By Ayomide Otitoju
The transformation of Nigeria’s health innovation landscape took a significant step forward on Thursday as the Society for Family Health (SFH), through its enterprise arm SFH Access, officially launched the CoElevate Catalytic Fund. The fund is designed to accelerate locally developed solutions in HealthTech, WASH, pharmaceutical research and development, and non-communicable diseases. The launch, held at SFH’s Lagos office, drew innovators, policymakers, funders, and development partners focused on strengthening the nation’s health system through innovation.
Speaking at the event, Pharm. Dennis Aizobu, Managing Director of SFH Access, described the initiative as “the beginning of a new chapter in West Africa’s innovation history.” He highlighted that many promising Nigerian ideas fail not for lack of talent but due to limited exposure, funding, systems, and support. CoElevate, he said, is specifically designed to address these gaps by providing mentorship, capital, and platforms to ensure scalable impact.
“No health system can thrive without continuous innovation,” Aizobu said, noting that SFH Access is investing in the next generation of solution providers tackling urgent challenges in digital health, WASH innovations, emerging infectious diseases, and non-communicable diseases. He added that the catalytic fund combines grants, mentorship, and access to SFH’s four-decade infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of Africans investing in Africa. The fund will run two funding cycles annually, offering multiple opportunities for startups to plug into a supportive ecosystem.
Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, Chairperson of the SFH Access Board, described the launch as a landmark step toward equitable healthcare access and youth empowerment. He praised CoElevate for nurturing homegrown solutions and said strategic investments and partnerships are vital for transforming communities and health systems.
Dr. Omokhudu Idogho, SFH Managing Director, highlighted the organisation’s extensive technology, logistics, supply-chain, regulatory, and brand-development infrastructure, now available to innovators under CoElevate. He noted SFH’s use of Microsoft Azure, collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), and experience in digital solutions, APIs, and health-tech tools. On logistics, SFH operates a 7,000-square-meter pharmagrade warehouse, 22 satellite warehouses, and a nationwide distribution network capable of delivering health products across Nigeria.
Idogho stressed that while funding is important, access to tested systems, market pathways, regulatory expertise, and nationwide distribution provides far greater value to innovators. He identified maternal mortality and low immunisation coverage as key areas where CoElevate-supported innovations could make measurable impact over the next five years.
Representing the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Director of Disease Control Dr. Victoria Egunjobi commended SFH for introducing the catalytic fund amid limited opportunities for innovators. She emphasized that innovation drives progress in health systems but often remains costly without enabling structures. She welcomed the fund as a platform that can nurture solutions across diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, behavioral change, and system-strengthening, calling for sustained collaboration to ensure its success.
Dr. Jennifer Anyanti, SFH Deputy Managing Director of Strategy, Technical and Growth, explained that CoElevate has no rigid funding ceiling, as SFH has a track record of mobilizing capital to support high-impact ideas. She highlighted that many ideas fail not due to potential but because entrepreneurs underestimate the infrastructure needed to execute them. The accelerator will provide mentorship, proposal refinement, regulatory guidance, and connections to the right institutions and funders.
Dr. Onyeka Uche Ofili, SFH Access Advisory Board member, described the initiative as bold and capable of transforming healthcare if executed well. He emphasized that innovations should address real societal needs, spanning maternal and child health, adolescent well-being, elderly care, and system support technologies.
Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong, Founder of Syndicate Bio, praised SFH as a “hidden secret” in Nigeria’s health ecosystem, highlighting its infrastructural depth and long-term discipline. He noted that building deep-tech health companies in Africa requires physical infrastructure, regulatory processes, and complex systems—areas where SFH’s catalytic fund can play a transformative role.
The CoElevate Catalytic Fund offers milestone-based grants of $5,000–$10,000, 15–20% equity investments, tailored mentorship, regulatory guidance, access to pilot sites, and a 24-month portfolio management programme. It aims to support solutions that are scalable, gender-inclusive, and relevant to public health while building a national and regional innovation ecosystem beyond financial capital.
Stakeholders at the event described the launch as one of the most ambitious commitments to health innovation in West Africa. SFH Access reiterated its dedication to bridging gaps in healthcare access, supporting innovators, and strengthening Nigeria’s journey toward a resilient, inclusive, and innovation-driven health system.
