Women in Nigeria’s healthcare sector are seeking stronger professional networks, mentorship and opportunities to drive innovation as they work to expand their influence across the industry.
This was a key focus at the third annual conference of the Women in Healthcare Network (WIHCN), which brought together about 400 healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers and industry leaders in Lagos recently.
The conference, themed ‘Beyond Leadership: Building Legacy and Advancing Innovation’, examined how women could build lasting careers and institutions while contributing to advances in healthcare delivery.
Read also: Rising healthcare costs drive more Nigerians to traditional medicine
Medical professionals like Kingsley Ekwueme, Hammed Ninolowo and Bodunrin Osikomaiya led discussions around medical innovation, with participants examining developments in robotic surgery, interventional radiology and blood-transfusion services.
Beyond medical innovation, the conference highlighted mentorship and professional collaboration as important tools for supporting women’s career development and preparing younger professionals for leadership positions.
On her part, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State First Lady, commended the network’s growth since its establishment three years ago, noting that its activities provide women with opportunities for knowledge-sharing, collaboration and professional development.
She also praised Modupe Elebute-Odunsi, founder and chair of WIHCN, for building a community that adds value to women’s professional lives.
Financial empowerment also featured at the conference, with Ibiyinka Ibru leading a session titled ‘Own Your Money, Build Your Future’. An intergenerational conversation facilitated by Kemi Ogunyemi and Unoma Grant explored women’s experiences in healthcare and ways to support the next generation.
The conference recognised the contributions of Stella Okoli, founder of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries, with its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award acknowledged her decades of contributions to healthcare, pharmaceutical manufacturing and enterprise, including her journey from retail pharmacy to establishing a pharmaceutical manufacturing company.
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.
Similarly, Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, founder and managing partner of Aruwa Capital Management, highlighted leadership, purpose and sustained professional impact.
Members of the network affirmed their continued support women through mentorship, professional connections, leadership development and collaboration, with the aim of helping women build careers, businesses and institutions that create lasting impact.
The network, which has chapters in Lagos, Abuja and the United Kingdom, focuses on mentorship, leadership development and professional connections across healthcare sectors.
Feyishola Jaiyesimi is a writer and storyteller. She currently writes for the energy desk at BusinessDay with a focus on renewable energy and environmental issues. She began her journalism career as an agricultural reporter and now covers the energy sector, including oil, gas, electricity, environment, and renewables. She has been selected for professional training by the US Consulate, Lagos. She is a 2025 Dataphyte Biodiversity Reporting Fellow. Feyishola holds a bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Environmental Biology from Ekiti State University.
