Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong is a Nigerian with leading health experience operations in the UK, USA and Nigerian healthcare industries. He is the founder and CEO of 54gene, an African genomics company in charge of building the first-world Pan-African biobank. Abasi has had great success in the medical field, working in different organizations and governments as a management consultant with PwC and IQVIA.
Early Life and Schooling
Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong was born and brought up in the southern part of Nigeria. He started his education in Nigeria, where he obtained his O’level. He later attended Imperial College in London in to study Human Molecular Genetics.
Dr. Abasi also obtained MBA in Bioscience from Keck graduate institute. He did his Ph.D. in Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry with a focus on Cancer Biology/Medicine from the University of London. He also has a Master’s degree in Business Management from Claremont College in California.
Early Career
Dr. Abasi began his career after his undergraduate studies. He worked as an honorary research associate from 2009 to 2010 with the Institute of Psychiatry King’s College London. From October 2010 to March 2013, he worked as a Ph.D. researcher at Barts Cancer Institute in London. Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong served as a strategic consultant and a research manager for Panasonic, Gilead Science and IMS Health. His experience in these companies expanded his knowledge of medicine.
Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong was also a senior health industry consultancy associate at PwC. His last job before launching 54gene was at Pathfinder International as a senior consultant for Nigeria’s strategic health development strategy.
“I would not describe myself as an innovator. I think I am doing the work that needs to be done. If I am an innovator, perhaps it’s because I faced this challenge head-on and was persistent and fortunate in timing. I am lucky that our work is making an impact”
54gene
Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong launched 54gene in January 2019 to focus on researching the genomics of African genetics. The company is headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria and Washington DC, USA.
54gene is a health technology firm that uses cutting-edge clinical research, advanced molecular diagnostics and innovative scientific research to equalize precision medicine for Africans and the world population. The company is responsible for numerous genetic investigations in various parts of Africa. More than 100,000 people have been recruited for this research.
54gene also provides genetic tests directly to consumers and hospitals in various parts of the world. It offers these tests in ten teaching hospitals in Nigeria with a market value of $400.
Dr. Abasi predicts genomics will impact nearly all scientific fields. His experience in consultancy for drug companies and healthcare data space gives him the confidence to go beyond the current levels. Treatment developments are expected to increase significantly with innovations and beliefs in genomics.
“I would describe myself as something other than an innovator. I am doing the work that needs to be done. If I were an innovator, I would face this challenge head-on and be persistent and fortunate in timing. I am lucky that our work is making an impact.”
Leadership Roles
Dr. Abasi has played many roles in helping the community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a key role in helping the Nigerian health sector with relevant guidance and counsel. He was also the Lead Consultant in Nigeria’s Strategic Health Development Plan in 2017.
Awards
54Gene made it in the Fast Company list for Most Innovative Companies in 2020 under Dr. Abasi’s leadership.
The CEO was listed as one of the 30 most innovative entrepreneurs on the African Continent by Quartz Africa in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was labeled a Nigerian hero in the fight against the pandemic.
In 2020, he was included in Fortune’s 40 out of 40 most influential people in the healthcare industry. Abasi Ene-Obong is the definition of hard work and consistency.
Abasi Ene-Odong is part of our Black Founders50 Series. Download the complete 2023 BBVA Founders50 list here.