Aproko Doctor Faces Backlash Over Alleged GMO Agenda and Mysterious $500K Health Startup Funding
Dr Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, is under heavy public scrutiny following claims that he has sold out to foreign interests promoting genetically modified organisms in Nigeria. The controversy erupted after the popular medical influencer released a viral video endorsing GMOs as safe and essential for tackling food insecurity in Africa. The timing of the video coincided with the resurfacing of photos showing Egemba with billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, who is widely known for funding GMO-driven agricultural initiatives across the continent.
The backlash has been fierce. Nigerians across social media platforms have questioned the integrity of Aproko Doctor’s advocacy, accusing him of pushing a one-sided narrative that fails to address the environmental, health, and economic risks of GMOs. Critics argue that while GMOs may offer short-term gains in crop yield and pest resistance, they could also introduce long-term dangers including biodiversity loss, soil depletion, and dependency on foreign corporations that control seed patents.
Amid this storm, new revelations have added fuel to the fire. Aproko Doctor’s healthtech startup, AwaDoc, which he co-founded with Jesse Benedict, recently raised $500,000 in pre-seed funding at a valuation of $2.5 million. The startup operates an AI-powered health assistant on WhatsApp designed to offer medical advice and triage services across Africa. Within weeks of launch, AwaDoc attracted over 11,000 beta users and processed more than 73,000 messages. The innovation has been praised for its simplicity, especially in underserved communities that rely heavily on mobile platforms.
However, questions about the source of the funding are growing louder. Despite widespread media coverage, the investors behind the $500,000 pre-seed round have not been publicly disclosed. This opacity has led many Nigerians to wonder whether foreign entities with vested interests in biotech, agriculture, or public health may be involved. The suspicion is heightened by Aproko Doctor’s recent public support for GMOs and his perceived alignment with global actors like Bill Gates. Critics are now asking whether the healthtech initiative is truly independent or part of a larger playbook to influence public opinion and policy through trusted local figures.
Defenders of Egemba point to AwaDoc’s clear social impact. By operating through WhatsApp, the startup sidesteps barriers that prevent millions from accessing quality healthcare, such as long queues, consultation fees, and limited clinic availability. The platform has even partnered with other digital health services like Clafiya to enable lab bookings, doctor consultations, and medicine orders all through a familiar app interface. For supporters, this is a commendable step toward universal health access.
Yet the combination of uncritical GMO promotion and shadowy startup funding has struck a nerve. It reflects a growing discomfort among Nigerians with the increasing influence of foreign money in shaping narratives around food, health, and national development. While the National Biosafety Management Agency has maintained that all GMOs approved in Nigeria meet global safety standards set by the World Health Organization and Codex Alimentarius, many Nigerians remain unconvinced. They argue that food systems and public health must be grounded in local knowledge, transparency, and autonomy rather than donor-driven science and policy.
This unfolding saga is no longer just about one man’s opinion on GMOs. It has become a national conversation about influence, trust, and sovereignty. Aproko Doctor, once widely admired for using social media to simplify complex health topics, now finds himself at the center of a debate far more complicated than a 60-second video can resolve. Whether his intentions are genuine or part of a broader agenda remains to be seen. But the message from many Nigerians is clear—they want transparency, accountability, and solutions that put the people, not hidden sponsors, at the heart of progress.
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