With the LucEnt Competition deadline quickly approaching on January 31st, we catch up with Oby Enwo, a former participant at Lucy Enterprise. She shares insights into her journey since her time at LucEnt, reflects on how the experience shaped her work, and offers valuable advice to students preparing to take part in the competition.
Hi Oby! Thank you so much for joining us! To start, can you introduce yourself and tell us about your time at Lucy Cavendish?
My name is Oby, and I am a medic with a deep passion for public health. During my time at Lucy Cavendish College, I completed a Master’s in Population Health Sciences, and I think this provided me with some of the tools and insights to address the challenges in community health. I loved my time at Lucy Cavendish, and I really think it was more than just a place of study—it was place filled with diverse, supportive peers and mentors who encouraged my journey. In particular, the college’s emphasis on entrepreneurship inspired me to combine my medical background with my entrepreneurship ideas to make a meaningful impact in society.
Can you tell us about your enterprise idea and what you do?
My enterprise focuses on improving community health through the Ogeri Health Foundation. I developed this idea initially at Lucy, and it has evolved into a long-term initiative aimed at addressing issues like blood pressure and heart health in rural communities. We started with outreach programs where we conducted blood pressure checks, educated participants about healthy lifestyle changes, and provided medication when necessary.
One of our proudest achievements is the success of our monthly health outreach events, which began in March last year. These sessions provide free health services and also empower individuals with knowledge about their health. We’ve had nine sessions so far, and the feedback has been incredibly motivating! Hearing how our efforts have helped people improve their health has been a deeply rewarding experience.
How does technology fit into your project?
Technology plays a crucial role in scaling our efforts. We are piloting a mobile app to help individuals monitor their blood pressure and manage their health more proactively. The app will also feature an electronic database to track long-term trends. Additionally, we’re planning to set up community-based blood pressure kiosks where individuals can measure and upload their readings. I think this integration of tech and on-the-ground outreach allows us to focus on accessibility and education ,as well as ensuring sustainable community health improvements.
What are your future goals?
By the end of this year, I aim to expand our outreach to more communities, increasing our reach from 250 participants to over 1,000. We are also working on securing additional funding and exploring international collaborations to amplify our impact. My vision is to create a robust network of health initiatives that empower communities to take charge of their health through education and technology. I also hope to refine our app and fully integrate it into our outreach efforts, so it will be a busy year!
What advice would you give to students?
My advice to students is simple: don’t let fear hold you back. If you have a passion or an idea, take the first step, no matter how small. Break your goals into manageable tasks, and trust that the skills you need will develop along the way. Don’t hesitate to seek mentorship, leverage resources like those available at Lucy Cavendish, and embrace opportunities to learn and grow. Most importantly, believe in your ability to create change, even if the path feels uncertain at times.
Thank you so much for speaking with us today Oby and best of luck this year!
To learn more about Oby's impactful work, be sure to visit www.ogerihealth.org. You can also connect with Ogeri Health on Instagram at @ogerihealth and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/ogerihealth.