In a country where millions struggle with access to quality healthcare and timely medication, Jennifer Esiaba is leading a quiet revolution. As the founder of Mariam Grey, a digital health company simplifying access to diagnostics, medication, and teleconsultation in Nigeria, Jennifer is building what could be the future of healthcare delivery across Africa.
A graduate of the University of Lagos, Jennifer’s journey into health innovation was deeply personal. Coming from a family of pharmacists — both her parents and siblings are in the field — she witnessed firsthand the consequences of Nigeria’s broken healthcare supply chain. She shared with Just4WomenAfrica that the loss of her father, who was also a pharmacist, due to lack of timely access to medication, exposed a painful gap in Nigeria’s pharmacy and medical infrastructure. That experience became the seed for what would later become Mariam Grey.
“If my dad could lose his life because he couldn’t access medicine on time, then imagine what millions of Nigerians face daily,” Jennifer said. “That’s when I knew I had to do something.”
Founded to bridge that gap, Mariam Grey operates as a telehealth and telepharmacy ecosystem. The platform integrates multiple layers of healthcare services — including teleconsultations, diagnostics, laboratory testing, and medication delivery — into one seamless, technology-driven system.
At the heart of Mariam Grey’s operations is an AI-powered system that matches patients with verified professionals based on their specific needs. Every partner — whether a doctor, pharmacist, or diagnostic center — is vetted through the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and holds valid professional licenses before joining the platform.
“Trust is the backbone of healthcare,” Jennifer explained. “We make sure every medication comes from verified distributors and every consultation is with certified experts.”
Mariam Grey’s most impressive innovation is “Mummy Grey,” an AI-powered digital assistant that guides users through basic health inquiries and connects them to the right services. For users without smartphones or internet access, the company developed a USSD feature, accessible through a short code — *2*344# — allowing rural and underserved communities to consult, order medication, and even schedule lab tests using basic mobile phones.
The platform also ensures data privacy and patient confidentiality, with end-to-end encryption and compliance with both Nigeria’s Data Protection Regulations (NDPR) and ISO international standards.
“We take patient trust very seriously,” Jennifer noted. “All data is encrypted, and users must give consent before sharing personal information. Transparency is key to building confidence in digital health.”
Since launching, Mariam Grey has served over 25,000 patients, dispensed more than 8,000 prescriptions, and established a digital presence in over 150 government councils across Nigeria. Jennifer says these milestones represent the real impact of accessible healthcare.
“Our proudest achievement is seeing how technology is closing the gap for people in rural areas — people who would otherwise travel hours just to see a doctor,” she said.
Despite the challenges of navigating regulatory hurdles and initial skepticism around telepharmacy in Nigeria, Jennifer remained undeterred. She and her team built partnerships with trusted health professionals and regulators to prove that a digital-first healthcare model could work effectively in Africa.
As for the future, Jennifer believes that digital healthcare is the next frontier for Africa.
“The future of healthcare in Nigeria and Africa is shifting from hospital-based to digital-based,” she said. “It’s how we’ll bridge the healthcare divide, one patient at a time.”
With innovators like Jennifer Esiaba at the forefront, the dream of accessible, affordable, and inclusive healthcare for all Africans is no longer out of reach — it’s becoming a reality.
