……Lagos First Lady applauds WIHCN’s growth as Network honours Dr Stella Okoli

Stakeholders have called for greater inclusion of women in healthcare leadership, stressing the need to harness their expertise, innovation and entrepreneurial capacity to strengthen healthcare delivery.

They made this call at the third annual conference of the Women in Healthcare Network (WIHCN) held in Lagos with the theme “Beyond Leadership: Building a Legacy and Advancing Innovation.”

The programme brought together healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers and industry leaders to explore leadership, innovation and opportunities for women across the sector.

It also brought together approximately 400 attendees and guest.

The conference also celebrated pharmaceutical industry leader Dr Stella Okoli, OON, MON, who received the network’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu who was represented by his Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi said women must be given greater opportunities to occupy leadership positions in the sector.

The governor said the network was established to bring together women across the healthcare value chain, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, health informatics professionals, healthcare suppliers and insurance providers, to address challenges confronting the sector.

According to him, although women constitute a significant proportion of the healthcare workforce, their representation in leadership positions remains inadequate.

He said the conference, theme, provided an opportunity to explore innovative approaches, including robotics, interventional radiology and blood transfusion, to improve patient care.

He, however, stressed that innovation must be accompanied by affordability to ensure people in rural and hard-to-reach communities can benefit from advanced medical services.

Founder and Managing Partner of Aruwa Capital Management, Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes in her keynote address, “Beyond the Title: Building a Career of Enduring Influence,” highlighting leadership, purpose and sustained impact.

Rhodes who established her investment firm in July 2019 at age 29, said women must build financially sound and properly structured businesses to attract institutional funding.

Speaking at an event, she disclosed that the firm had grown into one of Africa’s leading funds, with an $80 million fund size, investing in businesses across healthcare, clean energy and processing.

She said 70 per cent of its portfolio comprised female-led or female-founded businesses, supporting over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Having experienced both sides of investment negotiations, she identified financial transparency, proper accounting, effective management teams, good governance and appropriate funding as essential requirements for attracting investors.

“Capital does not go to the best doctor, the best nurse, or the best pharmacist. It goes to the best-run business, and it also follows trust and follows relationship,” she said.

She urged women to recognise business ownership as an economic opportunity rather than remain confined to professional leadership roles.

“Own the clinic, own the diagnostic centre, own the distribution company, own the pharmacy chain,” she said, urging women to move beyond leadership into ownership.

Founder of WIHCN, Prof. Modupe Elebute-Odunsi urged women in the healthcare sector to embrace financial independence, entrepreneurship and professional development to strengthen their leadership capacity.

She said women must acquire financial knowledge, improve their businesses’ viability and develop confidence rather than wait for leadership opportunities to be handed to them.

Elebute-Odunsi, who is also the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mchelle Ruth Cancer Centre and Specialist Hospital, Lagos, said financial management and business development were largely missing from conventional healthcare training.

According to her, the network, established three years ago, was created to connect women across healthcare professions, promote mentorship and provide opportunities for professional growth.

She disclosed that it had grown from an initial gathering of about 20 to 30 women to nearly 400 paid members, with chapters in Abuja and the United Kingdom.

Elebute-Odunsi said the network had introduced a six-month mentorship programme and planned to establish an enterprise and innovation committee to equip members with practical financial and business management skills.

She added that the initiative would expand mentorship, expose members to emerging medical technologies and improve access to career opportunities.

The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, commended the growth and impact of WIHCN.

The First Lady applauded WIHCN’s Founder and Chair, Professor Modupe Elebute-Odunsi, for her vision in creating a community that had attracted a rapidly growing membership. Recalling her invitation to the network’s launch three years ago, she expressed admiration for the progress achieved in such a short period.

She noted that this growth reflected the need for a community that adds value to women’s professional lives through collaborative opportunities, knowledge sharing and mentorship.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognised Dr Okoli’s decades of contribution to healthcare, pharmaceutical manufacturing and enterprise. From her beginnings in retail pharmacy to establishing Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries, her journey illustrated the focus and determination required to build an enduring institution. Her continuing investment in new manufacturing facilities designed to international standards underscored her commitment to advancing pharmaceutical production.

In a fireside conversation moderated by Dr Chito Nwana, Dr Okoli encouraged attendees, particularly younger women, to remain focused, committed and ready to seize opportunities. She reflected on the deep-rooted faith that had sustained her career, sharing her experiences with humour, warmth and practical encouragement.

Innovation featured prominently, with Professor Kingsley Ekwueme, Dr Hammed Ninolowo and Dr Bodunrin Osikomaiya examining advances in robotic surgery, interventional radiology and blood-transfusion services. A panel featuring Professor Solomon Rotimi, Professor Fatimah Abdulkareem and Dr Bamidele Mutiu explored how African data and research can inform solutions to the continent’s healthcare challenges.

The conference also showcased WIHCN’s mentorship programme. Ibiyinka Ibru led the financial empowerment session, “Own Your Money, Build Your Future,” while an intergenerational conversation facilitated by Dr Kemi Ogunyemi and Mrs Unoma Grant explored women’s experiences in healthcare and how to support the next generation.