For the third consecutive year, Credo Advisory proudly participated in the prestigious 2024 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeepers Event, held in New York on September 23. Themed “A Recipe for Progress,” this year’s event focused on the urgent need for innovative solutions to keep people healthy and nourished in an increasingly warming world.
Bringing together global leaders, experts, and changemakers, the event sparked critical discussions on the intersections of nutrition, climate change, and public health. As climate change intensifies food insecurity and malnutrition, participants called for collective action and groundbreaking strategies to address these pressing global issues.
One of the event’s key highlights was the recognition of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who received the 2024 Global Goalkeeper Award for his groundbreaking work with the Bolsa Familia program, which has lifted millions out of poverty and drastically reduced stunting in Brazil. Now, as Brazil leads the G20, President Lula spearheads the Global Alliance on Hunger and Poverty, aiming to combat hunger and malnutrition on a global scale.
Other notable awardees included Ladidi Kuluwa Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director of Nigeria’s Nutrition Department, who was recognised for her efforts in fortifying bouillon cubes with essential nutrients like iron and zinc. This initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader strategy to improve public health by training thousands of frontline health workers to enhance nutrition services. Meanwhile, Beza Beshah Haile, Founder of HOPE-Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus in Ethiopia, was celebrated for advocating for raising awareness and preventing neural tube defects, a crucial aspect of maternal and child health.
The 2024 Goalkeepers Event coincided with the UN General Assembly (UNGA), amplifying the focus on urgent global challenges such as food security and climate change. The event underscored the need for coordinated, global efforts to achieve sustainable progress, especially as outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This year’s Goalkeepers Report, titled “A Race to Nourish a Warming World,” highlighted the alarming impact climate change is expected to have on child malnutrition, with millions at risk of stunting and wasting. The report calls for urgent global action to mitigate these effects and ensure a healthier future for all.
Reflecting on the event, Awele Okigbo, Founder/CEO of Credo Advisory, shared: “The connections made here reaffirm my belief in the power of collaboration. By working together, we can overcome the twin challenges of nutrition and climate change to build a healthier, more resilient world.”
As a proud Goalkeeper, Credo Advisory remains committed to leveraging its communication expertise and building impactful partnerships to drive sustainable development and inspire global progress.
