Shepherd Medical appoints Okodugha as Medical Director, marks leadership transition

Nearly three decades after it was established, Shepherd Medical Centre in Opebi, Ikeja, has announced the appointment of Oladunni Okodugha, Consultant Paediatrician, as its new Medical Director. The decision marks a transition in leadership at the facility, which has served families since 1997.

The centre was founded by James A. Egejuru at a time when private paediatric hospitals were limited. Over the years, it has developed services focused on children and has built relationships with families across generations.

Speaking on her appointment, Okodugha pointed to the role the hospital has played in the lives of its patients.

“Parents who were once treated at Shepherd as children now return with their own children,” she said. “That tells you there is a level of trust that has been built over time.”

She said the change in leadership comes with a duty to maintain existing standards while adapting to current needs in healthcare delivery.

“The vision has always been to provide care that puts children and families first,” she said. “My role is to build on that and ensure we are keeping up with how care is evolving.”

The hospital provides services including emergency paediatric care, neonatal support, immunisation programmes, and access to specialists in areas such as surgery, neurology, and haematology.

Okodugha said improving patient experience will be a key area of focus under her leadership.

“Families are more involved now, more aware, and that changes how care should be delivered,” she said. “We are looking at how to improve our systems and make the process easier for them.”

She also spoke on the need for continuous learning in medical practice.

“Medicine does not stay the same,” she said. “We have to keep improving, keep updating our knowledge, and ensure that what we offer here aligns with global standards.”

Okodugha trained at the University of Ghana and completed her residency at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. She said her previous experience at the centre gives her insight into its operations and expectations.

“I have worked within this system before, so I understand both the culture and the responsibility that comes with it,” she said.

She added that the focus will remain on the hospital’s values.

“There are things that define this place, compassion, integrity, consistency,” she said. “Those are not changing.”

For families who depend on the centre, she said the direction remains clear.

“At the end of the day, it is about the children,” she said. “That is what guides everything we do.”