Obinna Onyekwena MD, MPH

Commander
DISC Type : D

Deputy Director, Infectious Diseases Advocacy at Gates Foundation

Kirkland, Washington, United States

Overview

Dr. Obinna Onyekwena is the Deputy Director of Infectious Diseases Advocacy at the Gates Foundation, where he leads global strategies for malaria, TB, and HIV. An alumnus of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, colleagues describe him as experienced, intelligent, and a conscientious manager.

He also holds the esteemed traditional role of Enebu (Village Chief) in his community in Ufuma, Nigeria. In this capacity, he is dedicated to preserving local culture, resolving disputes, and bridging traditional leadership with modern, community-driven development efforts to create lasting change.

He uniquely combines his career as a global health leader with his responsibilities as a traditional Nigerian village chief.

Personality Overview

Risk-Taker

Impact-Driven

Strong-Willed

They put a lot of effort into ensuring personal success.  They are less concerned about the product and more about its potential impact. They like to stay in control of the negotiation or defining of the terms.

Topics They Care About

Global Health Advocacy
Leads the global advocacy strategy for infectious diseases at the Gates Foundation, focusing on malaria, TB, and HIV, drawing from extensive prior experience at The Global Fund.
Traditional Leadership
Serves as the Enebu (Village Chief) of his community in Nigeria, where he is responsible for preserving culture, resolving disputes, and representing his people.
Locally-Driven Innovation
Strongly advocates for localizing technical assistance and diversifying partnerships to promote self-reliance and sustainability in national health systems.

Media Appearances

Obinna Onyekwena - Gates Foundation. Featured in Gates Foundation

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Nigeria's Obinna Onyekwena appointed director in Gates Foundation. Featured in Punch Nigeria

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Nigerian Doctor, Obinna Onyekwena appointed Deputy Director at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Featured in Vanguard Nigeria

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Work History

3-2023
Deputy Director, Infectious Diseases Advocacy at Gates Foundation
12-2024
Village Chief: Enebu of Umuenebu and Ozegu, Ufuma at Umuenebu and Ozegu Village, Ufuma, Anambra State
2-2014 - 2-2023
Disease Advisor, HIV at The Global Fund
1-2013 - 2-2014
Public Health Specialist, Office of the Inspector General at The Global Fund
2-2011 - 12-2012
Public Health Expert at The Global Fund

Education

2005 - 2006
Master of Science from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, U. of London
2005 - 2006
Postgraduate Diploma from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, U. of London

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 14 Location : Kirkland, Washington, United States Job Level : Mid-senior Designation : Deputy Director, Infectious Diseases Advocacy at Gates Foundation
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Insights For Selling To Obinna

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • When negotiating terms, help them build an impression that they are the ones calling the shots
  • Get to the point quickly instead of spending time doing small talk
  • Refer to testimonials from well-known industry leaders

DONT's

  • Don’t take too much time in sending them information if they ask for any
  • Avoid being a storyteller and don’t try to oversell
  • Do not hesitate from asking counter questions, just avoid challenging their authority

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Obinna is

  • Conviction around the impact matters the most to them, followed by a sense of achievement and ROI.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Obinna

  • If they are not convinced, they will say no without any hesitation.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Obinna move?

  • If convinced, they can reach decisions quite fast.
  • Can Obinna take some risk or not?

  • They do not shy away from taking risks, but can be quite binary about them.

You And Obinna

Personality Compatibility


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