The road to transforming healthcare access in Africa is paved with more than good intentions. This is the central message from Abimbola Adebakin M.CIoD, Founder and CEO of Aha!, an award-winning health innovator focused on scalable pharmaceutical solutions, who recently offered a candid look at the challenges and realities of launching a healthcare company in Nigeria.
Adebakin, who brought experience from top-tier firms like Accenture and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) to her venture, confessed that her initial drive—a profound conviction that every Nigerian deserves access to safe, affordable, and authentic medicines—did not fully prepare her for the immense complexity of the sector.
In a recent public reflection, she distilled her decade of experience into five core lessons she wishes she had known before starting out:
1. Healthcare is an Ecosystem, Not Just an Industry
Adebakin emphasized that the sector is defined by its deep interdependence. She found herself navigating a complex intersection of logistics, stringent regulation, convoluted financing, professional pharmacy practice, technology integration, and highly variable patient behavior. “Progress requires alignment, collaboration, and patience,” she advised. “In healthcare, nothing works in silos.”
2. Emotional Stamina is a Strategic Asset
The CEO stressed the necessity of mental resilience in a sector prone to systemic challenges. While the work is deeply fulfilling, founders must brace for days when the system feels overwhelming. Challenges such as shifting regulations, infrastructure failures, and slow adoption rates are not signs of failure, but rather “simply the price of transformation.”
3. Innovation Matters, But Trust is the Real Currency
In the Nigerian healthcare context, credibility holds more weight than mere novelty. Adebakin explained that Nigerians are cautious adopters who watch, test, and seek verification from trusted sources before fully embracing new solutions. She cautioned that credibility “is built consistently, not loudly—one patient, one pharmacy, one delivery, one community at a time.”
4. Talent Extends Beyond Clinical Expertise
While doctors and pharmacists are essential, the success of a modern healthcare venture relies on a broad, multidisciplinary team. Adebakin highlighted the critical need for diverse skill sets, including product thinkers, logistics specialists, data scientists, behavioral experts, and technology builders. She affirmed that these non-clinical professionals shape the mission as much as the business model.
5. Impact Compounds—Slowly, Then Suddenly
For those chasing rapid results, Adebakin offered a sobering reminder that meaningful change takes time. True transformation does not appear in immediate headlines; instead, “it shows up in strengthened systems, empowered providers, and patients served with dignity.” She advised that founders must be prepared for a long journey, as consistency ultimately wins over speed.
Adebakin concluded her message with an important distinction for future entrepreneurs: “Don’t chase scale alone. Chase systems change.” She views building in African healthcare not just as business, but as nation-building and legacy work, asserting that this focus on fundamental systems change is where the future of African health will ultimately be constructed.
