As part of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria’s (HFN) 10th Anniversary activities, the HFN Women’s Forum held a ceremony in Lagos yesterday to celebrate the winners of the 2025 Pitchathon and present their prize awards. The Pitchathon initiative underscores the Forum’s commitment to fostering innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship among young women in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

 

Launched during HFN’s 2023 Annual Conference, the HFN Women’s Forum was established to bridge the leadership gap affecting women, who constitute 70 percent of Nigeria’s healthcare workforce but remain underrepresented in decision-making roles. Through programs like the Pitchathon, the Forum empowers young female entrepreneurs by providing mentorship, resources, and visibility to scale their innovations.

 

In her opening remarks, Mrs. Njide Ndili, President of HFN, emphasized the importance of supporting young women to drive change. "It is inspiring to see such innovation and passion from young women who are still students but already developing solutions Nigeria urgently needs," she said.

 

Dr. Yemi Dawodu, CEO of Cerba Lancet and Head of the 2025 Pitchathon Subcommittee, noted the exceptional quality of the over 50 entries received. Five finalists were shortlisted and invited to present their ideas during the HFN Annual Conference, where a panel of experts provided guidance and selected the winners based on innovation, feasibility, relevance, and accessibility.

 

Introducing the winners, Mrs. Chinyere Okorocha, Public Relations Secretary of HFN, highlighted the importance of nurturing early-stage ideas to strengthen the future of healthcare in Nigeria.

 

After a rigorous evaluation process, three winners emerged:

 

- First Place: CODE-RED – Orji Anita and Oluwakemi Ifedoyin, this digital platform connects emergency seekers with hospitals and emergency services in real-time, reducing delays and saving lives during medical emergencies.

- Second Place: Her Aid – Founded by Muktarah Banire and Zoheeroh Andu, Her Aid is a nonprofit focused on improving maternal and child health outcomes through advocacy and community-based healthcare interventions.

- Third Place: MyDrugAida – Created by Erinibi Salami, MyDrugAida is a cloud-based healthcare hub designed to connect electronic medical records across facilities, enhancing access, accuracy, and continuity of care.

 

The HFN Women’s Forum continues to focus on building leadership capacity, business skills, and professional networks for women in healthcare. Through initiatives like the Pitchathon, the Forum is nurturing a future where women are not only participants but leaders at the forefront of healthcare innovation in Nigeria.