CoElevate: Advancing Healthcare Innovation from Ideas to Impact

Healthcare innovators, leaders, and partners gathered at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, last Thursday to mark the launch of CoElevate, an initiative of SFH Access created to support the next generation of healthcare solutions across West Africa. 

It was a privilege to speak at the launch and witness the beginning of what I believe can become an important platform for strengthening healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship in the region. 

Great ideas do not necessarily fail because of a lack of talent. More often, innovators face challenges accessing the capital, mentorship, networks, exposure, and structured support required to take promising ideas beyond the pilot stage. 

This is the gap CoElevate seeks to address. 

The initiative is designed to create pathways for promising healthcare innovations to move from ideas and early-stage pilots towards sustainable, scalable solutions that can deliver meaningful impact at population level. By connecting innovators with the right ecosystem of partners, expertise, resources, and opportunities, CoElevate aims to help transform promising solutions into lasting impact. 

Leadership That Inspires

 
A special appreciation goes to Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakasai, mni, FPSN, Chairman, SFH Access Board of Directors, for his continued leadership, vision, and commitment to advancing equitable access to healthcare in Nigeria.

We also appreciate Olu Akanmu, our keynote speaker, whose insightful session challenged us to think beyond individual products and consider how we can build solutions that strengthen healthcare systems and improve lives at scale.

I am equally grateful to Dr. Omokhudu Idogho, Dr. Jennifer Anyanti FAPH, Adesola Arowolo, Njide Ndili, Dr. O. Uche Ofili, and Prof. Ehijie Enato for sharing their expertise, perspectives, and valuable contributions to the conversation around healthcare innovation and impact.
 

From Innovation to Impact

 
For me, the launch reinforced an important lesson: innovation is only the beginning.

The real opportunity lies in creating the conditions that allow good ideas to grow, adapt, reach more people, and ultimately solve real problems within our communities.

To every innovator, partner, and stakeholder who joined us, thank you for being part of this journey.

CoElevate is only getting started.

Together, we can build an ecosystem where healthcare innovations move from ideas to solutions, from pilots to scale, and from innovation to lasting impact across communities in West Africa.