career demonstrates how philanthropy can be combined with advocacy and public policy engagement to address challenges within healthcare systems.
While her marriage connects her to one of Nigeria’s prominent political families, her work in healthcare has established a distinct professional identity of its own.
Conclusion
Toyin Saraki is a Nigerian entrepreneur, philanthropist and healthcare advocate whose public career has focused heavily on improving the wellbeing of women and children.
Born into the prominent Ojora family, she later built her own profile through business, philanthropy and social advocacy. Her marriage to former Senate President Bukola Saraki has also made her a familiar name in Nigerian public life.
Her most significant professional achievement is the establishment and leadership of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, through which she has championed maternal and newborn health, women’s empowerment and healthcare development.
Her work has extended beyond Nigeria through international partnerships and global health advocacy, giving her a platform to contribute to discussions about healthcare and women’s wellbeing across Africa.
FAQs About Toyin Saraki
Who is Toyin Saraki?
Toyin Saraki is a Nigerian entrepreneur, philanthropist, lawyer and global health advocate. She is the founder and President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa.
How old is Toyin Saraki?
Toyin Saraki was born on September 6, 1964, making her 61 years old in 2026.
Who is Toyin Saraki’s husband?
Toyin Saraki is married to Bukola Saraki, a Nigerian physician and politician who served as Governor of Kwara State and later as President of the Nigerian Senate.
How many children does Toyin Saraki have?
Toyin Saraki and Bukola Saraki have four children.
What is Toyin Saraki known for?
She is best known for founding the Wellbeing Foundation Africa and for her advocacy for maternal, newborn and child health.
What is the Wellbeing Foundation Africa?
The Wellbeing Foundation Africa is a Nigerian-based non-profit organisation founded by Toyin Saraki. It focuses on maternal, newborn and child health, women’s wellbeing and healthcare advocacy.
What does Toyin Saraki do?
She works as an entrepreneur, philanthropist and healthcare advocate, with much of her public work focused on maternal health, women’s empowerment and improving healthcare outcomes in Africa.
