Hi, my name is Ola, I am a 23 year old
doctor set to change the face of acute
medical care in West Africa.
I grew up in a household where neither
of my foster parents went to university.
We lived in a small town called
Lowestoft. One of the most influential
people in my life without a doubt was
my foster mother Doreen, who taught me
to aspire to develop myself. I was
extremely inquisitive growing up and
had many questions that she did not
know the answers to, so she bought me
an encyclopaedia so I could look up the
answers to all my questions. She gave me
the tools to learn on my own and helped
me learn the value of first identifying
the problem and then finding the tools to
create a solution.
I owe my subsequent record of academic
excellence to this early education and
support. We were a working class family
and sometimes struggled to make ends
meet, but against all the odds I passed
my A-Levels with flying colours and
started my degree at the University of
York . After supporting myself through
working in retail, modelling and admin,
I graduated 6 years later as one of the
youngest doctors in the entire country.
I immediately set about trying to buttress
my record of excellence by publishing
my first book, various articles in the
British medical journal, and sitting on
boards that governed medical education
and training. I have been privileged to
receive many awards for my work in
research and clinical medicine.
However, after the tragic death of my 12
year old sister, due to the problems of
absence of critical care transport
facilities in Nigeria I started to think
more laterally.
Hotel Rwanda is a feature film about the
Rwandan conflict that tells the story of
Paul Rusesabagina a fictional hotelier.
The most powerful point in the film is
when he highlights the plight of Rwanda
at that point saying;
“There will be no rescue, no intervention
for us. We can only save ourselves. Many
of you know influential people abroad,
you must call these people. You must tell
them what will happen to us… say
goodbye. But when you say goodbye, say
it as if you are reaching through the
phone and holding their hand. Let them
know that if they let go of that hand, you
will die. We must shame them into
sending help. Paul Rusesabagina (Hotel
Rwanda, 2004)”
Every time I saw reports about Nigeria
on the TV or read about them in
magazines, I felt that same sense of
compunction, knowing that I had the
skills and knowledge to make a
difference. I realised my skills as a
doctor and a trainee pilot could perhaps
be better utilised, and I knew that I could
be instrumental in initiating what has
already been quoted as ‘the single most
influential healthcare innovation in
Nigeria this decade’ .
So I spent approximately 9 months
saving half of my salary every month
and immersing myself in books about
management, business and finance. I
went on courses, spoke to various
entrepreneurs and spent many a night
crafting my business plan. I left my job
in August and armed with my business
plan, my start up capital, and my
passion for change, I booked my first
ticket to Nigeria. The reception has been
amazing, from both the private and
public sector, we have secured our
aircraft and our first few sales contracts.
The business is growing at an
unbelievable pace.
At the centre of my plan is the concept of
social enterprise. The Flying Doctors
Nigeria is a profit making company, but
most of our profits go into the Flying
Doctors Foundation which aims to
provide the finance for various projects
in medical education and healthcare
within our partner states.
Nigeria’s international reputation has
been marred by political unrest over the
past decade which has slowed its
commercial development. I am therefore
also setting up an angel investment
group called the Flying Doctors Business
Angels, which will specialise in investing
in business pitched by entrepreneurs
under the age of 35, who were born
outside Nigeria, but are of Nigerian
heritage. I think this represents a highly
influential group of young people
capable of effecting real change in the
country.
Although I miss my friends and family
in England, I haven’t regretted my
decision for a moment. I hope my story
inspires more young people to realise
their potential, to see what is possible
rather than what is not, and to take the
plunge and follow their dreams.