About
Dr Ekene Isikaku, MBBS, MPH
I'm Dr. Ekene Isikaku, a medical doctor, public health specialist and global health programme leader with nearly 20 years of experience spanning clinical medicine and health programmes in Africa. This includes over 15 years in programme management and more than four years of regional and multi-country leadership across West and Central Africa. My technical experience covers HIV/AIDS, PMTCT, TB, malaria, child health and congenital anomalies.
Working alongside governments, donors, partner organisations and health teams, I have translated evidence and strategy into policies, guidelines, country plans and measurable programme results. I have managed a US$36 million HIV portfolio, co-managed annual budgets exceeding US$180 million and led national programme expansion from eight to more than 90 clinics. My leadership combines health systems strengthening, country expansion, partner development, resource mobilisation, donor compliance, financial oversight and performance management. This experience positions me for senior executive responsibilities overseeing country operations, regional portfolios and organisational growth.
My own career transition deepened my commitment to helping professionals recognise their value, navigate challenging workplaces with dignity and rebuild with confidence. For nearly five years, I have supported a professional development community reaching nearly 1,000 people through practical career guidance and mentoring.
Through Docpreneur NG, I am bringing that support to a wider audience—creating a space to share workplace experiences, celebrate great workplaces and support career transitions and reinvention. I also help health professionals explore opportunities beyond clinical practice, diversify their income and apply their expertise in new ways. My purpose is to help professionals build fulfilling careers and broaden their contribution while protecting their wellbeing.
Professional CV
Ekene Isikaku, MBBS, MPH
Health Systems · Policy · Regional & Multi-Country Coordination
Abuja, Nigeria
Professional profile
Medical doctor and public health specialist with 15+ years of progressive experience designing, coordinating and monitoring complex health programmes in Africa, including more than four years of regional and multi-country leadership across West and Central Africa. Technical focus includes HIV/AIDS, PMTCT, TB, malaria, child health and congenital anomalies. Combines health-policy engagement, health systems strengthening, strategic planning, results-based management, partner coordination, donor compliance and financial stewardship. Trusted adviser to government counterparts, implementing partners and senior leaders, with a record of translating evidence and strategy into national guidelines, country plans, annual workplans, technical recommendations and measurable programme results. Managed a direct US$36 million HIV portfolio, co-managed annual budgets exceeding US$180 million and led national programme expansion from 8 to over 90 clinics.
Core expertise & leadership competencies
- Public Health Policy & Technical Advice
- HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, Clubfoot Programmes
- Health Systems Strengthening
- Programme Design, Implementation & Monitoring
- Regional and Multi-country Coordination
- Government / Member-State Stakeholder Engagement
- Strategic Plan and Annual Work Planning
- Policy, Strategy and Guideline Development
- Technical Proposals & Resource Mobilisation
- Donor and Grant Management
- Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Oversight
- Technical Reports & Management Papers
Career highlights
- Influenced national policy by coordinating technical inputs and Federal Ministry of Health engagement that supported the inclusion of clubfoot as a major congenital anomaly in Nigeria's National Birth Defects Surveillance Guideline (validated in 2026).
- Led regional programmes with direct oversight across five African countries and technical collaboration across Anglophone and Francophone contexts, strengthening government engagement, partner governance, quality assurance and cross-country learning.
- Expanded Nigeria's clubfoot treatment network from 8 clinics in 5 states to more than 90 clinics across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory, widening access and strengthening referral and service-delivery systems.
- Managed a US$36 million Global Fund HIV portfolio and co-managed annual budgets above US$180 million; strengthened sub-recipient systems and contributed to a 12% reduction in operational costs while maintaining compliance and delivery.
- Led proposal development and three consecutive grant renewals for three sub-recipient NGOs; aligned programme designs, budgets, targets, risk controls and reporting with donor and national priorities.
- Improved programme outcomes through performance review and corrective action: partners exceeded enrolment targets by more than 100% for three consecutive years, treatment dropout fell from the mid-30% range to 12.4%, and tenotomy rates increased from 47% to 93%.
Professional experience
MiracleFeet | West & Central Africa / Nigeria
Senior Program Field Officer, West & Central Africa / Country Representative, Nigeria | Feb 2022 – May 2026
Provided strategic and operational leadership for partner-led child-health programmes across West and Central Africa, with direct oversight of Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia and technical collaboration with additional Francophone country programmes.
FHI 360 - Global Fund HIV IMPACT Project
Senior Program Officer / Portfolio Manager
Managed donor-funded HIV programme portfolios valued at approximately US$36 million across two organisations and country-office teams, ensuring alignment with Global Fund regulations, national HIV priorities, approved workplans, budgets, targets and reporting requirements.
Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN)
ART Technical Officer, Karu LGA - CDC/Action Plus Up Project
Provided technical oversight, supportive supervision and problem-solving support to multidisciplinary facility teams implementing HIV treatment services in line with national and donor standards.
Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) | Abuja, Nigeria
Research Associate, INSPIRE MoMENT PMTCT Research Project
Coordinated research implementation and stakeholder engagement across 20 health facilities through structured field supervision and streamlined data-collection processes.
Mankind Care and Health Organisation of Nigeria (MACHON) | Awka, Nigeria
Program Officer | Aug 2011 – Dec 2012
Supported community-health research, HIV testing and referral activities, medical outreach, stakeholder mobilisation and programme reporting.
Federal Medical Centre | Owerri, Nigeria
Medical Internship
Education
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), Nexford University
- Master of Public Health (MPH), Cardiff University School of Medicine, United Kingdom
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria
Professional development
- PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner, Harry Baker Training Institute
- Strategic Thinking for Aspiring Leaders, Great Learning
- Assertive Communication, MiracleFeet
- Project Management in Global Health, University of Washington
- Change Management and Planning Strategies, JK Michaels
- Adaptive Project Management (Agile), JK Michaels
- Fundamentals of Implementation Science, University of Washington
- Leadership and Management in Health, University of Washington
- PM Salesforce Training, MiracleFeet
- Critical Thinking in the Age of AI, MiracleFeet
- Social Skills, MiracleFeet
- Remote Team Management, TestGorilla
- Critical Thinking, TestGorilla
- Mezzo Aid Grant Writing Course, Mezzo Aid
- IOL Executive Pacesetter Award, Women's Leadership Institute
- IOL Flock Community Champion Award, WILAN Women's Leadership Institute
Selected global engagement
Panelist, United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), New York, 2026 - Digital empowerment: using technology to advance women’s access to justice and health.