Top 10 Women Leaders Transforming Nigeria’s Health Sector

Nigeria’s health sector faces acute challenges even as innovators redefine its future.

Public financing remains well below global benchmarks: the 2024 federal budget allocated about N1.34 trillion to health just around 4.6% of the total budget far short of the 15% Abuja Declaration target.

Many states also under‑spend on health relative to their budgets, with actual execution rates lagging allocations. Out‑of‑pocket payments, though improving, still account for a majority of health spending, reaching about 58.3% in 2024, exposing households to financial hardship.

Health outcomes remain uneven: Nigeria’s under‑five mortality rate is among the world’s highest at over 100 deaths per 1,000 live births, while infant and neonatal deaths also persist at worrying levels. Maternal mortality continues to drive concern, with the country contributing a substantial share of global maternal deaths due to limited access to quality obstetric care.

Despite these systemic gaps in funding, infrastructure, and outcomes, visionary women founders are leading solutions from supply chain innovations and primary care platforms to diagnostics, health education, and community‑driven services—transforming Nigeria’s health landscape and expanding access to quality care across communities.

10. Awele Elumelu-Chair Avon Healthcare Limited and Avon Medical Practice 

Dr. Awele V. Elumelu is a physician with degrees in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Benin. She began her career in clinical practice, with stints at Lagos University Teaching Hospital and the Grantham and District Hospital in the U.K.

Today, she chairs Avon Healthcare Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading health insurance providers, and Avon Medical Practice, a fast-growing network of clinics and medical centres.

Her strategy has been to build integrated systems that combine insurance coverage with care delivery, positioning Avon as both a payer and provider in Nigeria’s evolving healthcare ecosystem.

Elumelu’s influence extends beyond her own companies. In 2018, she was appointed Private Sector Champion for Immunisation in Africa by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, a role that taps into her corporate network and sector expertise to advance vaccine uptake across the continent.

She also serves on the Advisory Board of the Yale Institute for Global Health, contributing to global health policy conversations from an African perspective.

Within the Heirs Holdings ecosystem, Elumelu plays multiple roles. She chairs Heirs Insurance Brokers, where she is driving efforts to widen access to insurance products, and sits as a founding director on the board of the investment company, which has interests spanning financial services, healthcare, and energy. Her work there is anchored on aligning commercial returns with social impact.

She is also co-founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, one of Africa’s most prominent philanthropic platforms focused on entrepreneurship.

9. Dr. Ola Orekunrin Brown (Healthcap Africa)

Dr. Ola Brown is positioning capital as a tool to fix Africa’s healthcare gaps. As founder and general partner of HealthCap Africa, the Lagos-based firm she launched in 2020, she invests in early-stage healthtech and fintech startups across key markets including Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and South Africa.

The firm, which evolved from Flying Doctors Nigeria, reflects Brown’s transition from frontline medicine to systems-level investing. Alongside venture bets, HealthCap is building a pipeline of infrastructure projects spanning healthcare, clean energy and water, often through public-private partnerships.

Trained as a medical doctor with a PhD in finance, Brown blends clinical insight with capital allocation. She has also pushed for greater reliance on local investors to fund Africa’s startup ecosystem.

Beyond HealthCap, she serves as a non-executive director at Kuda, reinforcing her role at the intersection of finance and innovation. HealthCap says its portfolio has grown steadily, with total value running into over $100 million, while its infrastructure pipeline approaches $750 million. The firm positions itself as a female-led platform targeting high-impact opportunities across a continent of more than 1.4 billion people across over 10 African countries.

8. Fola Laoye (Iwosan Investments) 

Fola Laoye has spent more than two decades shaping Nigeria’s private healthcare sector first as an operator, and now as an investor.

As co-founder and chief executive of Iwosan Investments Limited, she oversees a platform focused on building and scaling healthcare assets, including Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals. The firm represents her shift from running healthcare businesses to backing them, deploying capital into a sector long constrained by underinvestment.

Laoye’s influence in the industry predates Iwosan. She was a founding board member of Hygeia Group Nigeria, the parent company of Lagoon Hospitals and Hygeia HMO—where she served as chief executive from 2002 to 2012 and later as chairperson.

During that period, she helped institutionalize private healthcare delivery in Nigeria, combining insurance and provider networks in a model that would become increasingly relevant.

Her earlier career included a stint at the Investment Fund for Health in Africa, one of the continent’s first private equity funds dedicated to healthcare, reinforcing her long-standing focus on the sector.

Beyond healthcare, Laoye holds multiple board roles across financial services and retail, including at Old Mutual Life Assurance, FSDH Asset Management and Shoprite Nigeria, reflecting a broader footprint in corporate governance.

A graduate of the University of Lagos, she later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and trained as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young and PwC in London.

7. Dr. Modupe Elebute-Odunsi (Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre)

Dr. Elebute is a leading haematologist and oncologist with extensive clinical, research, and academic experience spanning Nigeria and the UK. She earned her MBBS from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos in 1986 and pursued postgraduate training in medicine and haemato-oncology at premier London institutions, including St Bartholomew’s Hospital, St George’s Hospital, and The Royal Marsden.

Her groundbreaking research earned her a fellowship from the Leukaemia Research Fund and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of London.

In the UK, Dr. Elebute held Consultant and Honorary Senior Lecturer roles at St George’s Hospital, King’s College Hospital, and the National Blood Service, while maintaining a well-established private practice at Spire and Lister Hospitals. In Nigeria, she contributed significantly to Lagoon Hospitals, developing a pathology laboratory and a dedicated sickle cell clinic.

She has published widely in scientific journals and textbooks and played a central role in shaping haematology education, including as Postgraduate Director and Educational Supervisor for the University of London’s Haematology Postgraduate Training Programme.

A Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Pathologists, Dr. Elebute is a member of the British and American Societies of Haematology. Committed to giving back, she co-founded the Sickle Cell Club of Lagos and supports initiatives like Build Africa. She is married with children.

6. Stephanie Omoarebun (The LabCoat Agency)

Stephanie O. Omoarebun is a public health and diagnostics advocate driving health systems strengthening, youth leadership, and women’s development across Nigeria. A Medical Laboratory Scientist with over eight years of experience, she has built a career spanning diagnostics, community health programming, health promotion, and systems development. Her work focuses on improving quality, equity, and sustainability in healthcare through robust diagnostic systems, preventive strategies, and evidence-informed decision-making.

Stephanie currently serves as the first female National Secretary of the Young Medical Laboratory Scientists Forum (YMLSF) Nigeria, where she oversees national governance, strategic coordination, and policy advocacy across state chapters.

Previously, as the first female Chairperson of YMLSF FCT Branch, she launched the Laboratory Mentorship Initiative, strengthening career development and leadership among emerging laboratory professionals.

She is Founder and Executive Director of The Labcoat Agency, a nonprofit delivering public health campaigns, medical outreaches, and community-centred programs targeting cancer awareness, vaccination advocacy, early detection, and health literacy. Stephanie also founded Abuja Medical Fest, creating interactive spaces that integrate healthcare delivery, education, and community engagement.

5. Dr Ngozi Onyia-Founder/ MD Paelon Memorial Hospital

Dr. Ngozi Onyia is a distinguished paediatrician, healthcare entrepreneur, and leader in Nigeria’s medical sector. A Fellow of the West African College of Physicians in Paediatrics, she also holds an Executive MBA from Lagos Business School and a Certificate in Travel Health from the International Society of Travel Health.

Over a career spanning nearly four decades, Dr. Onyia has worked across public and private healthcare, including a decade as Medical Adviser at Nigerian Breweries (2000–2010).

In 2010, she founded Paelon Memorial Hospital (PMH) in memory of her late daughter, Patricia, who passed away at age nine due to complications from a rare congenital condition. PMH has since grown into a multispecialty boutique hospital with two branches, including a flagship facility on Victoria Island, Lagos, focused on delivering high-reliability healthcare under the ethos, “Getting it right the first time, every time.”

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the hospital was repurposed as a treatment centre, positioning PMH at the forefront of private-sector pandemic response in Nigeria.

Dr. Onyia serves as a trustee for several organizations, including the Society for Quality Health in Nigeria, PharmAccess Nigeria, and the Boys to Men Foundation. She is also a member of multiple professional bodies, including the Paediatric Association of Nigeria, and has held leadership roles within the West African College of Physicians.

4. Clare Omatseye – Founder/Managing Director of JNC International 

Clare Omatseye – FWACS, FPSN, FNAP, is a veteran healthcare entrepreneur and policy influencer with over 32 years of experience in healthcare management, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and public health reform.

She is the Founder and Managing Director of JNC International, a 19-year-old turnkey medical equipment solutions company representing 28 global manufacturers including Canon Medical, Olympus, Elekta, and Medtronic, and the Founder/Chairman of Vaccipharm Limited, a 23-year-old cold chain and pharmaceutical distribution enterprise.

Under her leadership, JNC International has completed more than 200 hospital installations nationwide, ranging from 50 to 400 beds.

A recognized voice in private healthcare development, Clare serves as President of the West African Private Healthcare Federation (FOASPS) and Vice President of the African Healthcare Federation (AHF). She is the immediate past and Pioneer President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) and former President of the Lagos Business School Alumni Association (LBSAA).

Her professional honors include Fellowships with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, West African College of Surgeons (the only pharmacist to receive this distinction), and Aspen’s African Leadership Initiative West Africa.

She also serves as Independent Director on boards including the Development Bank of Nigeria, Beta Glass Plc, and Pan Atlantic University, contributing her expertise in governance, corporate strategy, and healthcare reform across Africa.

3. Joke Bakare- MD/Founder Medplus 

Joke Bakare stands as one of the pioneering forces shaping Nigeria’s pharmaceutical retail landscape. A graduate of the University of Ife, she made a bold move in 1993 by founding Medplus, at a time when the concept of chain pharmacies was virtually non-existent in Nigeria.

With a clear vision to transform access to quality healthcare products, she introduced a structured, customer-focused retail pharmacy model that emphasized trust, authenticity, and service excellence. Under her leadership, Medplus has grown into one of Nigeria’s most recognised pharmacy-led health and beauty retail chains, earning a reputation for providing genuine products and a superior customer experience.

Today, Medplus operates dozens of outlets nationwide, serving as a one-stop destination for pharmaceuticals, wellness, and beauty needs. The brand has evolved beyond a traditional drugstore into a holistic health and lifestyle hub, blending innovation with accessibility.

A registered pharmacist with a strong eye for product trends and retail strategy, Mrs. Bakare oversees the company’s strategic direction and day-to-day operations. Her leadership reflects deep expertise in retail management and an unwavering commitment to improving healthcare access.

2. Bukky George: Founder/CEO of HealthPlus Limited  

Bukky George is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HealthPlus Limited and CasaBella International Limited, two of Nigeria’s leading retail chains spanning pharmacy, wellness, and beauty. She established HealthPlus in 1996, pioneering the concept of an integrated pharmacy and healthcare retail chain in Nigeria, with a focus on quality, accessibility, and customer experience.

She holds a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Lagos, where she graduated in 1992 as the best overall student, winning five academic awards. She began her career at SmithKline Beecham (now GSK) and May & Baker Nigeria Plc, gaining experience across sales, production, and medical representation skills that later shaped her retail and business strategy.

HealthPlus commenced full operations in 1999 from a single store in Ikeja, Lagos, and has since expanded into a widely recognised brand with dozens of outlets across Nigeria and West Africa. The company offers pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and wellness products, positioning itself as a comprehensive health destination.

In 2010, she launched CasaBella, a beauty retail chain offering grooming and personal care products. Beyond her executive roles, George has served on industry boards and advisory committees, contributing to policy and sector development.

1. Dr. Stella Chinyelu Okoli-Founder Emzor Pharmaceuticals

Dr. Stella Chinyelu Okoli is the Founder and Group Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturers. She established the company with a focus on producing affordable, high-quality medicines, helping to expand access to essential healthcare across the country.

She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) and a Master’s degree in Biopharmaceutics from the University of London’s Chelsea College, earned in 1971. She has also completed executive programmes at Harvard Business School, Lagos Business School, and IESE Business School, strengthening her expertise in corporate leadership and strategy.

Under her leadership, Emzor has grown into a household name, playing a significant role in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical value chain and local drug manufacturing efforts.

Beyond business, Dr. Okoli founded the Chike Okoli Foundation in 2006 in memory of her son. The foundation promotes entrepreneurship through a Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and has reached over 1.5 million Nigerians through health and lifestyle interventions.

She has received numerous recognitions, including the International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge Award, and national honours of MON and OON, cementing her legacy as a key figure in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.