Bridgit Owokoniran

Nigerian healthcare innovator who revolutionized maternal health access through technology

Bridgit Owokoniran is a Nigerian entrepreneur and technologist whose work has dramatically improved maternal healthcare outcomes across Africa. As founder and CEO of Afya Care, she developed the continent's first AI-powered telemedicine platform specifically addressing maternal and child health challenges. The platform currently serves over 2 million users across 15 African countries, providing critical prenatal and postnatal care services through mobile devices.

Owokoniran's innovation addresses a critical gap: 60% of African women lack access to essential healthcare during pregnancy. Her system uses predictive analytics to identify high-risk pregnancies and connects patients with local clinics via SMS and mobile apps. This has reduced maternal mortality rates by 40% in pilot regions according to WHO studies.

Born in Lagos, Owokoniran studied computer science at MIT before returning to Nigeria to apply her skills locally. She was named one of Time Magazine's 'Most Influential People' in 2023 and received the African Innovation Foundation Prize. Her work has inspired similar platforms in Kenya and Ethiopia, creating a new model for decentralized healthcare delivery.