FSDH Merchant Bank convened healthcare and financial sector stakeholders at its Health Sector Roundtable, “Care Meets Capital,” aimed at addressing Nigeria’s persistent healthcare funding shortfall and promoting sustainable investment in the sector.
Held at The Wheatbaker in Ikoyi, Lagos, the exclusive forum brought together healthcare entrepreneurs, operators, policymakers, development finance institutions, and investors to identify practical strategies for building investment-ready healthcare enterprises capable of delivering long-term value.
Brandspur Banking News Desk reports that Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, in his keynote address, emphasised the need to align public policy with responsible private investment to create a healthcare system that is equitable, efficient, and economically sustainable. “Healthcare is both a social necessity and an economic imperative,” Abayomi said, highlighting the role of innovative financing models, strong governance frameworks, and collaboration between government and private capital.
Bukola Smith, Managing Director and CEO of FSDH Merchant Bank, opened the event by noting structural funding gaps in Nigeria’s health sector. She revealed that healthcare accounts for only 4.2 per cent of the 2026 national budget, while over 70 per cent of total health expenditure is paid out-of-pocket by individuals. Smith stressed that bridging these gaps requires strategic collaboration between financial institutions, development partners, and government stakeholders.
A panel featuring Fola Laoye, Co-Founder of Iwosan Lagoon Healthcare Systems, Tosin Runsewe, CEO of AfyA Care, and Theresa Lawal from the Development Bank of Nigeria, examined the challenges and opportunities around healthcare financing. Discussions centred on long-term financing access, foreign exchange risks in equipment procurement, governance compliance, digital health adoption, and balancing affordability with quality care. Panelists emphasised investment models tailored to the capital-intensive nature of healthcare delivery.
Stella-Marie Omogbai, Executive Director of Corporate Banking at FSDH Merchant Bank, outlined how the bank leverages specialised products and sector expertise to address financing gaps in healthcare. A fireside chat with Bolaji Odunsi, Founder of Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre, and Arjun Udani, Co-CEO of Mecure Industries Plc, provided actionable insights on scaling specialist healthcare services and pharmaceutical manufacturing amid Nigeria’s evolving economic environment.
Industry leaders engaged with keynote speakers and FSDH executives, receiving guidance on risk management, blended finance structures, and governance practices aimed at attracting institutional capital. Closing remarks by Oladunni Ayobanjo, Head of the Health Desk at FSDH Merchant Bank, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to delivering structured financing solutions and advisory services to healthcare operators.
Through its “Care Meets Capital” initiative, FSDH Merchant Bank reinforced its dedication to fostering sector-focused dialogue, partnerships, and practical solutions designed to create sustainable impact across Nigeria’s healthcare ecosystem.
