Merck Foundation Announces Winners of Fashion, Film, and Song Awards 2025

The Merck Foundation has announced the winners of its annual Fashion, Film, and Song Awards for 2025. The awards aim to raise awareness about important social issues such as infertility stigma, girl education, women empowerment, child marriage, FGM, and GBV in African countries.

Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej expressed her pride in announcing the winners of the 2023 Merck Foundation Fashion, Song, and Film Awards together with African First Ladies who are also ambassadors of 'Merck Foundation More Than a Mother'. The awards received a record number of entries from 15 African countries.

The winners were announced under two themes: 'More Than a Mother' and 'Diabetes & Hypertension'. The 'More Than a Mother' theme aimed to raise awareness about social issues such as breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, women empowerment, ending child marriage, ending FGM, and stopping GBV at all levels.

The winners of the Merck Foundation Fashion Awards 'More Than a Mother' 2025 included Ropafadzo Mapira from Zimbabwe, Adebayo Balikis Ireti and Christianah Adebimpe Dare from Nigeria. The winners of the Merck Foundation Song Awards 'More Than a Mother' 2025 included Vincent Owino from Kenya, Alice Eze from Nigeria, and Maureen Kabasiita from Uganda.

The Merck Foundation has also released more than 30 songs in English, French, Portuguese, and local languages to address important issues such as breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, women empowerment, and diabetes awareness. The foundation has also released a series of animation films to address social and health issues.