DR ELO-OGHENE OWHE

Dr Elo-Oghene Owhe is a medical doctor with a strong passion for health policy and public health advocacy. Her clinical experience has exposed her to the systemic challenges patients face, fueling her desire to influence health policies that improve lives on a broad scale. She is the CEO and co-founder of periodperfectltd.ng, a company dedicated to empowering individuals with sustainable, accessible menstrual care options and fostering open, conversations around menstrual health.

Q: Tell us a few things about you! Your background, your childhood and early beginnings! 

As a child, I loved playing, but I always knew the importance of hard work. I grew up in a very nuclear family—my dad, my mom, and my two siblings. I am an identical twin and also have an older brother. My childhood was beautiful. We sometimes had extended family living with us, which made it even more lively. I always wanted to be a doctor. I was that child who would rush to mend injuries whenever my playmates got hurt. My mom is a nurse, so I grew up around medications and care. My parents also ran a pharmaceutical store, and my mom provided nursing services, which deeply influenced my early love for clinical medicine.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society currently?

The biggest challenge in my society today is insecurity. It is unsafe, and people consider themselves blessed when they go out and return home unscathed.

Q: Share with us some of the hurdles that you had to overcome in your life so far? How did you handle them? 

One hurdle I faced was realising the importance of money and how hard one must work to earn it. Having needs but not being able to meet them due to financial limitations was difficult. Another challenge was my experience as a Black woman studying in Asia, specifically in the Philippines. While the country itself was not bad, being different made me stand out. At times, people’s actions—like touching my hair—could feel uncomfortable. However, I chose to interpret these experiences as stemming more from curiosity and ignorance than from malice or racism. That mindset helped me adapt and handle the situation better.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you? 

The role of a mentor is important because they bring knowledge and perspective from experiences you don’t yet have. Speaking with a mentor has guided me in my work, my company, and my career path.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share? 

Yes. Life has taught me that people always show you who they are. You just need to pay attention.

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives! 

There are several, but one that stands out is NAPTIP (National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons). They work to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals, especially women and children. Their efforts in advocacy, rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration are improving lives in a very meaningful way.

Q: What are some of the challenges that women in your country face and what efforts are being made towards gender equality?

I would not say gender inequality is a direct problem in Nigeria from my own personal experience, though I acknowledge that other women may have lived differently and hold other opinions. For instance, in my career as a doctor, I have always earned the same as my male colleagues, so I have not felt a pay gap issue. However, inequality shows up in other ways. A common example is in public spaces: I can go to a restaurant and only the man I am with will be greeted, while I am ignored. Or when I take my dad out shopping, sales attendants often direct all attention to him and do not even acknowledge me. It reflects the cultural mindset that a woman is secondary, “just tagging along”. These subtle but consistent experiences show how gender biases still exist.

Q: Share with us a motto you live by. 

Move on. Life happens.

Q: If you had all the money needed to launch the project of your dreams, can you describe what you would do? 

I would invest in a research study comparing women who use menstrual cups to women who use pads, analysing whether there are significant differences in vaginal health outcomes. I am passionate about this because I own a menstrual cup company and strongly believe in its benefits. Some studies already
suggest that menstrual cups are safer for vaginal health, but I would love to carry out large-scale, evidence-based research within Nigeria.

Q: How is technology utilised for social impact in your country? For example are there mobile apps that support gender equality, inclusion, understanding of cultures?

There are no widely known mobile apps in Nigeria that are dedicated strictly to gender equality or inclusion. If such apps exist, they are not popular. However, technology has still been leveraged to advance social awareness and impact, especially through social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok
and Twitter. Technology is heavily utilised for social interaction in Nigeria. Almost everyone is online, whether on Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, or Twitter. Social media is a major part of daily life and interaction. Beyond that, Nigeria has also become a hub for digital innovation, especially in financial technology.

Some of the major online payment platforms widely used across the country include Flutterwave.

Q: Anything else that you may wish to add?

Being mentored has been a very fantastic experience. Every session was filled with something new and inspiring.