Dr. Olusegun Bamidele Oso Wins WATEF Impact Leadership Award 2023

By Steven Igwe

Dr. Olusegun Bamidele Oso has been named one of the top winners of the WATEF Impact Leadership Award 2023, following the conclusion of the WATEF International Innovation Awards. Selected from a pool of fifteen nominees, he emerged as one of the top three recipients in the Impact Leadership category, in recognition of a career defined by system-level influence across healthcare, finance, and institutional development in West Africa.

The award acknowledges leaders whose work converts professional expertise into measurable impact across critical sectors. In Dr. Oso’s case, the recognition reflects nearly three decades of work spanning clinical medicine, corporate finance, investment strategy, and long-term institution building.

Dr. Oso began his professional journey in clinical medicine after completing his medical training at the University of Ibadan. His early career placed him in demanding public healthcare environments, where overcrowding, infrastructure gaps, supply shortages, and administrative constraints were part of daily operations. These experiences shaped his understanding that sustainable improvement in healthcare outcomes required intervention beyond individual patient care.

Motivated by this insight, he transitioned into banking, corporate finance, and investment, seeking to engage the financial and institutional structures that determine how health systems are funded, organised, and sustained. This shift marked the beginning of a career focused on aligning capital with essential services.

Across advisory, investment banking, and private equity roles, Dr. Oso developed deep expertise in valuation, fundraising, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, and strategic investment. His work covered healthcare, financial services, real estate, and infrastructure, giving him broad exposure to how capital flows across sectors and how institutions scale. He became recognised for his ability to translate complex operational realities into structured, bankable investment opportunities.

Within healthcare-focused private equity, his contributions were particularly notable. He supported the design of investment strategies, built deal pipelines, negotiated transactions, and worked closely with portfolio companies on governance, expansion planning, and operational discipline. His ability to balance investor expectations with the realities of healthcare delivery became a defining feature of his leadership.

One of the most significant milestones in his career up to 2023 is his role in co-founding the Nigeria Healthcare Development Fund. The fund was established to address persistent financing and infrastructure gaps in the healthcare sector, gaps that became even more visible during global health emergencies. The platform connects institutional investors with hospitals, diagnostic centres, clinics, and allied health service providers in need of long-term, patient capital.

Through the fund, Dr. Oso contributes to investment structuring, risk assessment, and governance support, helping healthcare businesses scale sustainably while maintaining financial and operational discipline. The initiative reflects a system-building approach, providing healthcare institutions with access to structured financing and stronger institutional frameworks. This contribution was highlighted by the WATEF judging panel as a key factor in his selection as a top winner.

Beyond healthcare, Dr. Oso serves as Chief Financial Officer of a leading mobility and electric vehicle company operating across West Africa. In this role, he has strengthened financial operations, supported capital raising efforts, and guided risk management across multiple markets. His work has supported the company’s transition toward cleaner, technology-driven transport solutions, reinforcing financial stability in a sector characterised by regulatory complexity and infrastructure challenges.

Dr. Oso also holds board and committee positions across life insurance, technology, leasing, and healthcare-related institutions. His responsibilities span audit oversight, financial planning, risk management, and governance frameworks, placing him at the centre of decision-making processes that shape critical sectors of the regional economy.

His contributions extend into academic and innovation ecosystems. He serves as a section editor, editorial board member, and peer reviewer for international journals covering management, finance, economics, and medical sciences. He also participates as a judge and mentor in innovation and social impact programmes, supporting the development of emerging ideas and institutions.

According to WATEF International, the Impact Leadership Award recognises individuals who combine strategic clarity with measurable institutional contribution. Dr. Oso’s selection reflects his consistent application of medical training, financial expertise, and governance leadership to improve access, quality, and resilience across healthcare and related sectors.

Through healthcare investment leadership, the establishment of the Nigeria Healthcare Development Fund, and his financial strategy work in mobility and technology, Dr. Oso has helped channel capital into services that affect daily life across West Africa. His board roles further demonstrate a commitment to building institutions that protect stakeholders, support innovation, and deliver sustainable value.

As the 2023 awards cycle concludes, WATEF International has begun preparations for the 2024 edition, calling on innovators, founders, researchers, and impact professionals across the region to participate. Dr. Oso’s recognition sets a benchmark for leadership rooted in systems thinking, cross-sector expertise, and long-term institutional development.