In a revealing conversation on the PSHAN Leadership Series podcast, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos and trailblazer in healthcare and academia, shared an unexpected chapter of her journey—her early dislike of microbiology and the pivotal moments that led to her becoming one of Nigeria’s foremost experts in the field.
“I disliked microbiology as a medical student; it was one of my worst subjects,” Prof. Ogunsola noted. She initially planned to specialise in pediatrics until a combination of personal and professional experiences reshaped her career path. The death of a young patient from antibiotic-induced pseudomembranous colitis and the rise of the HIV epidemic in the 1980s sparked her interest in microbiology. Additionally, her brother-in-law, a clinical microbiologist, helped her see the field’s critical role in healthcare. “Man proposes, and God disposes,” she reflected. “Since then, I’ve never looked back.”
Beyond her personal journey, Prof. Ogunsola addressed the systemic issues plaguing Nigeria’s healthcare, such as poor funding, brain drain, and reliance on under-resourced public facilities. She highlighted the critical role of private sector collaboration: “The private sector has focused on high-end hospitals for a small elite, while the majority rely on public healthcare. Collaboration is essential to ensure accessible and equitable healthcare for all Nigerians.”
Citing successful collaborations during the Ebola and COVID-19 responses, Prof. Ogunsola underscored the importance of private sector involvement in building resilient health systems. She urged the private sector to go beyond reactionary efforts and invest in health insurance systems, sustainable infrastructure, and local manufacturing, drawing lessons from successful partnerships during the Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks.
Addressing Nigeria’s universal health coverage aspirations, Prof. Ogunsola acknowledged Lagos State’s progress in making health insurance mandatory but noted that uptake remains low due to public skepticism and emphasized the need for awareness and enforcement to ensure more Nigerians embrace health insurance as a pathway to affordable care.
As a former chair of the WHO Guidelines Committee for Ebola, Prof. Ogunsola highlighted the importance of evidence-based research tailored to Africa’s needs. She noted that much of the data guiding health policies comes from high-income countries and does not address the unique challenges of low-resource settings like Nigeria. She called for increased investment in local research and stronger collaboration among academia, medical institutions, and the private sector to build health systems that prioritise prevention and wellness.
On gender equality, Prof. Ogunsola shared her experiences navigating male-dominated spaces, including academia and medical leadership. She stressed the need for women to embrace their uniqueness, lead with confidence, and challenge gender biases. “Women often feel the need to prove themselves twice as much. Once you establish your expertise, your gender becomes secondary,” she said.
The conversation, hosted by Dr. Anne Adah-Ogoh, Director of Policy at Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN), provides a platform for addressing Nigeria’s pressing healthcare challenges while inspiring the next generation of leaders.
The full episode is available on Spotify, Audiomack, and the PSHAN website, offering an unfiltered look into Prof. Ogunsola’s transformative vision for healthcare in Nigeria.
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