Dr. Ayodeji Olawore: A Journey of Focus, Faith and Commitment

In their study, Grundnig, Steiner-Hofbauer, Drexler, et al. (2022) defined six different types of doctors, namely, the dutiful doctor, the online health-celebrity, the medical expert, the service physicians, the medical altruist and the ethical agent. They went ahead to list qualities that make a good doctor. For them, a good doctor “takes time, listens and makes correct diagnoses.”

These and more are the qualities that have distinguished Dr. Ayodeji Olawore throughout his over 40years journey in the medical practice. A family physician with specialty in Gastrointestinal, Chest Diseases, Adult Internal Medicine and Chronic Disease Care, Dr Olawore’s brilliance at a young age in school directed his path. He had a smooth academic journey.

Born in March 1959 and a native of Akinmorin in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, Dr. Olawore had his primary education at a Christian Public School between 1964 and 1969. He later proceeded to Oliver Baptist High School, Oyo between 1970 and 1974. For his A levels, he attended Federal School of Science Victoria Island, Lagos between 1974 and 1975.

Dr. Olawore trained at two of Nigeria’s prestigious institutions of higher learning. First was at the University of Lagos for his preliminary studies between 1975 and 1976 and then at the University of Ibadan College of Medicine between 1976 and 1981 from where he qualified as a medical doctor. He returned to his “first love”- the University of Lagos- for an MBA Marketing degree between 1995 and 1997.

But for his naivety as a young secondary school leaver, he would have stayed back at UNILAG for medical training. Hear him. “As young students, we felt U.I was the institution with the highest medical training standard. We never knew there were regulators over the university system.”

When asked why he settled for medicine at the university, Dr. Olawore said it was neither a chance occurrence nor influence from anyone. From secondary school, it was obvious where he would end up. His course of study was therefore a straightforward one. “I did not have any particular reason for studying medicine”, he said. “In secondary school the best science students then were thinking of engineering or medicine.” However, he did not choose medicine immediately. He was initially drawn to engineering because his dad was an engineer. But somehow he opted for medicine.

After graduation, Dr. Olawore was post to Adeoyo State Hospital Ibadan for his Housemanship and NYSC. That was between 1981 and 1983. He later moved to Lagos to begin full employment. His first jobs were at Bambo Clinic, Ebute Metta and then Dolapo Clinic, Akoka, both between 1983 and 1985. As a young doctor full of dreams and passion to make a mark in his chosen career, Dr. Olawore believed that those two years were enough for him to start his own medical outfit.

And so, Dr. Olawore started Deji Clinic in January 1985 right “in our family house at Idi-Araba.” Since then he has not looked back. Through consistent focus and diligent management, Deji Clinic has grown from being a “family house clinic” to two full-fledged branches in Ketu Alapere and Iju-Ishaga areas of Lagos State. In 2014, and due to his passion for the welfare of the less-privileged, he started Xcellenthealth, a community health insurance outfit with grant support from USAID. This outfit became a platform for him to assist low-income population with access to healthcare.

Dr. Olawore has attended many trainings and conferences key amongst which was Healthcare Leadership Academy for Health Management course between 2017 and 2018.

Despite this successful career in the field of healthcare, Dr. Olawore remains humble, refusing to accept that he has made any remarkable contribution. “I cannot claim to have any achievement. I am just doing what I love doing, giving relief to the sick”, he said.

Receiving people who come to the hospital apprehensive and in discomfort and within a short time, they are smiling again is quite rewarding for him despite numerous challenges facing hospital management in the country. Despite the fact that he loves what he is doing, the current situation in the country has the propensity to impact the industry negatively.

When asked about some of the challenges he has faced or currently facing, Dr. Olawore lamented about the emigration of medical personnel that has come to be known as “Japa” syndrome. For him, it has led to a situation where the old hands are no longer around while the young ones do not have anyone to guide and mentor them. As fresh doctors are coming out of school, they are just pushed into work. “This has led to unavoidable mistakes”, he said.  As clinic owners, they have to train and retrain these fresh doctors. And after training them, after a while, they will leave too. The clinic owner then starts all over again.

Dr. Olawore believes that the general situation has made staff attrition rate to be high just as wages are also high and unpredictable. Sadly though, the ones that are earning high wages are also delivering far less which can be frustrating. It is like employer is throwing money away.

Another challenge Dr. Olawore is concerned about is the cost of running hospitals. For him, it is high. “With the new government, we are dealing with even higher energy cost. This has led to plummeted profit margin.”    

Having reliable hands is a difficult tasks coupled with poor earning with pro-poor schemes from HMOs and State schemes and the NHIA that will push all schemes to pro-poor can only lead to the survival of hospitals and clinics being strained.

In his view, he laments that private hospitals’ cost structure is skewed towards salaries and drugs. Dr. Olawore said currently, about “60-70% of the hospital earnings go to payment of salaries.” Despite these challenges, “the consumer and others expect high standard from hospitals. It is like walking a tight rope to stay afloat. Regulators are breathing down the neck of operators.”

Dr. Olawore calls for encouragement from government because “private providers care for 70% of the populace. Therefore, private health care providers need to be encouraged.”

In spite of the challenges facing the industry, Dr. Olawore still keeps the faith. He is an ordained minister of the Living Faith Church Worldwide (WINNERS CHURCH).

Dr. Ayodeji Olawore is married to Grace, his amiable wife and God has blessed them with three adorable girls.

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