TDProf. Uche Veronica Amazigo, Nigeria’s celebrated scientist and public health icon, has once again drawn international recognition.
She was among distinguished honorees celebrated last week by the Thai Royal Family during the centennial milestone of the prestigious Prince Mahidol Award (PMA), which she first won in 2012.
Prince Mahidol Award: A Global Legacy
Since its establishment in 1992, the PMA has honoured individuals whose groundbreaking contributions to medicine and public health have transformed lives worldwide.
By 2025, the Award had reached a historic milestone—100 laureates whose collective efforts have shaped medical advancements and global health policies.
Among the honorees are three Africans:
- Prof. Frederick Sai of Ghana (1995)
- Prof. Adetokunbo Lucas of Nigeria (1999)
- Prof. Uche Amazigo of Nigeria (2012)
Seven PMA laureates have also gone on to win the Nobel Prize, underscoring the Award’s global prestige.
Global Laureates and Royal Celebration
The 2026 commemorative gathering, hosted under the Royal Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, brought laureates to Thailand’s northern Nan Province from 2–5 February.
The event featured cultural tours, academic exchanges, and the unveiling of the Prince Mahidol Laureates Nexus (PMAN), showcasing portraits and publications of all 100 laureates.
Notable honorees include:
- Prof. Satoshi Ōmura of Japan (1997), Nobel Prize winner in Physiology (2025)
- Dr. Margaret Chan of Hong Kong, former WHO Director-General (1998)
- Walter C. Willett, American nutrition researcher (2025)
- Alfred Sommer, ophthalmologist and epidemiologist (1997)
Amazigo’s Transformative Impact
The PMA Foundation praised Prof. Amazigo for pioneering community-directed treatment in Africa.
The Foundation said Amazigo is revolutionising the control of neglected tropical diseases by empowering communities.
As Director of WHO’s African Programme on Onchocerciasis (River Blindness), she expanded treatment to millions across 19 countries.
Her leadership earned APOC the €1 million António Champalimaud Vision Award in 2011, one of the world’s largest prizes for blindness prevention.
She has also contributed expertise to ECOWAS campaigns against malaria, applying integrated strategies similar to those used in River Blindness control.
Beyond International Recognition
Prof. Amazigo’s impact extends beyond global accolades.
She founded the Pan-African Community Initiative on Education and Health (PACIEH), empowering mothers to deliver school feeding and health programmes.
She also established the Goodwill Medical Centre (GMC) in Enugu, supported by the TY Danjuma Foundation, which provides affordable healthcare to low-income families.
In 2025, GMC unveiled the Avah River Bridge, linking underserved communities to essential services.
It, meanwhile, expanded maternal, child health, and insurance coverage in partnership with local authorities.
A Life of Service and Legacy
A Knight of Burkina Faso’s National Order (2011), Prof. Amazigo has been honoured by the Hallmarks of Labour Foundation (HLF) for her integrity and contributions to public health.
Married to Emeritus Professor John Amazigo, she remains a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science and a tireless advocate for community-driven healthcare.
Both she and her Emeritus Professor husband—Amazigo are Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Science.
Her story exemplifies how science, compassion, and resilience can transform lives.
The development makes her recognition by the Thai Royal Family not just a personal honour, but a celebration of Africa’s contribution to global health.
