Meet Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe
At the helm of UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Zimbabwe is Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale. The recently appointed Representative, took over from Ms. Laylee Moshiri
Dr. Oyewale has worked with UNICEF for 19 years. He started his career working as a Medical Doctor in Lagos, Nigeria. In 2002 he joined UNICEF working as the HIV/AIDS and Adolescent Participation Specialist for UNICEF Nigeria based in Abuja.
Prior to his appointment to Zimbabwe, he was the UNICEF Deputy Representative in Pakistan with a responsibility for the formulation, management and oversight of UNICEF’s programmes, humanitarian action, and partnerships with the Government, development partners and the private sector. Before that he was the UNICEF Acting Representative and Deputy Representative in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Dr Oyewale has also undertaken postings to Bangladesh and Indonesia as well as high level programme and management roles in UNICEF Headquarters in New York. He holds a Doctor of Literature and Philosophy (Dlitt Et Phil) in Health Studies from the University of Pretoria, a Master of Public Health from the University of South Africa and Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Degree from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos in Nigeria.
Commenting on his role in Zimbabwe, Dr Oyewale said: “My primary goal is to support the Government in ensuring the development of children in Zimbabwe. I commend the Government of Zimbabwe on the development and adoption of the National Development Strategy 1, which has a comprehensive coverage of children issues. I commit to supporting the Government in its implementation and the achievement of its vision.”
He also informed that UNICEF Zimbabwe was in the process of developing a new Country Programme which will guide programming from 2022 to 2026 and count on the continuing engagement of the Government and Development Partners in this process.
