The recently concluded Dratech International Conference 2024 once again reaffirmed its reputation as one of Africa’s most respected platforms for celebrating innovation and technological excellence.
Held under the theme “Innovation for Human Progress,” this year’s conference brought together thought leaders, researchers, and innovators whose ideas are redefining how communities across the continent experience growth and development.
Among the outstanding honorees was Dr. Leesi Saturday Komi, a physician, researcher, and healthcare innovator whose work has redefined how technology can make healthcare more equitable and accessible. He received the Dratech Public Health Innovation Excellence Award 2024, one of the most prestigious categories of the year. His recognition reflects a growing acknowledgment of public health professionals who use digital solutions not just to treat illness but to close gaps in access, education, and preventive care.
For Dr. Komi, this award represents more than professional validation. It is a recognition of a lifelong mission to use technology, research, and empathy to ensure that healthcare reaches everyone, regardless of their location, language, or social circumstance.
The Dratech Public Health Innovation Excellence Award celebrates professionals and organizations whose work has advanced healthcare accessibility through innovation, education, and technology-driven public health systems. Each year, the selection committee recognizes individuals whose projects embody creativity, measurable impact, and inclusivity — core values that define the Dratech Innovation movement.
The 2024 edition placed special focus on health leaders driving digital transformation in Africa’s public health landscape. This year’s category saw fifteen nominees from across the continent whose work spans telemedicine, epidemiology, disease prevention, and community health education. Dr. Komi’s selection reflects both the depth and consistency of his contributions, which have combined science with social consciousness to deliver tangible impact.
Dr. Leesi Saturday Komi’s professional journey reflects a balance between clinical expertise and a deep sense of social responsibility. After earning his Doctor of Medicine degree from Lugansk State Medical University in Ukraine, he began his career at the International Multi-Profile Clinic in Kyiv, where he provided comprehensive primary care to a multicultural patient population.
During his tenure, he led a team of healthcare professionals and played a crucial role in maintaining patient-centered services during the COVID-19 pandemic. As health systems around the world struggled to cope with restrictions and disruptions, Dr. Komi designed and implemented telehealth and triage protocols that allowed his clinic to deliver uninterrupted care. His contribution demonstrated an understanding that technology could be more than an operational tool — it could be a lifeline for vulnerable populations.
In 2022, Dr. Komi returned to Nigeria and joined Medihause Health Services Ltd., Abuja, as Telehealth Director. There, his leadership produced one of Nigeria’s most inclusive and community-oriented telehealth programs. The initiative connected over 42,000 patients across 27 rural and underserved communities to qualified healthcare professionals, significantly reducing travel costs and long waiting times that often deterred patients from seeking care.
Recognizing Nigeria’s linguistic diversity, he introduced multilingual teleconsultations in Hausa, Yoruba, and Pidgin English, ensuring that people could express their health concerns comfortably and accurately. This innovation made virtual healthcare accessible to groups often excluded by language barriers and cultural differences.
His public health outreach extended beyond consultation rooms. Dr. Komi organized more than 50 educational webinars and mobile health campaigns focusing on maternal care, infectious disease prevention, and mental health awareness. These initiatives reached over 23,000 participants across Northern and Southern Nigeria. In addition, he led the training of more than 300 community health workers and nurses, equipping them with digital skills and communication techniques for remote healthcare delivery.
He also established referral pathways between telehealth platforms and local Primary Health Centres (PHCs), ensuring that patients requiring physical follow-up could receive coordinated care. This effort improved continuity of care for more than 4,700 high-risk patients, proving that digital and traditional healthcare systems can coexist effectively.
Through these achievements, Dr. Komi demonstrated that sustainable innovation in healthcare is not only about technology but also about inclusion, cultural sensitivity, and system integration.
Beyond his direct public health interventions, Dr. Komi has distinguished himself as a prolific researcher and academic editor. Between 2021 and 2024, he authored and co-authored over a dozen peer-reviewed papers covering topics such as digital health transformation, AI-assisted diagnostics, epidemiological data systems, and community-based health models.
His work has been featured in respected publications including the International Journal of Scientific Research in Computer Science, Engineering and Information Technology and the Iconic Research and Engineering Journals. Through these studies, Dr. Komi has continued to emphasize the value of evidence-based practice and data-driven decision-making in modern healthcare.
He has also served as an Editor and Reviewer for international journals such as the International Journal of Medical Science Research and the Gulf Journal of Medical Sciences. His editorial leadership has earned him several accolades, including Editor of the Year and Reviewer of the Year awards in 2023 and 2024. These honors recognize his commitment to scholarly excellence and his role in supporting global research on health equity and innovation.
In his editorial philosophy, Dr. Komi advocates for “technology that enhances, not replaces, the human connection in care.” This belief has guided his approach to digital health, ensuring that innovation remains human-centered and ethically grounded. His academic and professional trajectory mirrors the values that Dratech stands for innovation with integrity, driven by a genuine commitment to community impact.
For Dr. Komi, the Dratech Public Health Innovation Excellence Award 2024 is both an honor and a responsibility. Speaking shortly after receiving the award, he expressed gratitude to his colleagues, community health workers, and the patients who inspired his work. “Every innovation begins with a human story,” he said. “Technology only matters when it helps us listen better, respond faster, and care more.”
His recognition arrives at a crucial moment for Africa’s healthcare sector, as countries across the continent invest in digital systems, data infrastructure, and workforce capacity. The Dratech Award serves as a reminder that behind every system is a story — and behind every story is someone willing to make a difference.
As the Dratech International Conference 2024 concluded, the organizing committee announced that nominations for the 2025 edition will soon open. The upcoming event will continue to spotlight innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs who are shaping the continent’s future across multiple disciplines. Interested professionals are encouraged to submit their projects and join a growing network of changemakers committed to advancing Africa’s innovation ecosystem.
Dratech continues to celebrate individuals whose work transforms ideas into impact. Through the vision and leadership of professionals like Dr. Leesi Saturday Komi, the organization reaffirms its belief that Africa’s most powerful innovations are those that place humanity at their core, proving that the future of healthcare lies in compassion, collaboration, and courage.
