Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, represented by Commissioner for Health Prof. Akin Abayomi, inaugurated the Society for Family Health (SFH) Innovation Hub in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday. The hub, spanning three floors, is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, one of SFH’s founders and a former Nigerian Minister of Health. The SFH Innovation Hub aims to accelerate health solutions for Nigerian families, focusing on innovation-driven approaches to pressing public health issues.
Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized the critical role of innovation in transforming health care, especially in addressing Nigeria’s challenging health statistics. He highlighted the country’s dependency on imported medical equipment, drugs, and vaccines, while noting strides made in local pharmaceutical production, particularly in Lagos and Ogun states. Sanwo-Olu called for advancements in complex drug formulations and vaccine development, which require substantial research and innovation infrastructure.
The governor commended the partnership between SFH and the Lagos State Ministry of Health, particularly in tackling endemic health issues such as malaria. He stated that significant progress had been made in developing strategies aimed at reducing and eventually eliminating malaria in Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of intentional and collaborative efforts over passive hope.
“The SFH lab will serve as a platform for ideation, collaboration, and innovation, fostering a national ecosystem that supports equitable health solutions,” Sanwo-Olu said, applauding SFH’s tribute to Prof. Ransome-Kuti, whom he described as a transformative leader in Nigeria’s health sector.
Dr. Amina El-Amin, Kwara State Commissioner for Health, echoed the governor’s sentiments, stating that the hub would be a nexus for intellectual and practical collaboration to address Nigeria’s unique health challenges. El-Amin stressed that locally developed solutions, tailored to Nigeria’s specific needs, are essential for sustainable health advancements.
“We need hubs where we can ideate, co-create, test, and refine solutions suited to our peculiar challenges before deploying them on a larger scale. This approach is key to achieving lasting impact,” she noted.
Prof. Ekanem Braide, Board President of SFH, described the Innovation Hub as a “co-creation space” that would support start-ups and health think tanks in accelerating digital health solutions. “The SFH Innovation Hub is a testament to our belief that health solutions must be anchored in creativity, co-creation, and collaboration,” Braide said. The hub aims to address pressing health challenges by empowering communities to take charge of their health through impactful solutions.
Dr. Omokhudu Idogho, Managing Director of SFH, emphasized that the hub will play a pivotal role in SFH’s mission to deliver sustainable, scalable health innovations. The hub will support SFH’s broader initiatives, including SFH Access Care—a digital platform providing telemedicine solutions—and the Supply Chain initiative, which aims to improve procurement and public health systems across Nigeria.
“Our teams are dedicated to scaling innovative health ideas and solutions. Through collaboration and learning, the Innovation Hub will drive impactful health interventions, supporting public health infrastructure and advancing health equity in Nigeria,” Idogho concluded.
The SFH Innovation Hub is poised to serve as a vital incubator for health solutions in Nigeria, aligning with both governmental and non-governmental efforts to create a self-sustaining ecosystem of locally-driven health innovations that meet international standards.
