EHA Clinics has named Dr. Ifunanya Ilodibe as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), making her the first person outside the founding team to lead the organisation.
The appointment marks a change in leadership for the primary healthcare provider, which operates facilities across country.
Dr. Ilodibe, a medical doctor with over 14 years of experience in clinical practice and healthcare management, joined EHA Clinics in 2019. She has held several senior roles, including Vice President of Medical Services and, most recently, Executive Vice President of Clinical Services and Chief Medical Officer.
The new CEO holds degrees in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Ghana and a Master’s in International Health Management from the University of Sheffield. She is also certified in healthcare quality and leadership systems.
Her appointment followed the exit of Dr. Adam Thompson as CEO of EHA Clinics. Thompson, one of the original founders, has taken up a new role as CEO of the broader EHA Group.
In his remarks during the transition ceremony, Dr. Thompson credited Dr. Ilodibe with helping shape the organisation’s focus on quality and patient-centered care, saying she had been instrumental in “building a first patient-centric healthcare system.”
He said “I think Dr. Ifunanya will lead this organisation with clarity, humility, and this commitment to delivering quality and making healthcare a different experience. She listens to everybody, she makes all of the decisions based on that kind of collaborative feedback, backed up by data on what’s really going to make change and move things forward.
“I couldn’t be happier to be handing over this role to someone that’s just far more, I think, capable of the role than I ever was and really is going to help lead the future.
“This transition also reflects the broader mission of the EHA group, which is to advance health equity and systems transformation across Africa through a connected ecosystem of solutions. Today, our companies include EHA Clinics, eHealth Africa, and EHA Impact Ventures, all working together to drive high-impact, sustainable change.”
EHA Clinics, part of a wider ecosystem that includes eHealth Africa and EHA Impact Ventures, has positioned itself as a player in Nigeria’s private primary healthcare space. The organisation expanded its services during the COVID-19 pandemic and earned Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation at its Kano clinic, an achievement Dr. Ilodibe played a role in.
In her address, Dr. Ilodibe acknowledged the challenges ahead and emphasised the importance of expanding access and improving quality. “Primary healthcare is the promise we make to every community,” she said.
While the organisation and its leadership praised the appointment as a sign of continuity and growth, it also comes at a time of increasing scrutiny on the private sector’s role in the country’s health system. EHA Clinics has often positioned itself as a model for private-public partnerships and community-based care.
Vice President Business Development at EHA Clinics, Abdukareem Iyamu, said her appointment reflects a culture of internal growth and trust within the organisation. “Dr. Ifunanya was part of the core team that defined the mission of EHA Clinics,” he said.
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