Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo is the first child of former president of Nigeria, His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR. Yesterday, 27th April 2017, she turned 50. There is no gainsaying that she is one of Africa’s most successful women. She had her first degree in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Ibadan; master’s in Preventive Veterinary Medicine at the University of California; and PhD in Epidemiology at Cornell University.
Iyabo Obasanjo is a professor, epidemiologist, global health expert, veterinary physician, policy analyst, researcher, former senator. Currently lecturing Global Health at the Virginia Military Institute in the United States of America (USA), the renowned scientist took a rare break from her busy schedule to grant this exclusive interview with Dawn-To-Dusk News’ Chief Editor, KIKELOMO IWAJOMO, on her success story, her parents’ influence, and governance in Nigeria.. Excerpts:
You are a professor, epidemiologist, global health expert, veterinary physician, policy analyst, researcher, former senator. With your many achievements, my question for you is this, what did you do differently that has made you stay successful?
First, you need to get the best education that your intellect and ability can afford you, and then you lay the foundation for continued success. You can always go back to your education and let it feed you. Your motivation in life will be very different from people that don’t have alternatives. You have alternatives and the way you live your life then shows that. So wherever you are, you might not be able to get the best education that is available to the world because of limited resources, but get the best education that you can get based on everything you have. For you to do that, always work hard in whatever you do. Challenges will come along the way but always take the lessons, and do the next thing. That`s why you have to prepare yourself early so that whatever comes, life may take you on but you can always push yourself up, then move to another level because that to me is life: you can always find a different direction to go. I have been very lucky in my life that when I want to change directions, I am able to do that.
Serving as a politician, your careers as a scientist, and analyst, which is(was) the most challenging?
I think for me the most challenging was the period of eight years I was in Nigeria in government. I think you can write a book on governors in Nigeria. I had campaigned with this governor and later realized that it was not what I signed up for. But I liked the job. I liked meeting the people, interacting with them and helping them. I did not enjoy managing the governor. That was a disappointment.
Then I interacted with some people at the national level, and thought serving as a senator would help with solving the country’s problems, but what I saw at the senate was worse. As a commissioner, I probably saved people’s lives but as a senator I didn’t see that happening. The fact that everybody at the Senate was working for themselves, I just felt that I was a stranger in the wilderness. That was depressing for me. I did not want to go for re-election but that’s a story for another day. So being a politician was the most challenging and I will never do it again.
You come off as being extremely confident, did you take that from your parents?
Oh, definitely. That is very definite. In my childhood, I can`t recall the time my father said, “Oh! you`re a girl, don`t do that.” It never happened to me. I was never told I was a girl so I couldn’t do it. I think that is part of it. My mother too didn’t see limitations in any of her children.
What qualities have you taken from your father?
My father is very intelligent and I tell people this. I have met many intelligent people throughout my life. I have met some of the world leaders that we all know and they are smart. I think, my father is one of the smartest people of this generation anywhere and he’s almost 80. He is also not materialistic. He looks at problems and tries to solve them, which is what leadership in Africa lacks. When he made decisions, he might have made the wrong ones sometimes, but they were all in the interest of the country. His ego may be a big issue but in terms of money and material things, he doesn’t really care.
I think we are both very outspoken, frank and we can rationalize issues and think them through. It means a lot. I think that I grew up in an environment where your ability to solve problems, read a lot and understand situations were very important. I didn’t grow up thinking that money was the most important thing in life. I didn’t grow up thinking that your parents’ money made you special or different. I grew up with the idea that solving problems makes this world a better place.
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