Boladale Akin-Kolapo

Boladale Akin-Kolapo is a seasoned public health professional with over 19 years of progressive experience leading and scaling complex health and development programs across Africa. She has held senior leadership roles in both local and international organizations, delivering strategic and technical expertise in adolescent sexual and reproductive health, family planning, MNCH, youth inclusion, economic empowerment, business development, and social and behaviour change communication. Currently the Country Director for Girl Effect Nigeria, Boladale leads transformative, cross-sectoral initiatives that harness digital innovation, behavioural science, and partnerships to empower adolescent girls. She is widely recognized for her integrity, strategic vision, stakeholder engagement skills, and strong advocacy for gender equity and youth development. Boladale has successfully managed donor-funded programs supported by USAID, WHO, the World Bank, Global Fund, Gavi, and the Gates Foundation, and has played a pivotal role in securing and stewarding multi-million-dollar investments. She holds a Master’s in Health Promotion and Public Health from Brunel University, a Postgraduate Diploma from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and recently completed the Executive Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. A Fellow of the Academy of Public Health, she is currently pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at the University of Warwick.