Experts have warned that the continued underrepresentation of women in healthcare decision-making positions is weakening efforts to build stronger, more inclusive health systems, despite women forming a significant majority of the global healthcare workforce.
  
The warning was issued at the 2026 Extraordinary Women Advancing Healthcare (EWAH) Awards held in Lagos, organised by the LiveWell Initiative (LWI) and the Sustainability Centre of the Global Public Health University (GPHU), in collaboration with Innovara Inc., USA, and the EWAH Nigeria Board.
   
The event brought together policymakers, healthcare professionals, regulators, development partners and industry leaders to celebrate women making outstanding contributions to healthcare across Africa, while highlighting the need for greater representation in leadership roles.
   
Delivering the opening address, Regional Representative of EWAH Africa, Dr Bisi Bright, said the initiative was created not only to recognise exceptional women making measurable contributions to healthcare but also to address the leadership gap affecting the sector.
   
Bright noted that women make up more than 67.7 per cent of the global healthcare workforce but occupy only a limited number of leadership positions.

She described the imbalance as a structural challenge requiring deliberate policy interventions, institutional reforms and sustained support to create more equitable leadership opportunities.
   
According to her, EWAH recognises women with a “miles-to-go mindset”, stressing that the awards are designed to encourage recipients to continue expanding their impact rather than view the recognition as the peak of their achievements.
   
She explained that the selection process follows a four-stage assessment framework involving international benchmarking, public opinion, stakeholder evaluation and final board review to ensure transparency and credibility.

Bright added that politically exposed persons and highly qualified nominees undergo additional scrutiny to protect the integrity of the awards.
  
In her welcome address, Chairman of the EWAH Advisory Board, Clare Omatseye, described the awards as a growing continental movement focused on strengthening healthcare systems through inclusive leadership.
   
She stressed that healthcare leadership must remain people-centred because every policy decision and investment ultimately affects patients and communities.

Omatseye called for stronger collaboration between men and women in leadership, warning that excluding women from decision-making processes weakens healthcare systems and limits innovation.
  
The Global Matron and Founder Emeritus of EWAH, Prof. Barri Blauvelt, who is also Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Innovara Inc., USA, emphasised the need for sustained investment in women-led healthcare leadership to accelerate progress across the sector.
   
The Chairman of the occasion, Senator Daisy Danjuma, represented by the Managing Director of May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Patrick Ajah, described women as critical drivers of leadership excellence, institutional growth and national development.
   
He said Danjuma represents a model of visionary leadership, disciplined service and strong corporate governance.
   
Among the award recipients was Founder of Elin Group Limited, Dr Elizabeth Jack-Rich, who was recognised for her healthcare, educational and humanitarian interventions through the Elizabeth Jack-Rich Aid Foundation.
   
Founder of Pathcare/SYNLAB Nigeria and Chairman of The Bridge Clinic, Dr Pamela Jackson-Ajayi, was honoured for her contributions to diagnostic and fertility care, while Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, received recognition for strengthening pharmaceutical regulation and medicine safety in Nigeria.
  
Also recognised was President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) and Nigeria Country Director for PharmAccess, Dr Njide Ndili, for her contributions to healthcare financing, digital health and universal health coverage.
   
Speaking after receiving her award, Ndili dedicated the recognition to the teams behind her achievements, stressing that meaningful progress in healthcare is driven by collaboration rather than individual efforts.