By Odita Sunday
Married to Mr. Tony Elumelu, one of Nigeria’s richest bankers and entrepreneurs; Dr (Mrs) Awele Vivien Elumelu stands tall in the comity of Nigeria’s reputable medical practitioners who have chosen not to relocate to foreign land like others for a better life. With a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from the University of Benin, she has proved over the years that she is a medical doctor with vast experience in general medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology and emergency medicine.
Currently the Chairperson of Avon Medical Practice Limited, Awele is also the Chairperson of Avon Healthcare Limited and oversees the healthcare investments of Heirs Holdings. This comes after she had worked with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and in the United Kingdom, with Grantham and District Hospital, Grantham. At Avon Medical Limited, Dr. Elumelu and her team provide quality healthcare while creating a superior patient experience for total wellbeing.
It is interesting to note that it is mandatory for Avon Medical Patients and their visitors to park their vehicles at the stable located at 43/45 Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos. An Official shuttle is readily available to convey patients and visitors to and from the stable to the main hospital.
As a leading voice in African healthcare and the Chairperson of Avon Healthcare Limited, Nigeria’s leading health insurance provider, Dr. Awele Vivien Elumelu prides herself as the Founder /Chief Executive Officer of Avon Medical Practice, a growing network of full-service clinics and onsite facilities with corporate institutions. She is focused on expanding and improving access to quality healthcare in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation.
Having identified poor health infrastructure, absence of medical equipment, and poor healthcare coverage as some of the challenges facing healthcare delivery in Nigeria, she established the two organizations to provide affordable medical insurance and services to Nigerians from all walks of life. This is helping to improve access to adequate and effective healthcare services in Nigeria.
In January 2018, Dr. Elumelu was appointed a Private Sector Champion for Immunisation in Africa by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. In this role, she leverages her knowledge, corporate networks, and expertise from the healthcare and business sectors to champion vaccination and immunization in Africa, where almost 10 million children are yet to be fully immunized. She is particularly passionate about and advocates extensively for the rights of Africans, women, and children. In line with her commitment to the economic philosophy of Africapitalism, which calls on the African private sector to lead the charge in developing the continent, she continues to work to bring together public and private players to deliver economic opportunity, social good and greater health and opportunity to all Africans.
Dr. Elumelu serves as a Director on the Board of Heirs Holdings, a family-owned investment company committed to improving lives and transforming Africa and is a Trustee of The Tony Elumelu Foundation, the leading philanthropy empowering entrepreneurs and championing entrepreneurship in Africa.
