Nigeria Doctors Urged to Lead Healthcare Beyond Clinical Expertise Roles
Koko Maxwella 
ABEOKUTA, Nigeria – Nigerian health experts are calling for stronger leadership and management training for doctors, warning that clinical skills alone cannot transform the healthcare system.
Speaking on Saturday, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, says leadership development must become a priority at the Global African Women in Medicine Summit 2026.
“Ethics is a personal value… it must reflect in your actions because of the responsibility you owe your patients,” she states.
Coker urges young doctors to build leadership capacity early, stressing its importance in tackling challenges such as maternal mortality.
President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Dr Deborah Osinsanwo, calls for greater female representation in policymaking.
“Women have consistently demonstrated excellence in healthcare, but there is a need for stronger representation in leadership spaces,” she says.
Chief Medical Director Dr Oluwabunmi Fatungase adds that women must actively prepare for decision-making roles.
“Leadership goes beyond clinical roles,” she notes.
Organisers say the summit focuses on mentorship and equipping women to influence healthcare systems and policy outcomes.
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