Driving Digital Health Forward: Mabel Ikoko Wins Entrepreneur Leadership Award

The intersection of healthcare and technology has always been a space full of potential, but in Nigeria, where access to quality medical services remains a challenge for millions, the need for solutions that are both innovative and practical is urgent. Few have risen to meet this challenge with as much clarity, commitment, and measurable impact as Mabel Ikoko, co-founder of Vireva, a health technology company reshaping the way care is delivered across the country.

That vision and leadership were celebrated recently when she received the Entrepreneur Leadership Award from Business and Enterprise, an honor reserved for individuals and companies whose technological advancements are redefining industries and improving lives at scale. Winning the award alongside the company was a defining moment for her, underscoring the collaborative effort and shared determination that have fueled the company’s rise.

The company’s approach to healthcare innovation is both bold and grounded. At its core, the company is designed to remove the barriers; geographical, financial, and systemic, that prevent Nigerians from receiving timely care. Its services combine mobile diagnostics, AI-driven decision support, and on-demand pharmacy solutions, ensuring that care is not only accessible but also efficient, transparent, and responsive to the unique needs of communities.

Accepting the award, Mabel reflected on the deeper meaning behind the recognition: “This recognition is not just mine, it belongs to the incredible team at Vireva and to every community we’ve had the privilege to serve,” she said. “We built this company to prove that technology, when guided by empathy, can break down barriers in healthcare. This award tells us we are on the right path, but it also reminds us there is still more to do.”

The award by Business and Enterprise is more than just a personal milestone for her; it is a validation of the company’s mission in an era when accessible healthcare is increasingly inseparable from digital transformation. By combining physical access points with intelligent digital systems, the company is proving that innovation in healthcare is not just about creating new tools, it’s about creating solutions that people can trust and use every day.

The Entrepreneur Leadership Award is also a signal to Nigeria’s tech and healthcare sectors: those homegrown solutions, when designed with vision and grounded in reality, can compete with global standards while addressing local needs. As she and her team at the company look ahead, their focus remains clear; continue scaling without losing the personalized, human-centered approach that has made their work so effective.

In an industry often dominated by promises of “disruption” and rapid change, her journey is a reminder that lasting innovation is built on purpose, discipline, and a relentless commitment to impact. With the recognition from Business and Enterprise, she now stands among the nation’s most influential technology leaders; proof that the future of Nigerian healthcare is being written by those who see technology not just as code and algorithms, but as a lifeline.