There are moments in the life of an organisation that deserve particular recognition. Today is one of those moments for the International Council for the Advancement and Accreditation of Public Health Education (ICAPHE).

We are delighted to congratulate our President, Professor Friday Okonofua, on his election as President of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), one of Africa’s most distinguished scientific organisations and a leading voice for science, research and innovation across the continent.

Professor Okonofua’s election is a well-deserved acknowledgement of a remarkable career dedicated to advancing public health, medical education, scientific research and health systems strengthening. Throughout his professional life, he has combined academic excellence with visionary leadership, making lasting contributions to improving health outcomes across Africa and beyond.

At ICAPHE, we have had the privilege of witnessing that leadership first-hand. Since becoming President, Professor Okonofua has played a central role in guiding our mission to advance quality, excellence and international standards in public health education. His commitment to evidence-informed practice, institutional collaboration and continuous improvement has helped strengthen ICAPHE’s work as an independent international accreditation and quality assurance organisation serving the global public health education community.

His election to the presidency of the African Academy of Sciences is not only recognition of his personal achievements but also reflects the increasingly important role that scientific leadership plays in addressing complex global challenges. As public health systems continue to evolve, the need for strong institutions, high-quality education and rigorous scientific evidence has never been greater.

The African Academy of Sciences has, for more than four decades, championed scientific excellence, supported emerging researchers and promoted the use of science to improve lives across Africa. Under Professor Okonofua’s leadership, the Academy is well placed to continue this important work while strengthening partnerships that advance research, innovation and sustainable development.

We are particularly proud that Professor Okonofua will continue to lead ICAPHE while assuming this prestigious new responsibility. We have every confidence that his integrity, experience and commitment to excellence will continue to benefit both organisations and the wider international public health community.

On behalf of the ICAPHE Board of Trustees, Advisory Board, Review Board, Secretariat and our international network of partners, we extend our sincere congratulations and our very best wishes for every success during his presidency of the African Academy of Sciences.

Congratulations, Professor Okonofua (Friday). We look forward with great anticipation to the positive impact your leadership will continue to make for science, public health and higher education across Africa and throughout the world.