Celebrating a visionary physician and researcher redefining healthcare access through technology, education, and empathy.
The recently concluded Dratech International Conference 2024 reaffirmed its status as Africa’s foremost stage for celebrating transformative ideas and visionary minds shaping the continent’s technological future. Held under the theme “Innovation for Human Progress”, the event brought together leading thinkers, entrepreneurs, scientists, and policymakers whose work is redefining industries across Africa and beyond. Among this year’s distinguished honorees was Dr. Leesi Saturday Komi, a physician, researcher, and public health innovator whose career stands as a powerful example of how technology can bridge the gaps in healthcare access for underserved communities.
Dr. Komi’s recognition in the Public Health Innovation Excellence Award category highlights not only his individual achievement but also the growing importance of digital transformation in Africa’s health systems. His pioneering initiatives in telehealth and community engagement have connected thousands of people in rural and marginalized communities to quality medical services, setting new standards for equitable healthcare delivery.
From his early medical training in Ukraine to his groundbreaking leadership in Nigeria’s telehealth sector, Dr. Komi’s story is one of courage, compassion, and relentless pursuit of innovation. His work demonstrates that technology, when guided by empathy and purpose, can change lives at scale , turning complex healthcare challenges into models of community-driven success.
The Dratech Public Health Innovation Excellence Award is one of the organization’s most distinguished honors, presented annually to professionals who have made significant contributions to advancing healthcare accessibility, quality, and innovation through digital solutions. Recipients are selected based on their measurable impact in transforming public health systems, improving patient outcomes, and championing inclusivity in care delivery.
In this years award, the committee focused on leaders whose projects extended beyond clinical practice integrating technology, data, and advocacy to tackle deep-rooted health inequities. Dratech’s emphasis on human-centered innovation continues to position it as a hub for celebrating African excellence, recognizing those whose work embodies the intersection of science, service, and social good.
Dr. Komi’s selection as this year’s awardee reflects these ideals. His leadership in developing culturally adaptive telehealth programs, training community health workers, and fostering research-driven health interventions exemplifies Dratech’s mission to spotlight professionals who use innovation to create lasting impact. For him, the award is more than an accolade; it is an affirmation of his lifelong commitment to bridging the healthcare divide and ensuring that no community is left behind.
The Journey of a Visionary Physician
Dr. Leesi Saturday Komi’s journey into medicine began at Lugansk State Medical University in Ukraine, where he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree in 2020. His years of study were marked by an early awareness that healthcare must be accessible, culturally sensitive, and responsive to evolving social needs. Upon graduation, he joined the International Multi-Profile Clinic in Kyiv, serving as a Primary Care Physician at a time when global health systems were under immense pressure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the clinic, he led a multidisciplinary team of doctors and nurses committed to patient-centered care. His leadership during the pandemic was particularly noteworthy: he helped design and implement telehealth and triage protocols that allowed the clinic to maintain uninterrupted care despite lockdown restrictions. These systems ensured that hundreds of patients could receive medical attention virtually, setting an early precedent for the use of digital tools in crisis-response healthcare.
By 2022, Dr. Komi’s expertise in digital health had drawn attention back home in Nigeria, where he led Medihause Health Services Ltd., Abuja, as Telehealth Director. There, he designed one of the country’s most inclusive telehealth programs, connecting over 42,000 patients across 27 rural communities to licensed medical professionals. Recognizing the linguistic and cultural diversity of Nigeria’s population, he introduced multilingual consultation services in Hausa, Yoruba, and Pidgin English, ensuring that patients could communicate their symptoms comfortably and accurately.
Under his leadership, Medihause launched more than 50 public health webinars covering maternal and child care, infectious disease prevention, mental health awareness, and chronic disease management. These sessions reached over 23,000 participants, blending education with empowerment and helping families make informed health decisions. Dr. Komi also supervised the training of 300 community health workers and nurses in digital care tools and culturally sensitive consultation practices, strengthening trust in virtual healthcare systems.
One of his most innovative achievements was establishing referral pathways between telehealth platforms and local Primary Health Centres (PHCs); an initiative that improved follow-up care for more than 4,700 high-risk patients in areas with limited infrastructure. His approach demonstrated how digital systems could integrate with traditional health networks to create seamless, patient-focused solutions.
Through these accomplishments, Dr. Komi redefined the possibilities of telemedicine in low-resource settings. His leadership at Medihause not only improved care delivery but also proved that technology, when rooted in empathy, could strengthen community health systems and build public confidence in innovation-driven care.
Scholarship, Research, and Global Recognition
Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Komi has established himself as a respected scholar and editor whose work bridges academia and real-world impact. Between 2021 and 2024, he authored and co-authored over a dozen peer-reviewed publications on digital health systems, AI-assisted diagnostics, epidemiological frameworks, and preventive-care models. His research contributions, featured in journals such as the International Journal of Scientific Research in Computer Science, Engineering and Information Technology and the Iconic Research and Engineering Journals, have advanced global conversations on healthcare innovation in Africa.
His papers explore complex issues with practical clarity: from the use of AI-driven triage systems in community health to mobile health (mHealth) tools for disease surveillance, and evidence-based models for integrating digital health into public policy. These works have positioned him as part of a new generation of African scholars influencing international health systems research.
In addition to his authorship, Dr. Komi serves as Editor and Reviewer for several international journals, including the International Journal of Medical Science Research and the Gulf Journal of Medical Sciences. His editorial leadership has earned multiple honors, among them the Editor of the Year and Reviewer of the Year awards (2023 – 2024) across diverse journals, a rare recognition for someone so early in his career. These accolades acknowledge his rigorous peer-review standards, commitment to academic integrity, and contribution to raising the visibility of African scholarship on global platforms.
In his own words, Dr. Komi believes that “technology should enhance, not replace, the human connection in care.” This philosophy guides both his clinical and academic work, reminding peers that innovation is meaningful only when it deepens compassion and expands access. His dual dedication to scientific excellence and social impact reflects the very values that the Dratech Awards were founded upon innovation, integrity, and inclusivity.
Reflections on Impact and Inspiration
For Dr. Leesi Saturday Komi, receiving the Dratech Public Health Innovation Excellence Award 2024 is more than professional recognition; it is a reminder that lasting change begins with community. He views the award as an encouragement to keep pushing boundaries in the intersection of technology, empathy, and healthcare.
“This honor is a collective one,” he shared during a post-ceremony interview. “It belongs to every health worker, community leader, and patient who believes that better healthcare is possible when we work together.” His words echo the inclusive spirit that has defined his career, one built on collaboration and a belief in shared responsibility for public health progress.
Dr. Komi’s story resonates far beyond the walls of conference halls. It inspires a new generation of health innovators, particularly young Africans entering medicine and public policy, to see technology not as a distant tool but as a bridge to equity. His success underscores a growing movement of African professionals who are not waiting for global solutions but are building local ones that reflect the continent’s realities and strengths.
As the curtain closes on the Dratech International Conference 2024, preparations are already underway for the next edition. The organizing committee has announced that nominations for the 2025 Dratech Innovation Awards will soon open, inviting innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs across sectors to showcase their contributions. The call is simple yet powerful to continue reimagining Africa’s future through purpose-driven innovation.
For Dr. Komi, the path forward is clear. He intends to expand his digital health advocacy and explore new models of community engagement that integrate data analytics, education, and preventive care. His work serves as a reminder that the future of Africa’s health sector lies not only in hospitals or research labs but also in the courage of individuals willing to innovate for humanity’s sake.
Dratech celebrates visionaries who redefine what is possible. Through the example of leaders like Dr. Leesi Saturday Komi, the organization continues to honor excellence that advances human progress proving once again that innovation in Africa is not just emerging, it is leading.
