Popular Nigerian health expert, Osinakachi Akuma Kalu, has been elected to the Board of the International Longevity Alliance (ILA), following the organization’s General Assembly and Board Elections held on January 28, 2026.
The election was announced by the ILA after its annual General Assembly, during which representatives of federated member organizations voted to constitute the Alliance’s governing board for the next term. Kalu was elected as one of five representatives of ILA federated members who will serve on the board for the next two years, representing Afrolongevity and South Africa.
The International Longevity Alliance is a global network of non-profit organizations and social enterprises focused on advancing healthy longevity through research, policy, education, and international collaboration.
In a message following the election, Kalu described his appointment as an honour and emphasized the importance of Africa’s role in shaping the global longevity agenda.
“Africa must help shape the future of longevity, not as an afterthought, but by design, through culturally grounded, scientifically rigorous, and accessible longevity education,” he said.
He noted that his work on the board will focus on building tailored educational pathways, strengthening community capacity, and ensuring that healthy longevity develops as a truly global and inclusive movement. Kalu also expressed gratitude to members of the ILA community for their support and confidence.
“I am deeply grateful to everyone in the ILA community who supported, encouraged, and voted for me. Your trust means a great deal, and I look forward to serving with responsibility, collaboration, and purpose,” he stated.
In addition to the newly elected board members, the ILA confirmed that five existing board members will remain in their positions for another year, while Ilia Stambler was re-elected to continue serving as Chairman of the Alliance in 2026.
The General Assembly also marked the publication of the ILA’s 2025 yearly report, which highlights the organization’s expansion and activities over the past year. According to the report, the Alliance now includes 75 non-profit associations and social enterprises operating across 65 countries worldwide. In 2025, the ILA co-organized international conferences in 12 countries, with further expansion planned in 2026 across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Kalu insisted that Africa’s inclusion in global longevity efforts must move beyond participation to meaningful contribution.
“If longevity is to become a truly global movement, Africa must move from the margins of the conversation to the architecture of its solutions,” he said, adding that Afrolongevity is positioned to serve as an operational bridge for education, policy engagement, and community-level longevity literacy on the continent.
His election is seen as a significant step in strengthening Africa’s representation within global governance structures shaping the future of healthy longevity.
