Chairperson, Avon Healthcare Limited

Dr Awele V. Elumelu, OFR

Dr. Awele V. Elumelu, OFR is an African business leader, dedicated to transforming healthcare and fostering entrepreneurship across the continent.

She is the Chairperson of Avon Healthcare Limited, Nigeria’s leading health insurance provider, and Avon Medical Practice, a growing network of full-service clinics and medical centres, driven by her commitment to improving access to quality healthcare in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation.

Dr. Elumelu’s organisations and advocacy are tackling challenges around healthcare infrastructure, while championing access to affordable medical insurance and effective healthcare services.

In 2018, Dr. Elumelu was appointed as the Private Sector Champion for Immunisation in Africa by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. In this role, she harnesses her knowledge, corporate networks, and expertise from the healthcare and business sectors to champion vaccination and immunisation in Africa. She also sits on the Advisory Board of the Yale Institute for Global Health.

In addition, Dr. Elumelu serves as the Chairperson of Heirs Insurance Brokers, the brokerage arm of Heirs Insurance Group, a subsidiary of Heirs Holdings. In this capacity, she leads the organisation to achieve its strategic goals of democratising access to insurance solutions. Her strategic steer continues to drive the company's success and impact across the insurance industry.

Furthermore, Dr. Elumelu serves as a founding Director on the Board of Heirs Holdings, a family-owned investment company committed to improving lives and transforming Africa. She actively plays a role in uniting public and private sector stakeholders, to deliver economic opportunities and social good.

As the Co-Founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Heirs Holdings, committed to empowering entrepreneurs across Africa, she advocates extensively for gender inclusion and youth entrepreneurship across the continent. The Foundation has empowered over 400,000 young African men and women across 54 Africa with non-refundable grants, mentorship, and business training.

Dr. Elumelu holds a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree, from the University of Benin. Her career as a medical doctor includes experience with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, in Nigeria, and Grantham and District Hospital, Grantham, in the UK.