Bukola Afeni
The Chief Executive Officer of the Merck Foundation, Dr Rasha Kelej, has been named among the 100 Most Influential Africans 2025.
This is in recognition of her outstanding contributions to healthcare capacity-building, women’s empowerment, and public health policy across the continent.
Reacting to the recognition, Dr. Kelej expressed her gratitude for the honour and acknowledged her fellow awardees.
She congratulated all those recognised, describing the award as a collective achievement for leaders dedicated to Africa’s development.
In her words “I am truly honoured to be recognized as one of the ‘100 Most Influential Africans 2025’. I am proud to share this recognition alongside exceptional and prominent leaders, including the Presidents of Ghana, Angola, Burkina Faso, and South Africa, who have achieved extraordinary milestones in their lives,” she said.
Under her leadership, the Merck Foundation has become a major force in strengthening Africa’s health systems through the training of medical professionals and the award of thousands of scholarships in critical and underserved specialties, including fertility care, oncology, diabetes, and hypertension.
Dr Kelej has been widely commended for championing long-term, sustainable healthcare solutions, with a strong focus on building local expertise rather than short-term interventions.
Her work has significantly expanded access to specialized medical care in several African countries, particularly for women and marginalized communities.
A flagship programme under her stewardship is the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI), which partners with African First Ladies to advocate for women’s health, girls’ education, and scientific training.
“The initiative has strengthened advocacy at the highest political levels, fostering cross-country collaboration and national commitment to health and education reforms.”
Beyond her continental engagements, Dr Kelej has also served as an Egyptian Senator, a role that has enabled her to contribute to national policy formulation while advancing public health, gender equality, and social development across Africa.
Dr Rasha Kelej is widely noted for her unique blend of philanthropy, policy engagement, and long-term healthcare capacity-building, positioning her as one of the continent’s most influential advocates for sustainable health systems and social transformation.
