The Dr. Abayomi Ajayi Physicians Mentorship Programme has brought together 15 successful Nigerians from diverse professions to mentor 14 young physicians on entrepreneurial and career development.
This year will make it the 3rd cohort of the Mentoring Programme. The programme is designed to provide a forum for young medical professionals and aspiring medical leaders to develop an on-going relationship by meeting regularly and discussing matters relating to career development and advancement within an organized and supportive framework.
The mentor team which consists of 15 seasoned professionals and captains of industries include MD/CEO Risk Analyst Insurance Brokers Limited, Dr. Mrs Funmi Babington-Ashaye; former Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun; dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe; managing director, Mopheth Pharmacy, Mr. Adekunle Michael Oyegade; group managing director, Reals Pharmaceutical, Pharm. Ade Popoola; chief medical director, Lagoon Hospitals, Dr. Olakunle Onakoya; MD/CEO Interkel Group, Lagos, Engr. Nnamdi Agbim and former provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Afolabi Lesi.
Others are the group executive officer, Kedari Capital Limited, Mrs. Ife Fashola; CEO of Apex Leadership Consult, Dr. Chuma Osuchukwu; group managing director, COSSE Limited, Mr. Funmi Onabolu; vice-chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola; Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Prof. Oluwarotimi Akinola; DG, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Prof. Adedeji Adekunle (SAN) and the convener of the Physicians Mentorship Programme, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi.
The convener of the Physicians Mentorship Programme, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, at the unveiling of the Mentees, disclosed that many young medical graduates lack the ability to navigate their career paths, hence the need to mentor them on the right path to grow. “This is why we have chosen mentors from different professions to help them navigate every step of the way. The mentors are going to teach the Mentees how to make money. Some of the physicians who benefitted from the past two cohorts affirmed that the programme helped them see the profession differently,” he stated.
He however urged the mentees to engage their mentors. “You should take full advantage of your mentors. There will be joint mentoring sessions and one-on-one conversation with your mentors. Please take full advantage of the time you spend with them,” Ajayi advised.
In the same vein, one of the mentors who is also the group executive officer, Kedari Capital Limited, Mrs. Ife Fashola averred that medicine is not an easy course, not only in its technicality, content and sensitivity, but also the length of time one puts into the practice. “You have spent a lot of time to become a doctor, so there is a tendency to feel that at the end of your study, you have arrived at your destination. I must say that this is the beginning of your journey. Your qualification as a doctor is really the beginning of your journey, hence the need for someone to guide you all through the way.
“When you were in school, everything was streamlined, you had a curriculum, so you know what to expect. When you step out into the real world as doctors, the framework is not exactly there, so you could either progress or fall back. There is a path to career progression, but how you navigate yourself within that path, is left to you. This is the reason why this Programme was set up,” she explained.
Fashola however advised the mentees to make good use of the Mentoring Programme, adding that opportunities like this do not come all the time and it is not all over the place. As the Mentoring Programme commenced, Fashola urged the Mentees to be flexible, be open minded, to write down their goals and what they want to achieve at the end of the Programme.
The former provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Afolabi Lesi also urged the Mentees to commit to being life-long learners, to personal development and to Nigeria. “The mentors come from diverse background and as such, they all have something to offer to you; take to heart, whatever they got to offer to you. You should commit to personal development by setting goals and be open to change. You should also commit to Nigeria. Many Nigerians are leaving the country and for good reason; to improve themselves. But sometimes, they forget to come back. Nigeria is not going to fix itself, it depends on us to fix the country. So don’t forget to give back to the country,” Lesi further urged the mentees.
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