Stakeholders have called for increased inclusion of women in healthcare leadership, urging the sector to harness their expertise, innovative ideas and entrepreneurial abilities to improve healthcare delivery.
They made the call at the third annual conference of the Women in Healthcare Network, held in Lagos with the theme, “Beyond Leadership: Building a Legacy and Advancing Innovation.”
The event attracted about 400 healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers and industry leaders to discuss leadership, innovation and opportunities for women in the sector.
The conference also honoured pharmaceutical industry leader, Dr Stella Okoli, OON, MON, with the network’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Special Adviser on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, said women should be given greater opportunities to occupy leadership positions in healthcare.
He explained that the network was established to unite women across the healthcare value chain, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, health informatics professionals, suppliers and insurance providers, to address challenges facing the sector.
According to him, although women make up a significant proportion of the healthcare workforce, their representation in leadership positions remains inadequate.
He said the conference provided an opportunity to examine innovative approaches, including robotics, interventional radiology and blood transfusion, to improve patient care. However, he stressed that such innovations must remain affordable and accessible to people in rural and underserved communities.
Delivering the keynote address titled, “Beyond the Title: Building a Career of Enduring Influence,” the Founder and Managing Partner of Aruwa Capital Management, Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, urged women to establish financially sustainable and properly structured businesses to attract institutional investments.
Rhodes, who founded the investment firm in July 2019 at the age of 29, disclosed that it had grown into one of Africa’s leading funds, with an $80m fund size and investments in healthcare, clean energy and processing.
She said 70 per cent of the firm’s portfolio comprised female-led or female-founded businesses, which had supported more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Drawing from her experience in investment negotiations, Rhodes identified financial transparency, proper accounting, effective management teams, good corporate governance and appropriate funding as essential factors 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 encouraged women to see business ownership as an economic opportunity rather than limiting themselves to professional leadership positions.
“Own the clinic, own the diagnostic centre, own the distribution company, own the pharmacy chain,” she said.
The Founder of WIHCN, Prof. Modupe Elebute-Odunsi, urged women in healthcare to embrace financial independence, entrepreneurship and continuous professional development to strengthen their leadership capacity.
She said women needed to improve their financial knowledge, build viable businesses and develop confidence instead of waiting for leadership opportunities to be offered to them.
Elebute-Odunsi, who is also the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mchelle Ruth Cancer Centre and Specialist Hospital, Lagos, noted that financial management and business development were largely absent from conventional healthcare training.
She explained that the network was established three years ago to connect women across healthcare professions, promote mentorship and create opportunities for professional advancement.
According to her, the organisation has grown from an initial gathering of about 20 to 30 women to nearly 400 paid members, with chapters in Abuja and the United Kingdom.
She disclosed that WIHCN 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.
The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, commended the network’s growth and impact, praising Elebute-Odunsi for establishing a community that had attracted an expanding membership.
Recalling her invitation to the network’s launch three years ago, the First Lady said its progress demonstrated the need for platforms that support women’s professional development through collaboration, knowledge sharing and mentorship.
The conference also recognised Okoli’s decades of contributions to healthcare, pharmaceutical manufacturing and enterprise. Her journey from retail pharmacy to establishing Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries was highlighted as an example of determination and institution-building.
Her continued investment in new manufacturing facilities designed to meet international standards was also recognised as part of her commitment to advancing pharmaceutical production.
During a fireside conversation moderated by Dr Chito Nwana, Okoli encouraged younger women to remain focused, committed and prepared to seize opportunities. She also reflected on the role of faith in sustaining her career.
Innovation featured prominently at the conference, with Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme, Dr Hammed Ninolowo and Dr Bodunrin Osikomaiya examining developments in robotic surgery, interventional radiology and blood transfusion services.
A panel comprising Prof. Solomon Rotimi, Prof. Fatimah Abdulkareem and Dr Bamidele Mutiu also discussed how African data and research could help develop solutions to the continent’s healthcare challenges.
The conference further featured WIHCN’s mentorship programme, with Ibiyinka Ibru leading a financial empowerment session titled, “Own Your Money, Build Your Future.”
An intergenerational discussion facilitated by Dr Kemi Ogunyemi and Mrs Unoma Grant also examined women’s experiences in healthcare and ways to support the next generation.
[GUARDIAN]
