The Society for Family Health (SFH), through its affiliate, SFH Access to Health (SFH Access), on Thursday inaugurated the CoElevate Catalytic Fund to strengthen health innovation and support startups across Nigeria.
Developed with support from the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the fund will provide financial and technical assistance to early-stage companies working in health technology, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), pharmaceutical research, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Chairman of the SFH Access Board, Ahmed Yakasai, described the programme as a milestone investment in Nigeria’s health ecosystem.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to the future of healthcare and the needs of vulnerable people. Innovation is central to solving our health challenges, and we are determined to help the next generation of health startups grow,” he said.
Yakasai added that the CoElevate Catalytic Fund will support ideas capable of transforming care delivery. “Nigeria is rich with innovators. What many of them need is structured support, and this fund is designed to give them the financial and technical backing required to scale impactful solutions,” he said.
Similarly, Dennis Aizobu, Managing Director of Programmes at SFH Access, said the fund reinforces the organizations belief that continuous innovation is essential to national progress.
“As a system, we can only thrive through deliberate investment in new ideas. Today, we are taking a bold step to support solutions that address the country’s pressing health problems,” he said.
Aizobu stressed that improving access remains the core objective of the initiative. “Access to healthcare, access to dignity, access to basic needs—these are the issues that matter. Whether in WASH, NCDs, or bridging academia and the pharmaceutical sector, we are building the ecosystem required for transformative impact,” he added.
He also commended the SFH Board of Directors for their leadership and support that made the project possible.
Established in 2022, SFH Access focuses on expanding access to affordable and quality healthcare through innovation, inclusive, and large-scale partnerships. The CoElevate Catalytic Fund is part of its long-term commitment to advancing universal health coverage in Nigeria.
