The Women in Healthcare Network (WIHCN) recently held its third annual conference in Lagos, bringing together around 400 healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry leaders. The conference, themed 'Beyond Leadership: Building Legacy and Advancing Innovation', focused on how women can build lasting careers and institutions while contributing to advances in healthcare delivery. The event provided a platform for women to discuss their experiences, share knowledge, and explore opportunities for growth and development in the sector.
Medical professionals, including Kingsley Ekwueme, Hammed Ninolowo, and Bodunrin Osikomaiya, led discussions on medical innovation, covering topics such as robotic surgery, interventional radiology, and blood-transfusion services. The conference also highlighted the importance of mentorship and professional collaboration in supporting women's career development and preparing younger professionals for leadership positions. Participants emphasized the need for women to have access to networks, resources, and opportunities that can help them build successful careers and businesses.
Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State First Lady, commended the WIHCN'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. The conference featured various sessions, including one on financial empowerment led by Ibiyinka Ibru, 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 discussion provided a platform for women to share their stories, challenges, and successes, and to identify opportunities for growth and development. The conference also recognized the contributions of Stella Okoli, founder of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries, with its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award acknowledged Okoli's 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, and reflected on the role of faith in sustaining her career. Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, founder and managing partner of Aruwa Capital Management, also highlighted the importance of leadership, purpose, and sustained professional impact.
Members of the WIHCN affirmed their continued support for 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. The conference provided a platform for women to connect, share knowledge, and explore opportunities for growth and development.
The WIHCN's efforts to support women in healthcare have been recognized as crucial in addressing the challenges faced by women in the sector. The network's focus on mentorship, leadership development, and professional connections is expected to have a positive impact on the careers and businesses of women in healthcare. Key points from the conference include the importance of mentorship and professional collaboration, the need for women to have access to networks and resources, and the role of faith and leadership in sustaining successful careers.
Key points
- Women in Nigeria's healthcare sector are seeking stronger professional networks, mentorship, and innovation to expand their influence.
- The WIHCN's conference highlighted the importance of mentorship, professional collaboration, and financial empowerment in supporting women's career development.
- The network's focus on mentorship, leadership development, and professional connections is expected to have a positive impact on the careers and businesses of women in healthcare.
