Everest Okpara
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Everest Okpara ⓘ is a Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist known for his work in medical diagnostics and healthcare sector in Nigeria. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Everight Diagnostic & Laboratory Services Ltd and the founder of Everight Healthcare Foundation, a non-profit organisation involved in community medical outreach in Nigeria.[1][2][3] He was the president of the Owerri Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OCCIMA).[4]
Dr. Everest Okpara | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 22, 1973 |
| Alma mater | Lagos State University |
| Occupations | Entrepreneur, philanthropist |
| Known for | Medical diagnostics; healthcare philanthropy |
| Title | Managing director and CEO, Everight Diagnostic & Laboratory Services Ltd |
| Spouse | Roseline Okpara |
| Website | everightlab |
Early life and education
Everest Okpara was born in Isiekenesi, in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State, and was raised in a small household in which he helped with his mother's catering business.[5] He attended Community Primary School, Dimagu, and National Secondary School Ntueke in his home area, before moving into business and healthcare entrepreneurship.[5][6]
Okpara earned a bachelor's degree in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management at Lagos State University and later undertook coursework or short programmes in public-health related topics, including biostatistics and epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA. He also completed a Healthcare Management program at Lagos Business School and earned an MBA and a PhD from Charisma University, USA.[5][6]
Career
Everest Okpara founded Everight Diagnostic & Laboratory Services Ltd in 2005; under his leadership the organisation expanded to operate diagnostic centres in Owerri, Lagos and Abuja and added molecular-testing capability during the COVID-19 pandemic.[5][7]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Everight was listed among private laboratories contributing PCR testing in Nigeria and appears in multiple Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) situational reports as an active testing centre for inbound/outbound travellers and routine testing at different times in 2021–2022. The Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) records show the laboratory's ISO15189 accreditation certificate for its Wuse 2 (Abuja) facility.[5]
Okpara also founded the Everight Healthcare Foundation, a non-profit organisation which runs free medical testing, community health outreach, and public health education in Nigeria.[8][3]
He is also the founder of Sangtech Technologies Nigeria Ltd, a healthcare-focused technology firm for developing e-health solutions, diagnostics automation and electronic health-record systems to support digitally-enabled healthcare delivery in Nigeria.[5][9][2]
In 2019 Okpara became the substantive president of the Owerri Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OCCIMA); this appointment and his role in local organised private-sector bodies were reported in national and local business publications.[4]
Recognition and Accreditation
- The Everight laboratory in Abuja is recorded as having achieved ISO 15189 accreditation (MLSCN/Assessment Documentation) and Everight Lab was among private laboratories approved or referenced in NCDC COVID-19 testing lists used during the pandemic response.[5][10][11][7][12]
- Everest Okpara received an award of appreciation from Gulf Medical University in the UAE on February 1, 2025.[12]
- He was invited to speak at the UK International Health Summit in Liverpool on February 14, 2025.[12]