Dr. Olayemi O. Dawodu is a seasoned Anatomic and Molecular Pathologist whose distinguished career has shown an unwavering commitment to advancing healthcare in Nigeria and across Africa. She holds an M.B.B.S from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, as well as fellowships in Pathology (Anatomic and Molecular Pathology).

She is also also a Fellow in Laboratory Medicine of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and West African College of Physicians, respectively which make her eligible to practice in Nigeria and the West African region. She is an alumna of Said Business School, University of Oxford Executive Education and has certification in Leadership and Management in Health from the University of Washington, United States of America.

Olayemi Dawodu has over 20 years of experience in clinical and administrative roles in the healthcare sector with training at the Department of Pathology, Indianapolis University and Purdue University, Indiana, USA. She practices as a Consultant in Anatomic Pathology with special interests in female genital tract pathology, molecular pathology, and endocrine pathology with an emphasis on thyroid gland disorders.

Dr. Olayemi Dawodu is the Managing Director of Cerba Lancet Nigeria, a multi-award-winning household name in the healthcare sector and a part of the Cerba Lancet Africa group. She started her career with the organization in 2015 as the country Histopathologist before being promoted to her current position in 2016. She is a board member of Cerba Lancet Nigeria and serves on boards as well as in advisory roles in other sectors, such as financial and civil society.

In her role as the CEO, Dr. Olayemi is positioned at the forefront of the business where she provides strategic leadership, manages daily business operations, and oversees the overall growth and development of the organization.

She is passionate about contributing to the healthcare sector through the dedicated delivery of excellent pathology services, administrative expertise, and leadership. As an avid researcher, she has publications in local and international journals. She is a reviewer of peer-academic articles for the foremost national pathology journal and a Senior Lecturer in Anatomic Pathology at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. Dr Olayemi Dawodu is a sought-after speaker on topics related to healthcare, pathology, leadership, and management.

She serves as a member of the Accreditation Advisory Committee for the Nigerian National Accreditation System, and she works with a diverse population in the healthcare sector, providing a global perspective in the delivery of healthcare solutions both in clinical and administrative roles. She is a sitting member of the “Health as a Business” Committee of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group and also a member of the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria. She is a WIMBOARD fellow and a WimBiz Mentor. She is one of the first 50 founding members of Gaia Africa, the first C-suite women-only business club in Africa. She is a member of the prestigious female-only “Angel Investors” club in Africa called “Rising Tide Africa,” interested in promoting especially female entrepreneurs with seed investments. She is an advocate of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals #3, #5, #10, and #17. She has championed the Girl Child initiative, which provides menstrual hygiene education as well as menstrual hygiene products to schoolgirls.

Dr. Olayemi Dawodu has received notable awards such as; “Medical Personality Leadership Prize Winner 2016” organized by the African Prize for Leadership Excellence Awards” in conjunction with the African Union and ECOWAS, ‘Best Female CEO in the West African Region’ an Honorary Award at the 2017 ECOWAS Quality Awards organized by ECOWAS, European Union and UNIDO as recognition of the implementation of a successful Quality Management System in the Organization.

She fosters a team-based and capacity-building approach to achieving organizational goals. She is keen on the provision of excellent healthcare delivery especially quality pathology and diagnostic services in Nigeria and Africa. In her spare time, Dr. Olayemi Dawodu enjoys reading books, dancing, and traveling. She believes that people should always put their best foot forward at every opportunity.

It is in recognition of her Sterling Accomplishments in Medical Diagnostics and Laboratory Services in Nigeria that Dr. Olayemi Dawodu is deemed worthy to be conferred with the Woman of Merit Gold Award.