Every breakthrough that strengthens Nigeria’s healthcare delivery today began as a difficult problem waiting for someone bold enough to solve it. That principle defines the Founder in Health-Tech Award, presented annually by the National Entrepreneurship Honors (NEH) to recognize individuals whose work has fundamentally improved the systems that support modern medical care.
This category celebrates innovators who go beyond conventional digital tools to design solutions that address the real operational pressures inside hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic environments. Unlike awards centered on popularity, branding visibility, or funding milestones, this honor is reserved for founders who build systems that withstand the demands of medical practice; high patient volumes, data complexity, clinical accuracy, and the need for consistent, efficient workflows.
Recipients of this award are evaluated through a rigorous, multi-stage review process involving healthcare technology specialists, medical operations analysts, and policy researchers. Their work is assessed for its practical usefulness, reliability in real-world care settings, adaptability to local healthcare infrastructure, and its long-term contribution to strengthening national health outcomes. This is an award that values depth, clarity, and measurable impact.
The Founder in Health-Tech Award has become one of NEH’s most respected distinctions, reserved exclusively for leaders building the invisible but indispensable systems that uphold modern healthcare. These are the architects shaping the future of health operations; not through spectacle, but through precise, thoughtful solutions that medical professionals can depend on every day.
Past Honorees Include:
- Asin Gibson (2024)
- Kelechi Oduma (2023)
- Mariam Balogun (2022)
- Chinedu Akachukwu (2021)
- Ayoade Fajemi (2020)
- Nonso Ezenwa (2019)
- Ireti Olanrewaju (2018)
By recognizing these individuals, the NEH affirms a crucial truth: the future of Nigeria’s healthcare system will not be transformed by noise or trend-driven tools, but by founders who build technologies that are resilient, context-aware, and capable of improving patient care where it matters most.
The Founder in Health-Tech Award stands as a national signal that genuine progress happens behind the scenes; through strong systems, disciplined execution, and solutions designed to work reliably under the pressures of real medical environments. It honors those whose contributions strengthen the backbone of healthcare, one system, one workflow, and one innovation at a time.
