KAGOTE Moves to Build Capacity for Doctors in Ogoni, Foresees Economic Boom in Global Healthcare Industry
The President of the Khana, Gokana, Tai, Eleme Consultative Forum (KAGOTE), the apex sociocultural organisation of the Ogoni people, Lesi Maol, has unveiled an intervention package aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery in Ogoniland and empowering Ogoni medical professionals.
The announcement was made during a dinner meeting with Ogoni medical doctors held on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at Faarah Coffee Lounge, Port Harcourt.
The gathering brought together a cross-section of Ogoni medical practitioners, including house officers, medical officers, resident doctors, consultants, and professors of medicine, in a first-of-its-kind strategic engagement between the KAGOTE leadership and the Ogoni medical community.
Addressing the gathering, the convener, Lesi Mail, challenged the doctors to broaden their outlook beyond clinical practice by exploring the business and innovation opportunities within the healthcare sector.
He observed that the global healthcare industry is worth trillions of dollars annually and urged the doctors to critically assess their place within that value chain.
According to him, medical professionals should not limit themselves to providing clinical services alone but should venture into healthcare entrepreneurship, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, hospital management, medical manufacturing, health financing and other sectors capable of creating wealth while improving healthcare outcomes.
He said the doctors could pursue research that directly addresses the health challenges confronting Ogoniland and Nigeria rather than merely undertaking academic research solely for career advancement and professional certifications.
As part of efforts to build leadership and entrepreneurial capacity among Ogoni doctors, the KAGOTE President announced a ₦40 million scholarship fund that will sponsor 10 Ogoni medical doctors to undergo executive and professional business training at the University of Port Harcourt Business School.
He said the initiative is intended to equip participants with the managerial and entrepreneurial skills required to build sustainable healthcare enterprises and compete effectively within the global medical industry.
In another major intervention, Maol proposed a strategic partnership between KAGOTE and Ogoni medical practitioners to improve access to healthcare for vulnerable members of the community.
The proposal includes periodic free medical outreach programmes across Ogoniland as well as the establishment of an Ogoni Medical Trust Fund to provide financial assistance for emergency medical treatment of indigent Ogoni patients who cannot afford the cost of healthcare.
To kick-start the initiative, he pledged an initial ₦10 million to the proposed trust fund and called on well-meaning Ogonis, corporate organisations and development partners to support the programme.
Participants described the meeting as a landmark engagement capable of laying the foundation for stronger collaboration between the Ogoni medical community and KAGOTE in improving healthcare delivery, promoting medical research and expanding opportunities for professional and economic advancement.
