Draft:Kemi DaSilva-Ibru

• Comment: See WP:COI.
  See also WP:BLP. Statements, starting with the date of birth, need to be sourced or removed. Please read the notability and sourcing guidelines from the previous declines. This is very far from a suitable submission. Entire sections are unsourced, and text is heavily promotional. Greenman (talk) 15:14, 2 May 2025 (UTC)

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Kemi DaSilva-Ibru

Kemi DaSilva-Ibru (born June 21, 1969) is a specialist healthcare physician, public health advocate, philanthropist, and social activist dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls through her medical practice and advocacy against gender-based violence. With over 20 years of experience as a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, she is the founder of the Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF)], a non-profit organisation that addresses gender-based violence, rape, and human trafficking in Nigeria. Through WARIF, Dasilva-Ibru has provided medical care, counseling, and social support to countless women and girls, pioneering initiatives to raise awareness and combat the cultural stigma surrounding gender-based violence.

Early Life and Education

Kemi DaSilva-Ibru was born to parents who were both healthcare professionals.

After earning her medical degree from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, DaSilva-Ibru pursued her interest in obstetrics and gynaecology at Howard University School of Law, Washington, DC. USA

To broaden her expertise in International health, she earned a master’s degree in public health from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. Throughout her career, DaSilva-Ibru has engaged in postgraduate medical training across various specialties to enhance her practice and understanding of public health systems. She is also an alumna of the Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, where she further honed her leadership skills. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Gender-Based Violence, Public Health & Policy at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Her research centres on innovative strategies to address the systemic causes and effects of gender-based violence, reinforcing her position as a thought leader in women’s health and advocacy.

Spanning three decades and three continents, DaSilva-Ibru’s academic and professional journey reflects her unwavering dedication to advancing healthcare and empowering women and girls worldwide.

Career

Dr. Kemi DaSilva-Ibru is a practicing obstetrician and gynaecologist who returned to Nigeria to embark on her career as a consultant specialist. Deeply committed to public service, she began her work in public healthcare facilities, where she gained first hand exposure to the dire state of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the country. An issue that affects 1 in 4 girls in Nigeria before the age of 18, in a country where 49% of its 230 million population are women.

As her career progressed, Dr. DaSilva-Ibru transitioned into private practice, where she continued to focus on the health and well-being of women and girls. Her patient population grew to include survivors of gender-based violence, further exposing her to the critical need for specialised care, preventative measures, and systemic change.

In 2016, she founded the Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), which established the WARIF Rape Crisis Centre in Lagos. Since its inception, the centre has attended to over 6,000 survivors, offering free medical care, psychosocial support, and legal aid. WARIF’s work extends across Nigeria and Africa, implementing educational and community based programmes and advocating on a national level for policy change

Dr. DaSilva-Ibru’s ongoing PhD in Gender-Based Violence, Public Health & Policy at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine reflects her commitment to deepening her understanding of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV), develop evidence-based frameworks and scalable programmes that provide care and support but also address root causes to foster sustainable, systemic change.

Her dedication to combating sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) has made her a leader in public health advocacy, and her efforts continue to impact countless lives across Nigeria and beyond.

Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF)

Kemi DaSilva-Ibru is the founder of the Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), a leading non-profit organisation in Nigeria addressing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Established to combat the high prevalence of sexual violence, WARIF provides holistic support to survivors while tackling the root causes of gender-based violence through intervention and prevention initiatives. Since its opening in 2016, the WARIF Rape Crisis Centre has already attended to over 6,000 rape and sexual assault cases.

The foundation operates with a focus on health, education, and community service. The WARIF Rape Crisis Centre offers free medical care, psycho-social counseling, and legal support, while also collaborating with state governments to offer technical expertise and establish Sexual Assault Referral Centres across Nigeria. WARIF’s educational programmes, such as the Boys Conversation Café and the WARIF Educational School Programme, aim to reduce SGBV by engaging students in behaviour change initiatives. The first online classroom on the prevention of campus sexual violence in 106 tertiary institutions in Nigeria was also implemented. Community outreach efforts, including the Gatekeepers Project and the Women’s Empowerment Programme, equip local leaders and vulnerable women with the tools to address and prevent gender-based violence.

In March 2020, during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns, the centre remained opened after authorities locked down Lagos as the organisation became inundated with SOS messages from sexual violence victims and their guardians through its helpline. There was a 64% increase in calls during that period. In an interview with CNN, DaSilva-Ibru said, “Our phones were ringing. Women were calling and desperately asking how we can help them, these were women in fear for their lives, as many have now been forced into quarantine with their abusers, in an already volatile environment”. Dr.DaSilva-Ibru had to personally source PPE, face masks and other protective gear. When that was not enough, the centre launched an online appeal for funds from donors to buy the equipment at no cost to survivors. It was this experience that led to her 2020 TED talk about the ‘shadow pandemic’.

Other Activities

Dr. DaSilva-Ibru has served on different advisory and committee roles. She is currently the West and Central African representative for the UN ACT Program, a global committee aiming to accelerate efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women through Advocacy, Coalition building, and Transformative feminist action (ACT).

Professional Membership

Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria American Medical Association Medical Women Association of Nigeria Association of Public Health Physicians Nigeria Faculty of Public Health, UK Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria Women in Healthcare Network (founding member) Healthcare Federation of Nigeria American Public Health Association.

Personal Life

Married with three children.

Recognitions

WiMBIZ Top 100 Most Influential Women (2017) Leading Ladies Africa’s ‘100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria (2018) Orange Active Citizen, 2017 25 People Pioneers Brands, International Women's Day Nigerian British Council Recognition Exceptional Woman Past and Present HER Network’s Woman of the Year (2019) 50 African Women in Development CNN’s COVID Hero and Newsmaker (2020) National Council of Women Affairs’ Award of Excellence (2022) Gold Award, Thought Leader of the Year (2023) Women Changing the World, Silver Award (2023) Forbes 50 over 50 in Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA)