Dr. Osahon Enabulele is a Chief Consultant Family Physician, a strategic thinker, renowned medical leader, who has made significant contributions to developments at local, national, regional, and global levels through his leadership exploits, professional mentoring, research, and private engagements. He is a passionate advocate of Universal Health Coverage and healthcare systems strengthening.  

He holds a Master's Degree in Health Planning and Management (MHPM) and is a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians (FWACP), Fellow of the Nigerian Medical Association (FNMA), Fellow of the Commonwealth Medical Association (FCMA), and Honorary Fellow of the Health Writers Association of Nigeria.

Early Life and Education His academic and leadership potential was evidenced at Victory Primary School, Benin City, Edo State (1977-1982), where he served as Class Captain for many years, and Patrol Leader of the Boys’ Scout Movement (Olua Primary School division, Benin City).

During his secondary education at Federal Government College (FGC), Wukari, Taraba state, Nigeria (1982-1988), he served in various leadership positions amongst which were: President of Press Club, Assembly Hall Prefect, Labour and Utility Prefect, Table Tennis Captain, etc.

He was a leading Newscaster and received various prizes, including: “1st in overall academic class performance” (1984/1985), “Best Student in Chemistry’’ (1985/1986), “Best Student in Mathematics’’ (1985/1986), and “Best Student in Economics’’(1985/1986).

As a Class Captain at FGC Wukari, he led his class peers to win the prize for the cleanest class for 3 consecutive academic sessions. At a ceremony to confer him with a Certificate of Honour, both the School’s Principal (Mr. S.N. Abia) and the Patron of Press Club (Mr. Ike), had this to say of Dr. Osahon Enabulele: “With his indomitable will, good leadership qualities, diligence and dedication, he gave the Club an unequalled sense of direction. As a Newscaster, he was a delight to listen to, and as a Writer, he was powerful, convincing and clear-headed”.

Dr. Enabulele bagged a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree (M.B., B.S) from the University of Benin before undergoing the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program at Ikot Effiong-Otop Okoyong, Odukpani LGA of Cross River State.

While at the University of Benin, Dr. Enabulele held various leadership positions, amongst which were:

1. Speaker of Congress, University of Benin Medical Students’ Association (UBEMSA),
2. President, University of Benin Medical Students’ Association (1992-1994).
3. Member of the Students Union Parliament for six (6) consecutive years.

In the year 2001, he bagged a Masters’ Degree in Health Planning and Management (MHPM) from the University of Benin. He went on to obtain the Fellowship of the West African College of Physicians (FWACP) in the year 2007, and was thereafter appointed a Consultant in the Department of Family Medicine, University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

Leadership and Achievements Dr. Osahon Enabulele, known for blazing the trail, has a robust leadership experience spanning over three (3) decades. He has committed himself at home in Nigeria, across Africa, and Internationally, to the advancement of the medical profession, strengthening of healthcare systems, Universal health coverage, medical ethics, and the rights of physicians and other healthcare workers.

Dr. Enabulele's medical professional leadership journey began as President of the University of Benin Medical Students Association (1992-1994). He later served as Chairman of Edo State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (2008-2010), and later as President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA; 2012-2014), following his overwhelming election on May 4, 2012. He is, to date, the youngest-ever President of the NMA.

As Chairman of Edo State branch of NMA (Edo NMA), Dr. Enabulele pioneered the active construction of the state branch’s permanent secretariat building (Doctors’ House), and by so doing, successfully relocated the operational and temporary secretariat base of the branch to its current permanent secretariat site. This was in keeping with his electoral promise to construct the permanent secretariat building of Edo NMA (Doctors’ House).

On account of his enormous contributions at the State, National, Regional and International levels, he was conferred with the Presidential Merit Award of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on September 24, 2005, as well as the Fellowship of the Nigerian Medical Association (FNMA) in May 2021. The FNMA is the highest recognition, honour, and award conferred on a worthy physician by the Nigerian Medical Association. (NMA)

Aside from being a seasoned Healthcare Administrator, Dr. Osahon Enabulele is a professional who has served on the Management Boards of several Federal Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria, including Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) and Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu.

In addition, he is a former Member of the Governing Council (Board) and the Disciplinary Tribunal of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

Dr. Enabulele is a:

• Life Member of the World Medical Association (WMA).
• Life Member of the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA).
• Life Member of the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON).

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE Endowed with superb organizational abilities, Dr. Osahon Enabulele pioneered and founded the Coalition of African National Medical Associations (CANMA) in 2016 (a body made up of National Medical Associations in the African region). His outstanding achievements and other notable national, regional, and global accomplishments were instrumental to his emergence as President of the Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA) in November 2019, a position he held from 2019 to 2022. To date, Dr. Osahon Enabulele remains the first and only Nigerian physician to have been elected and inaugurated President of CMA since the body was established in 1962. The CMA comprises National Medical Associations in the 56 countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. Through his exceptional leadership prowess, he reformed and repositioned the CMA to its pride of place.

In the same year 2019, Dr Enabulele became the first Nigerian physician to become a statutory Council Member and an Executive Committee member of the World Medical Association (WMA), since the WMA was founded in September 1947. Similarly, Dr. Enabulele became the first Nigerian physician to ever chair one of the only three (3) Standing Committees of the World Medical Association, following his unanimous election as Chair of the Socio-Medical Affairs Committee (SMAC) of WMA in Santiago, Chile. He was subsequently re-elected unanimously for a 2nd term as Chair of SMAC on Thursday, April 22, 2021.

As an accomplished medical professional, Dr. Osahon Enabulele is leadership and excellence personified, with an unwavering commitment to the advancement of the medical profession, strengthening of healthcare systems, medical ethics, as well as promotion of the well-being, rights and autonomy of physicians, not only in Nigeria, but across Africa, and Internationally. His profound contributions led to the conferment of the Fellowship of the Commonwealth Medical Association, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2023, as well as the Honorary Membership of the Turkish Medical Association (TMA) in April 2024, making him the very first Nigerian Physician to be so honoured by TMA.

Dr. Enabulele has a rich working experience in the World Medical Association (WMA) spanning over 18 years, the longest ever by any Nigerian physician in the global body. Among the numerous engagements, Dr. Enabulele ably chaired the WMA Workgroup on Amendment of WMA By-laws that led to the deepening of the inclusivity principle and a historic organizational reform, which saw to the creation of Additional Standing Committee Members in WMA. He has also served as:

• Chairman of the panel session on “Viewpoints on how to achieve Universal Health Coverage” at the Health Professional (H20) Meeting on the Road to Universal Health Coverage, held in Tokyo, Japan, and organized by the WMA and the Japan Medical Association in June 2019.
• Pioneer Member of the Policy Review Committee of WMA (2017- 2019).
• Advisor, Finance and Planning Committee of WMA (2017-2018); and
• Member of the Finance and Planning Committee of WMA (2019-2021).

With his work on the international stage focused on partnership to engender better health, Dr. Osahon Enabulele was elected President of the World Medical Association (WMA), in October 2021. He thus became the first Nigerian and first West African Physician to hold this position since the WMA was established in September 1947. He was subsequently and historically inaugurated as the 73rd President of the World Medical Association during the 73rd WMA General Assembly held at the Ritz Carlton hotel, Berlin, Germany, on Friday, October 7, 2022.

Through his vibrant leadership as President of the WMA, Dr. Enabulele gave great visibility and direction to the WMA, with notable accomplishments. Some of his activities and attainments include the following, amongst others:

• Advocacy against violence in the health sector, including violence perpetrated against Physicians and other Health Professionals.
• Public Advocacy for: (i) Universal Health Coverage, (ii) Building of Resilient Health Care Systems, and (iii) Investments in the well-being, working conditions, security and safety of the Human Resource for Health.
• Strong push for the resolution of Brain drain in the health sector.
• Development of New Initiatives such as: (i) the WMA Roundtable and Leadership Series, and (ii) the Global Healthcare Excellence Award.
• Defense of colleagues against repressive Governments, such as the defense of physicians in the Turkish Medical Association.
• Improved Sense of Belonging amongst members through his outreaches and engagements with National Medical Associations and individual physicians.
• Improved strategic engagements with international bodies like the World Health Organization.

On account of his progressive leadership strides during his tenure as President of the World Medical Association, Dr. Enabulele was conferred with the Past President’s Medal, as well as the Life Membership of the World Medical Association on Friday, October 6, 2023, in Kigali, Rwanda.

Advocacy and Impact Dr. Enabulele advocates for good governance and leadership excellence, respect for human and civil rights, physician rights, patients’ rights, health equity, health systems strengthening and Universal Health Coverage. He initiated a Free Medical Mission in 2012, which to date, has provided free medical and surgical care to over 200,000 indigent Nigerians. He robustly championed the campaign for Nigeria's National Health Act in 2014, and participated as a Delegate at the 2014 National Conference (CONFAB) where he made useful inputs. To date, Dr. Enabulele continues to advocate for equitable and quality healthcare for all citizens.

Academic Contributions As a Postgraduate Examiner and Reviewer with the Faculty of Family Medicine, West African College of Physicians, Dr. Enabulele continues to impart knowledge through teaching/ training and mentorship to undergraduate and postgraduate students, respectively at the University of Benin and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, as well as physicians across the globe.

He has trained and supervised several Resident Doctors who are now Consultants. He is a former Head of the Department of Family Medicine, UBTH (2017-2019), and saw to the improvement in the pass rate of Resident doctors in the department, at the membership examinations of both the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Physicians, with an attainment of a 100% pass rate from an average of 14% pass rate recorded in the 4 years preceding his appointment as HOD. It is also on record that under 15 months as HOD, the department produced 10 Senior Registrars; a marked improvement from an average production of 1-2 Senior Registrars per year experienced in the periods preceding his appointment. Equally of note is the establishment of an Academic Department of Family Medicine in the University of Benin, which was approved during his tenure as HOD, by the Senate of the University of Benin on the 4th of December, 2017, as a result of his vigorous resuscitation and successful pursuit of the aspiration which had earlier been termed “dead and buried.”

In line with his passion for academic excellence, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, instituted an academic prize award for the best graduating medical and dental student of the University of Benin in 2014. Similarly, in February 2023, he instituted the Dr. Osahon Enabulele academic prize award for the best graduating medical student of the College of Health Sciences, Igbinedion University.

Guest Presentations and Publications Dr. Osahon Enabulele is a widely travelled professional, participating in many conferences across the world, and has delivered over 120 public lectures and keynote addresses on health, socio-economic, and political issues. He has authored and published several articles in peer-reviewed journals, amongst which are:(1) Enabulele,O. Achieving Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria: Moving Beyond Annual Celebrations to Concrete Address of The Challenges. World Medical & Health Policy. March 2020;12(1):47-59. (2) Enabulele, O. Covid-19 Pandemic: A Possible Reversal Mechanism for Outward Medical Tourism by African Political Leaders. World Medical Journal. 2020; 66(3):15-22.

Honours and Awards Dr. Enabulele's exceptional leadership and significant contributions have earned him numerous honors and awards (over 100 public awards and recognitions), solidifying his legacy as a progressive leader, and a champion of healthcare and medical excellence in Nigeria, Africa, and globally.

Private life Dr. Enabulele is married to Prof. Joan Enabulele, a Consultant Restorative Dentist, and has three lovely children (Efosa Benedict Enabulele, Omorovbiye Victoria Enabulele, and Osarumwense Michael Enabulele).

Hobbies He enjoys Table tennis, watching football, and engaging in humanitarian endeavours.