Prof. Lere Baale Calls For Reforms In Healthcare, Leadership

The president of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy and CEO of Business School Netherlands International in Nigeria, Prof. Lere Baale, has called for transformative action in Nigeria’s healthcare and workplace leadership landscapes.

He made the calls on Thursday during the Afrihealth Conferences and Exhibitions and the Premium Times Employability Summit 2025 – two high-profile events held in Lagos.

Speaking at the Afrihealth conference, which ran from June 18 to 20, Prof. Baale delivered a keynote address on the theme, “Repositioning Nigeria as a Healthcare Excellence Hub and a Destination for Medical Tourism.”

He urged a unified national effort to address the paradox of Nigeria’s healthcare sector where top health professionals are trained locally, but over ₦500 billion is spent annually on medical treatment abroad.

“Nigeria trains some of the world’s best health professionals, yet we lose billions yearly to outbound medical tourism. This paradox must be corrected,” he said.

To reposition Nigeria as a leader in medical excellence, Prof. Baale proposed a five-point agenda: investment in digital infrastructure and innovation, standardisation and quality regulation, talent retention and diaspora engagement, public-private partnerships, and positioning health as a trade asset.

Citing successful models in India, Turkey, and the UAE, he encouraged stakeholders to move from “dialogue to design, and from design to delivery.”

Prof. Baale commended Afrihealth for promoting meaningful dialogue and collaboration among government bodies, academic institutions, private healthcare providers and investors.

LEADERSHIP Friday reports that the Afrihealth Conference is a platform for health stakeholders from Nigeria and across West Africa to discuss innovations, investment opportunities, and policy reforms essential to transforming the region’s healthcare landscape.

“If we truly want Nigeria to lead Africa, we must develop a health system that earns trust, ensures quality, and attracts the world,” Prof. Baale stated.

At the Premium Times Employability Summit, Prof. Baale shifted focus to the modern workplace, addressing the theme: “Leading Cross-Generational Staff – Embracing the Power of Generational Diversity.”

He challenged participants to harness the strengths of a workforce that spans Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials and Generation Z.

“Each generation brings a distinct rhythm to the workplace symphony. When we lead with insight, empathy, and intentionality, we turn potential friction into fuel for innovation,” he said.

Prof. Baale highlighted the value each generation offers, from Traditionalists’ wisdom to Generation Z’s digital fluency, and illustrated through a real-life case study from Business School Netherlands International how intergenerational collaboration can drive breakthrough results.

In both forums, Prof. Baale stressed the need for strategic and inclusive leadership to build systems, whether in healthcare or the workplace, that inspire trust, deliver quality, and position the country for global excellence.