Who are you?
By name, I am Oluwadamilare O. Ojo 'O3Dee.’ By profession, I am a medic. By grace, I am a royal priesthood.
Where did you come from?
I am a proud citizen of Nigeria, Oyo State, Oyo town, Atiba local government.
What's your take on excellence?
Hmm... Excellence! That's my watchword, actually. Though relative, to me, excellence means outstanding performance. It is not an act but a habit formed through diligence and self-discipline. While ambition drives motivation, motivation drives excellence.
Excellence is a journey that has a beginning but no ending. It has no destination, simply because one excellence spurs one to another, and the journey continues for life if one does not relent, become complacent, or deceive oneself. Consistency is the hallmark of excellence. It is consistent excellence that begets eminence.
It is, however, absolutely essential to belief and understand that excellence is not for some of us but for all of us. Although you may deserve it, if you fail to decide it, you may not get it. So, first of all, DECISION, not introduction (Grin).
What's your passion?
My passion rests on a tripod of good health, good governance, and academic excellence. God is at the centre comfortably sitting on the tripod.
What has kept you going in pursuing your passion?
Self-realisation, self-motivation, self-discipline, focus, parental support, and most importantly, God's grace.
What's your purpose in life?
A life without a purpose is a worthless life. He who is yet to discover his purpose in life is still existing, not living.
My singular purpose in life is to fulfil my destiny before exiting to glory, ultimately welcomed by my heavenly Father as a faithful son.
Your mentor?
Mr. Agboola Olubukola Ajayi is my mentor. He's a teacher and a believer.
Your hobbies?
I enjoy writing, travelling, networking, volunteering, watching movies, and of course, reading.
What's leadership and self-esteem to you?
Leadership is service, selfless service. A leader must be visionary, trustworthy, and practical. Through (in)actions and with good communication skills, a leader must have the ability to influence others. The whole essence of leadership is to provide the RIGHT direction for the followers.
We all deserve to esteem ourselves and to be esteemed. Self-esteem is a positive or negative subjective evaluation of oneself. I will say that self-esteem is a reflection of what and how you feel when you look at yourself in the mirror. A self-esteem, otherwise sometimes referred to as self-worth, can be low or high. Feeling less worthy is a negative or low self-esteem while a positive or high self-esteem involves the feeling of being more worthy. It is the latter that will have a snowball positive effect on our performance in all our endeavours.
Your role model?
Do you mean ‘role models?’ Although the scripture makes us understand that perfection is attainable, it is hard to see a perfect man on earth. So, I have more than one role model.
My role model in leadership is Engr. Seyi Makinde, the current Executive Governor of Oyo State; in writing career, Dr. Abib Olamitoye, a purpose-driven and self-motivated Medical Practitioner, seasoned Author and Business Leader; in medical profession, Prof. Adesola Ogunniyi, physician/neurologist par excellence. Overall, Pastor Sam Adeyemi is my role model, especially in the ministry of reconciliation.
What's your foresight for the health sector in Nigeria?
See, our number one problem in Nigeria is bad leadership in the background of corruption. It's a systemic, multifaceted hard nut which has eaten deep into the very fabric of all sectors in Nigeria. Nothing is ever sufficient, suffering in the midst of abundance; we are always managing.
Hence, almost no medical doctor prefers to stay and practise in Nigeria. Even some are just practising here in Nigeria with a goal to leave for greener pasture eventually. I know some of our consultants and resident doctors who have succeeded in this. In fact, an average medical student wouldn't fail to seize any opportunity to 'japa to Japan' upon graduation. OK, pun intended. By 'japa to Japan,' I meant exit to a country such as UK, USA, Canada, Australia, where the medical practice is relatively encouraging and exhilarating.
Nevertheless, I see a health sector where every Nigerian has access to a quality healthcare without delay or discrimination and at an affordable cost. But how could this be with bad leadership and brain drain? By having faith and upholding work (in every sense), God can turn the situation around.
A word for the season
Nothing lasts forever.
Who is Christ to you?
The Jesus Christ of Nazareth is my Saviour, my Redeemer and my All-in-all. I am absolutely nothing without Him.
What has been your secret to balancing your career and spiritual life?
Secret? I always say that there is nothing like a secret, peradventure because I don’t have a secret, or perhaps because the Bible says there is no secret that would not be made manifest (paraphrase). So, why having a secret? If at all I would have a secret, it would be an open secret. Nothing secretive in an open secret.
All I believe is that if you don’t have anybody to back you, God must have your back. For God to have your back, you must be intentional about your PERSONAL relationship with Him; your spiritual growth must be of the utmost importance to you.
It is in the best interest of the Father to see us excelling in our career. Would you want to disappoint Him?
Are you in a relationship?
At my age? What did you expect? (Laughs) Of course, I am!
Yes, I'm currently in a serious relationship with myself, especially my talent. I believe understanding myself to the fullest would be of great help when I am seriously ready to mingle. Understanding myself involves understanding my interests, my tenets, and my wants in life. It is also an opportunity to understand the opposite sex through reading of relationship books, listening to podcasts, and the likes. I am not a kind of person that enters relationship without having marriage as the ultimate goal. So, I believe it is better to learn and seek the face of God in advance such that when I am ready, I wouldn’t have to be doing trial and error. Apart from this, I also hold a belief that S/he who could hold his/her body while single had built in advance a trust in marriage. Besides, s/he that has a destiny to fulfil doesn't "mess around" with his/her glory. There are temptations, but God is faithful.
More so, it is a period for polishing my talent considerably with an undivided attention in order to be a worthy partner and a proud father in the nearest future.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
If Christ tarry and God spare my life, in the next 5 years, I see myself as a fully certified medical doctor, a proud husband of a virtuous woman, a father to at least a kid, and if God would have His way, actively do the work of my Father.
Favourite food, cloths, and colour?
I used to think that Amala and Abula plus Meat or Fish is my favourite food, but that’s not necessarily entirely true. I am like “ÃŒkokò, ajegunjeran;” I enjoy eating any healthy food in quality and quantity.
Cloths? I just like dressing freely and responsibly.
I love white, then blue.
What will you like men remember you for?
I would like to be remembered for being a man who has a Christ-like character, leaving a lasting legacy in whatever sphere God would have me.
A word for youths out there?
I am only going to charge my fellow youth on three counts:
Don’t chase money, chase value. It is the value that will put money in your pocket.
Don’t seek to be known. Seek to know. It is what you know that will make you known.
Don’t rely on your youthful strength. Earnestly seek and solely rely on God. The true happiness only exists in God through Christ Jesus.
