Nigeria’s health sector faces acute challenges even as innovators redefine its future.
Public financing remains well below global benchmarks: the 2024 federal budget allocated about N1.34 trillion to health just around 4.6% of the total budget far short of the 15% Abuja Declaration target.
Many states also under‑spend on health relative to their budgets, with actual execution rates lagging allocations. Out‑of‑pocket payments, though improving, still account for a majority of health spending, reaching about 58.3% in 2024, exposing households to financial hardship.
Health outcomes remain uneven: Nigeria’s under‑five mortality rate is among the world’s highest at over 100 deaths per 1,000 live births, while infant and neonatal deaths also persist at worrying levels. Maternal mortality continues to drive concern, with the country contributing a substantial share of global maternal deaths due to limited access to quality obstetric care.
Despite these systemic gaps in funding, infrastructure, and outcomes, visionary women founders are leading solutions from supply chain innovations and primary care platforms to diagnostics, health education, and community‑driven services—transforming Nigeria’s health landscape and expanding access to quality care across communities.
Bukky George is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HealthPlus Limited and CasaBella International Limited, two of Nigeria’s leading retail chains spanning pharmacy, wellness, and beauty. She established HealthPlus in 1996, pioneering the concept of an integrated pharmacy and healthcare retail chain in Nigeria, with a focus on quality, accessibility, and customer experience.
She holds a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Lagos, where she graduated in 1992 as the best overall student, winning five academic awards. She began her career at SmithKline Beecham (now GSK) and May & Baker Nigeria Plc, gaining experience across sales, production, and medical representation skills that later shaped her retail and business strategy.
HealthPlus commenced full operations in 1999 from a single store in Ikeja, Lagos, and has since expanded into a widely recognised brand with dozens of outlets across Nigeria and West Africa. The company offers pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and wellness products, positioning itself as a comprehensive health destination.
In 2010, she launched CasaBella, a beauty retail chain offering grooming and personal care products. Beyond her executive roles, George has served on industry boards and advisory committees, contributing to policy and sector development.
These healthcare juggernauts don’t get enough of their flowers. They’re doing amazing! Especially those on the services side