Idris Otun

Idris Otun is a committed global health enthusiast and advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on promoting good health and wellbeing. He is a doctoral candidate and has been involved as a research assistant at the Malaria Research Unit, College of Biosciences, at the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Nigeria. In this role, he has been an active member of the Ogun State research team, contributing to the World Health Organisation's Malaria Vector Surveillance Project through the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR).

One of Idris's remarkable dedication was recognised in 2020 when the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) selected him to represent Nigeria as a "Malaria and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Youth Army Champion”, thus elected as a State Coordinator. His work focuses on sustainable disease control strategies, especially through community and youth engagement. Demonstrating his commitment to public health, Idris also served as a student ambassador for the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH) from 2019.  He also has membership affiliations with related international organisations, including the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, United to Beat Malaria, the International Association of Public Health Logisticians, the West African Academy of Public Health, and the Pan African Mosquito Control Association.

Beyond his healthcare initiatives, Idris is a passionate advocate for various Sustainable Development Goals projects, notably in the areas of climate change, sexual and reproductive health, and gender equality. His efforts have been recognised with a Fellowship from the Federation of International Gender and Human Rights (FIGHR) in 2021 and a recognition from the Young and Informed Teens Initiative (YAITI) project, sponsored by the US Consulate General in Lagos. As a Global Youth Ambassador alumnus for 'Theirworld', he has shown his strong commitment to global youth empowerment. Idris also leads the research and development team at the Centre for Adolescent Health and Social Development, influencing policies and programmes that impact adolescent health and social wellbeing.

He won the RSTMH Early Career Researcher’s grant 2023. Selected as a Global Talent for the UNLEASH Global Innovation Lab 2023 in Rwanda, Idris worked on SDG tracks 3 and 5, demonstrating his dedication to sustainable development. Idris is passionately committed to solving global challenges and improving health and wellbeing, while contributing towards a healthy and sustainable future for humanity.