Olamilekan Adegbite

Nigerian bioengineer developing affordable medical solutions for low-resource settings

Olamilekan Adegbite is a biomedical innovator whose 2021 invention of the MediStrips diagnostic tool has revolutionized healthcare accessibility in Africa. This low-cost paper-based testing system allows rapid diagnosis of malaria, diabetes and HIV at 90% lower cost than traditional methods. His startup Biotech4Africa has distributed 2.5 million kits across 15 African countries since 2020.

During the pandemic, Adegbite developed the CoviTest-NG rapid antigen test with 98% accuracy, approved by WHO in 2022. His collaboration with UNICEF provided 500,000 free testing kits to Nigerian hospitals. The World Health Assembly recognized his work as a 'Model Solution for Pandemic Preparedness' in 2023.

Adegbite's 2024 launch of the Mobile Health Cart program uses AI-driven triage systems in solar-powered mobile clinics, reaching 120 underserved Nigerian communities. His research at the University of Lagos has produced 14 peer-reviewed papers on biomaterials innovation, cited in over 300 scientific studies. Through his NGO Tech4Health Africa, he mentors 200+ engineering students annually, fostering the next generation of healthcare innovators.