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A new report released by African Women on Board has revealed gender disparities in leadership across Nigeria’s health sector and called for urgent reforms to empower more women into decision-making roles.
In a statement issued on Friday, AWB said the report, titled ‘A Balanced Prescription: Leadership & Innovation in Nigeria’s Health Sector,’ was previewed at a roundtable in Lagos attended by senior professionals, policymakers, and health leaders.
The report highlighted how entrenched structural barriers continue to limit women’s advancement in the sector, despite their critical roles in service delivery.
It framed the push for women in leadership not only as a matter of fairness but as essential for strengthening national health systems.
“Women remain underrepresented at the leadership table despite being the backbone of healthcare in Nigeria.
“To build a resilient and inclusive system, we must address the gap with deliberate policies and institutional reforms,” the organisation stated.
Commenting on the upcoming event, Founder, African Women on Board and Africa Soft Power, Dr Nkiru Balonwu, said: “RAW provides not only a stage for African female leaders, but a spotlight under which to scrutinise and study the vast array of new ideas and approaches that this often still neglected section of the business community can bring.
“Our public and private sectors face huge collective challenges – and opportunities – right now. To meet them in the right way and maximise our outcomes, we need to hear from the full spectrum of today’s leaders, and potential leaders, and use these learnings to create a more robust economic future for all.”
The event also explored the role of innovation, particularly artificial intelligence, in reshaping the future of healthcare.
Senior Manager, eHealth Africa, Audrey Odogu, stressed the importance of gender-inclusive data, saying:
“Gender equity is rooted in data. Without data, we can’t make informed decisions.”
Experts at the event warned that AI systems trained on biased or incomplete data could perpetuate inequality, especially if African women’s healthcare realities are not reflected in the datasets used by digital platforms.
Managing Director, Cerba Lancet Nigeria, Dr Olayemi Dawodu, advocated for mentorship, leadership training, and economic empowerment to help more women rise to executive roles.
“If a woman can achieve financial independence, she can escape situations like violence or other challenges,” she said.
Chief of Staff and Head of Strategy, BellaNaija, Mary Edoro, acknowledged the wide-reaching effects of media framing and highlighted the distinction between women’s economic empowerment and true power.
“Let’s move beyond ‘empowering women,’ which often implies permission, to placing women in actual positions of power,” she urged, emphasising the need for greater representation in decision-making roles, including elected office.
The full report will be officially unveiled at the Remarkable Women’s Leadership Conference, scheduled to hold during the Africa Soft Power Summit in Nairobi in May.
