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
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.
Education
Dr. Abasi 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 Masters 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 and Gilead Science. He then worked as a management consultant with PwC and IQVIA (formerly QuintilesIMS), where he advised leading healthcare organizations, including Fortune 100 pharmaceutical companies, academic and research institutions, and governments. His experience in these companies expanded his knowledge of medicine.
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
In 2019, Dr. Ene-Obong founded 54gene, a health technology company advancing the state of healthcare through large-scale discovery and translational research, advanced molecular diagnostics, and clinical programs for the benefit of Africans and the global population by focusing 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.”
54gene has made significant strides in the healthcare industry and has been recognized for its innovation. The company has been featured on the Time Magazine list of 12 innovations that would change healthcare in the 2020s and was listed by Nigeria’s Punch newspaper as one of 5 innovations that would improve healthcare for Africans. Additionally, 54gene was named one of the world’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company in 2020 and was awarded the best health technology solution by AppsAfrica.
Philanthropy and Awards
Dr. Ene-Obong is committed to philanthropy and has received recognition for his efforts. In 2017, he was also the Lead Consultant in Nigeria’s Strategic Health Development Plan. He was listed as one of the 30 most innovative entrepreneurs on the African continent in 2019 by Quartz Africa. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a key role in helping the Nigerian health sector with relevant guidance and counsel. This significant role labelled him as a Nigerian hero in the fight against COVID-19 by the Nigerian newspaper ThisDay, in September 2020. Dr. Ene-Obong was also included in Fortune’s 40 under 40 most influential people in healthcare for the year 2020.
Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong’s work in advancing healthcare in Africa and the global population through 54gene is truly inspiring. His dedication to improving healthcare outcomes, coupled with his extensive experience in the healthcare industry, has led to numerous accolades and recognition. Abasi Ene-Odong is part of our Black Founders50 Series,which showcases the incredible achievements of Black entrepreneurs and leaders in the business world.