LAGOS/Nigeria: The Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) has hosted the first-ever WeNaija Innovators Pitch, a landmark virtual event spotlighting youth-led, community-driven healthcare solutions across Nigeria.
The pitch, which marked the grand finale of the four-month WeNaija Impact Cohort programme, brought together 168 participants, including health experts, development partners, media, and grassroots advocates, to celebrate young Nigerians driving change in healthcare delivery.
Out of 37 innovative projects co-created by 82 youth advocates across 26 states and 41 communities, six emerged winners and were awarded ₦1,000,000 each, along with mentorship support to scale their solutions.
In the Female Adolescent Health category, Adebisi Amori (Queen’s School, Ibadan) and Ndidi Ofiaeli (Eva Adelaja Girls Secondary Grammar School, Lagos) took top honours.
For Maternal Health, Dido Iliya (University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital) and Elizabeth Udah (Women & Children Clinic, UDUTH, Sokoto) were recognised.
Under Health Insurance, Aghogho Akpoyovwaire (Sickle Cell Care Foundation, Osun State) and Amina Jibril (Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Mangu LGA, Plateau State) emerged as winners.
Managing Director of NSSF, Dr. Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, described the pitch as a turning point: “This pitch marks not just the end of a journey, but the beginning of real-world solutions. These youth have demonstrated the power of community and the potential to transform healthcare, one idea at a time.”
The winning ideas were judged by a distinguished panel including Prof. Heidi Larson, Uzoma Dozie, and Her Excellency Olufolake Abdulrazaq, First Lady of Kwara State, who praised the authenticity and relevance of the solutions.
“I am thrilled to see how deeply rooted these ideas are in the lived realities of local communities,” Abdulrazaq said. “These young people are not only responding to problems, they are reimagining healthcare delivery.”
The WeNaija Innovators Pitch underscores a rising wave of youth-led innovation in Nigeria, proving that with the right support, young Nigerians are not only addressing local health challenges, they are redefining the future of community healthcare.
