Kabarak University is proud to celebrate a remarkable achievement by one of its own—Dr Lydia Wangui Ngigi, Associate Faculty in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences—who has been named one of the 2025 recipients of the prestigious Dr Atai Anne Deborah Omoruto Scholarship Award.
This international honour, conferred by the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), recognises emerging women leaders in family medicine across Africa who demonstrate exceptional clinical service, leadership potential, and a passion for community health. Dr Ngigi, selected from a highly competitive pool of 26 applicants across 10 African nations, shares this recognition with Dr Adedotun Olabisi Ajelabi of Nigeria.
Dr Ngigi serves both as a practicing family physician and a passionate mentor through her joint appointment at Kabarak University and Tenwek Hospital in rural Kenya. Her commitment to equitable healthcare is reflected in her leadership as co-founder of Nitibu Network Africa, a grassroots platform that empowers early-career female doctors and coordinates free outreach clinics in underserved communities.
Her scholarship application distinguished itself through its clarity of vision and depth of purpose. In it, she narrated the realities of balancing rigorous medical responsibilities and personal commitments—recalling a night during residency when she performed three emergency C-sections and returned home at dawn to care for her family. These experiences fuel her drive to establish stronger mentorship networks for women physicians across Kenya.
“This scholarship would help me carry [Dr Atai's] torch forward, adapting her legacy to the challenges we face in Kenya today… I envision a mentorship program that pairs female residents with established women physicians, and a network of family doctors serving vulnerable populations,” Dr Ngigi stated.
The Atai Omoruto Scholarship honours the life of the late Dr Atai Anne Deborah Omoruto, a Ugandan physician celebrated for her fearless frontline leadership during the Ebola crisis and her unwavering dedication to community-based medicine. As a former head of the Family Medicine Department at Makerere University and a founding member of the WONCA Working Party on Women and Family Medicine, Dr Atai's legacy continues to inspire new generations of African physicians.
“We are grateful for this global community that believes in lifting each other up and advancing women’s leadership in family medicine,” said Dr Elizabeth Reji, Chair of the WONCA Working Party on Women and Family Medicine.
Dr Ngigi and her fellow awardee will attend the WONCA World Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, in September 2025. As part of the award, each recipient receives USD $1,000 in funding to support travel and participation at the conference, where they will be formally recognised during a special ceremony.
The recognition of Dr Ngigi on the global stage is not only a personal triumph but also a proud moment for Kabarak University, which continues to foster a culture of academic excellence, servant leadership, and transformative healthcare education.
The Vice-Chancellor and members of The University Management Board (UMB) extend their heartfelt congratulations to Dr Lydia Wangui Ngigi for her outstanding achievement. Her work exemplifies the values Kabarak holds dear—integrity, compassion, and innovation.
Source: WONCA Working Party News (Africa)
