HRH Ambassador Ossai Ifeanyi Nwabuonwu Idriss: Making Healthcare and Development Work in Nigeria and Beyond

By Kekeocha Prince

HRH Ambassador Ossai Ifeanyi Nwabuonwu Idriss was born on 16 December 1992 to a royal family in Delta State, Nigeria. He is the son of His Royal Majesty Alhaji Zahir Ike M. Ossai Idriss, a capital market investor, and Princess Victoria N. Ossai Idriss, a medical doctor. Having grown up both in London and Nigeria, Ossai is used to different cultures, which influenced both his diplomatic and business manner. He is a PhD candidate and has undertaken advanced studies in business and engineering, with an MBA from Avila University and Harvard University Corporate Director Certificate.

Ossai, CEO and co-founder of telemedicine platform CribMD, established in 2020, has been a major force in transforming the access to healthcare in Nigeria. CribMD provides 24/7 telemedicine consultations and home healthcare, which tackles the most acute primary healthcare gaps, especially among rural populations. In its first six months of operation, the platform had over 9,000 subscribers and received approximately $2.5 million seed funding from prominent investors. The vision of Ossai has helped CribMD bring cutting-edge technology and solutions enabled by data to the fore in the health industry, with much value added to the healthcare of underserved populations. Thanks to remote consults and ready medical attention, CribMD has also spanned gaps between Nigeria and ideal health equity levels, providing medical care to patients without being troubled by location, or shortages at nearby resources.

Besides his work in the health sector, Ossai also founded Indigeneex, a green building firm that specializes in sustainable building. Indigeneex has secured deals with major firms and contributed to developing sustainable infrastructure in Nigeria. With the promotion of green building practices, Indigeneex aims to promote efficiency in the building sector and assist in solving the pressing demand for sustainable solutions in Africa. In all these enterprises, Ossai has not only revolutionized healthcare and construction but also impacted national economic development as well as job creation in Nigeria. His work is a vision of improving livelihood and building economic opportunity in the region.

Outside Nigeria, Ossai engages actively in diplomacy overseas. He was commissioned as an Institute for Economics and Peace Ambassador in 2022, promoting peace and sustainable development across the world. His participation in international high-level platforms like the UN General Assembly and the Spring Meetings of the World Bank indicates his interest in addressing economic stability and development issues in Africa. At the international level, Ossai is still an advocate for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on projects that will drive economic growth and social stability. His presence at platforms such as the Building Bridges Summit in Geneva is a testament to his commitment towards forging global discourse on issues of immediate global concern.

Ossai has been honored both locally and internationally. In 2023, he was featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for his work in healthcare innovation and into the African Leadership for Development and Humanitarian Service Hall of Fame. CribMD was named Outstanding Healthcare Organization of the Year in Nigeria when he was leading it, an indication of its enormous impact in the health sector. In addition to his entrepreneurial and diplomatic roles, Ossai is dedicated to philanthropic activities with the aim of helping the needy in Nigeria. His outreach programs focus on expanded access to health and education, which demonstrates commitment to social responsibility and community empowerment.

HRH Ambassador Ossai Ifeanyi Nwabuonwu Idriss is an example of a new generation of African leaders who are applying entrepreneurship and diplomacy to make a difference. His work in healthcare and sustainable development not only address the immediate needs in Nigeria but also fit into the larger discussion on economic growth and stability in Africa. Through his numerous endeavors, Ossai continues to shape the future of his homeland and push global discourse on development and sustainability.