I dare not assume that you all have read my previous post on Ola Orekunrin, if you haven’t, then you better do. Today, you can read why this 23 year old Medical Doctor left a prestigious position in the UK, a fast car, good flat, influential committees and great friends, all for a “risk” in setting up a revolutionary company in Nigeria.

She was so determined to succeed that she ignored the pain of waiting for answers as well as the numerous rejections to go ahead. As you will read the interview below, her ability to focus is inspiring.

Honestly, I think or should I say, I am privileged to present you with Dr Ola Orekunrin – a young lady who will, this year, at least, inspire you to take action.

In one statement, this interview, kindly granted by Ola, summarises why I decided in the first place to start JSD.

Enjoy.

Be Inspired.

Act.

Jide Salu Interviews Ola Orekunrin

JideSaluDiary (JSD): Dr Ola, thank you for granting us this interview.

Dr Ola Orekunrin (Flying Doctors Nigeria):

JSD: How would you like to be addressed?

Dr Ola: Ola is fine, lol

JSD: Tell us a little bit about your childhood?

Dr Ola: I grew up in a seaside town called Lowestoft in the east of rural England.

JSD: As a black person fostered by a white parent, how was life growing up without your real parents?

Dr Ola: I’m very blessed to have two sets of parents who are both wonderful and who have all had various influences on my life so far. I love all four of them and wouldn’t change the way I grew up for the world

JSD: Tell us about Doreen, your fostered Mum, whom you have described as “one of the most influential people in my life without a doubt”.

Dr Ola: She’s a great, spiritual wise woman, who taught me so many valuable skills. I still think over some of the things that she told me when I was a child, it’s all finally beginning to make sense.

JSD: … and Medicine? It could have been any course. So whyMedicine?

I choose medicine because my younger sister was ill quite frequently with sickle cell anaemia, I really wanted to make a difference in the same way doctors had done for her.

JSD: You said “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.” For some reading this interview, they could be going right through what you experienced some years ago, what tips would you offer?

I spent 5 years at university.

I love the fact that I lived in a country where people are offered a genuine chance to succeed regardless of race/class of background. It makes me so proud of England.

But even in Nigeria/India/Kenya I’ve seen people come from far more humble backgrounds to achieve things that I can only dream of. These people continue to inspire me.

One piece of advice all these people seem to give me is to stay intensely focused and determined and that’s something I’d like to pass onto anyone working towards a goal.

JSD: In Nigeria, there is a term “hot” used for those who are excellent bar none. Would you say you are a genius? Having received numerous awards for your work in research and clinical evidence.

No, far from it. I’m the most clumsy, disorganised, eccentric person ever….honestly.

There are a lot of people I look up to prize winning scientists like Professor Yamanaka, celebrated artists like Damien Hirst and Andy Warhol , business people like Warren Buffet and politicians like Dora Akunyili. But the more I study these people the more I seem to realise that great people are really ‘great groups of people’.

What I mean by that, is for example people like Warhol were assisted and supported by a number of individuals that never became as famous as him, but were nonetheless instrumental…..even indispensible throughout his life.

I only managed to pull this off because I had people who worked for me for barely anything for months to get my company started. My staff couldn’t have worked any harder if I paid them in gold bars despite the fact I can be a bit bossy and I’m extremely choosey. I also had business people that mentored me, a law firm that did all of the legal work of the service at half the cost because they believed in my ideas. And bloggers (Thanks Jide), journalists and magazines that supported me. So I definitely only deserve a small proportion of the credit for this project, the rest goes to people like you, that I’ve been blessed to come across.

JSD: …so Flying Doctors Nigeria? Where did the idea come from? Where did the inspiration came from?

I have always been fascinated with flying and currently working towards my pilot’s license. I love trauma medicine and am particularly interested in motor accident kinematics and pre-hospital medicine, so it was something that I knew I had the skills and experience to do.

Plus, I believe my sister (RIP) could have been saved if such a service was available.

The first time an air ambulance service was suggested for Nigeria was in 1960; since then no one had taken the idea forward. I looked at models in Kenya, Libya, Uganda and India and became determined to bring a similar service to Nigeria.

JSD: …considering you have never been before deciding on setting up a company to operate in Nigeria?

I had been to Nigeria before when I was much younger. After my sister’s death I began to feel more and more like a hypocrite. I’ve always been an action person. I’ve sat on different boards; taking a stand for different issues since I was very young.

I felt like a hypocrite because this was a major issue for me and I was not doing anything about it. I have deep roots in Nigeria and felt the need to make a difference.

JSD: I am so interested in what others felt about the idea that you were coming to set up in Nigeria? What did they have to say? Who was the first person you shared your idea with?

Dr Ola: They ALL thought I was insane. I had just got one of the best jobs in my deanery, I had an excellent portfolio, I was on several influential committees, I had a fast car, a nice flat and a great set of friends………….leaving all that to start a company in unstable area of Africa that thousands of doctors were trying to get out of, didn’t make any sense to anyone.

They persisted with their stories of armed robbers, mass genocides, kidnappings and corruption.

The first person I told about it was my one of my best friend’s; he was actually one of the only people that encouraged me.

JSD: How were you able to fund it and assemble your team?

Dr Ola: With difficultly, funding came from all over the world. I got rejected more times than I can bear to remember. Looking back I don’t even know how I managed to remain positive. Sometimes I would spend 4-5 hours waiting an office only to be told to come back the next day…..and then be turned down.

I carried my laptop around in my heels knowing that all my savings were going into the project. The answer is definitely with difficultly, but eventually I got hold of some funding and God provided me with the most excellent team a manager could ask for.

They have worked so hard for me, it was humbling to see.

JSD: …and from conceptualising the idea to your first call out as a Flying Doctor in Nigeria, how long did it take? Months, years??

Dr Ola: About a year and a half of very hard work.

JSD: So tell us briefly, how does Flying Doctor Nigeria operate?

Dr Ola: We provide critical care transportation solutions to both the private and public sector by selling yearly air ambulance cover plans to states, companies and individuals.

We operate as a social enterprise, using a not-for-profit model.

JSD: …What have been the challenges so far and how are you dealing with them?

Dr Ola: There have been a number of challenges so far, but we deal with them as they come and modify the way we operate accordingly.

JSD: In the film, Hotel Rwanda, you were particularly inspired by a quote which goes like this – “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)” What hit you with this quote? Was it your “eureka” moment?

Dr Ola: It was really the part where he said ‘we must shame them into sending help’.

I began to feel ashamed. I’d spent so much time talking about how I wanted to work in Africa when I graduated, but then I guess I lost my drive and got seduced by comfort ignoring what I really believe is my calling.

I knew I had a set of skills to make a difference, but I tried to continue conning myself with a whole host of futile excuses- ‘what would I do with the car?’, ‘wouldn’t I need an MBA?’, ‘what about security?’.

That film was all about people in the West who had the means to make a difference ignoring Africa’s problems. I just decided I didn’t want to be one of those people anymore.

JSD: Also the unfortunate tragic death of your 12 year old sister had an impact on you. In what way, if I may ask?

Dr Ola: That had a profound impact on me. I would have never started the Flying Doctors if I had not been through that experience.

It’s always ‘someone else’s problem’ till it becomes your own.

I took it as a personal call to action.

JSD: There was something a statement you made, and this is it (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’.)  that made an impression on me. Do you now believe you are making a difference? How is your dream different from reality?

Dr Ola: I believe my company is making a huge difference.

For the first time ever in Nigeria, having an accident on the motorway, isn’t a death sentence, patients can be transferred rapidly between hospitals for treatment.

It’s estimated that there are close to 7000 deaths per year in Nigeria’s industrial sector that means every week nearly 150 people die at work.

The biggest reason is because of a lack of ambulance facilities to get them to an appropriate facility. The flying doctors industrial cover meets this need directly.

JSD: You are one determined young lady. You spent approximately 9 months saving half of your salary every month and immersed yourself in books about management, business and finance. You also went on courses, spoke to various entrepreneurs and spent many a night crafting your business plan. I bet it wasn’t that straight forward and easy. But your were that focused. Is that what it takes to succeed in life?

Dr Ola: It’s the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, without a doubt. Now my company is actually running I can laugh at all the times I spent carrying my laptop around sourcing for funding and coming home in tears.

There were many days that I didn’t eat because I was so busy-I lost so much weight my mother hardly recognised me! I lost touch with most of my friends-they didn’t understand. I ate, drank and slept my business. And there still isn’t a moment that I’m not brainstorming some aspect of my career.

So definitely, focus is key.

Doing a great job isn’t enough, you will get the results you deserve by doing a brilliant job.

JSD: So many would say or think that as a money making business, and rightfully so, it may be out of reach of the common man (if you get what I mean). I assume it will be readily available to the rich oil company workers and co. What would you say to that?

Dr Ola: The Flying Doctors uses a revenue generating model, but it is not for profit….I’ll explain later what I mean.

But I do take your point about it being available to rich oil company workers. But when these rich oil companies take out cover, it protects all the employees of the company, from the millionaire CEO to the cleaner of N15, 000/month. If the cleaner has a serious accident at work, then she will be airlifted and treated, just like the CEO.

What I do hope is that more states will take up cover as well making it increasingly available to the common man and I know that as Nigeria starts to take healthcare reform more seriously, this will begin to happen.

JSD: Tell us a bit about your social enterprise concept as well as the Flying Doctors Foundation.

Dr Ola: Social enterprises are businesses with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners. The Flying Doctors centres around this concept.

Our surpluses all go into the Flying Doctors foundation which funds public healthcare projects.

JSD: …also you have plans to become an angel as well.
I mean “Flying Doctors Angels”. I have a fair idea of the role of an angel in an investment setting. Tell us what you have in mind?

Dr Ola: I want to encourage Nigerians born abroad to start up ventures in Nigeria. I’ve heard so many brilliant ideas, but many lack some of the start up capital to do this.

The Flying Doctors Business Angels aims to provide some or all of the start-up capital.

JSD: I know you are mostly in the air and you don’t get to appreciate the Nigeria traffic or have you?

Dr Ola: Unfortunately, I’m not in the air all the time. Lagos traffic is horrendous.

I spend many hours on the way home from the Island, getting fat, consuming huge amounts of fan ice yogurt, hoping that I’ll get home sometime this year!

JSD: …oh I forgot. Before arriving Nigeria, did you have any prior notion of life and how have you been able to deal with it?

Dr Ola: I had no real expectations, it’s so much more fun than I expected. I’ve made so many new friends- I was afraid I wouldn’t and I’ve met so many interesting people.

Lagos is my new London. Eko oni baje o!

JSD:…so Nigeria it is! Any regrets? What is the future looking like?

Dr Ola: I miss my friends and my parents a lot. I miss practicing medicine in the UK as well. But I’m positive I made the right decision.

It’s such a privilege to be part of something that is making such a difference, I’m confident about its expansion and I know even if I could not save my own sister, we are currently saving hundreds of sisters, fathers, mothers and children. I’m very grateful for the opportunity.

JSD: …and finally, preach it girl (oh sorry, Dr Ola) to readers out there….on how to realise one’s potential. If there were to be a quote, a story or a statement to encourage us, what would that be?

Dr Ola: I’ve met so many talented people, miles smarter than me whilst I’ve been here. I’m just a science geek who likes gadgets and really my skills lie primarily in the area of healthcare.

I would challenge everyone to start speaking out about the social injustices closest to their hearts.

I believe so much that our generation will be the one to turn Nigeria’s fortunes around.

I’ll finish with these quotes about the dangers of not taking action. It talks about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group.

“THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.

THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.

THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

THEN THEY CAME for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up.