DHDC Executive Director - Deborah Ogwuche-Ikeh Bags Africa CEO Merit Award

DHDC Executive Director - Deborah Ogwuche-Ikeh bags Africa CEO Merit Awards.

Over the years, Africa CEO Merit Awards has become the largest gathering of entrepreneurs in Africa; an event where various business moguls and philanthropists are decorated in recognition of their outstanding contributions to society in their respective fields yearly.

The event took place on the 26th of March 2021 at the Nigerian Merit House Abuja. The event saw new sets of awardees from all works of life. Among those who received the award this year was Deborah Ogwuche-Ikeh, who is the founder of Debriche Health Development Centre (DHDC).

Debriche Health Development Centre (DHDC) is a registered NGO, a health-oriented civil society organization that is deeply involved in changing poor health narratives and outcomes through providing innovative health solutions across all primary health care areas. One of DHDC's core competencies is community-based interventions on pressing health issues that affect all communities especially the underserved communities and key populations across Nigeria.

She was presented the award under the category of Africa's 10 Most Outstanding NGO Founders.

While addressing newsmen after receiving the award, Mrs Deborah stressed the role of civil society in changing poor health outcomes at the grassroot level in Nigeria and Africa by extension which is one of the cardinal points of DHDC.

"It is my honor and privilege to be among reputable and exceptional Africans from different fields of endeavor to receive the award of Most Outstanding NGO Founders in Africa. I sincerely thank the organisers of the Africa CEO Merit Awards for hosting this event and for this initiative. My appreciation also goes to those who nominated me, and members of the selection committee for selecting me. It is certainly a very proud and humbling experience for me and our organisation. I especially want to thank my dear husband Dr. Timothy Ikeh for allowing me to lead this organisation even though we found it together. Thank you for your support and for allowing me to thrive in this space. Your support has kept me motivated to achieve my goals. I also extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the entire DHDC team, volunteers, family members, and other relevant stakeholders. I especially thank the National TB and Leprosy Control Programme of the Federal Ministry of Health for giving us the opportunity and platform to contribute towards the effort of ending Tuberculosis in Nigeria. Also to Stop TB Partnership Geneva for supporting our organisation through the CFCS grant for high impact at the grass root level. Let me also use this opportunity to thank Leadway Assurance for the kind of support we have received over the years. Without all the support from these key stakeholders, this honor would not have been possible. This award would always be a symbol of honor and encouragement not just to me as a person but for our organisation Debriche Health Development Centre. This award will serve as a pedal to accelerate and push me and our organisation to do more for humanity. Thank you, again."

Deborah Ogwuche-Ikeh

Others who also received the award are Nollywood actress King Tonto Dikeh (Nigeria), Karishma Pelham-Raad (Liberia), Mayor Jefferson T. Koijee (Liberia), Ageyegbe Joy Ochuko (USA), Chief Dr. Collins C. Osugwu (Nigeria), amongst others.