‘I’m working hard to improve on what my parents built’

Although she trained as a lawyer, but Oluwatosin Awosika is the Executive Director of Holy Trinity Group of Hospitals, which she has been running for about 25 years. And not only is she focused and dedicated, she knows precisely what she wants and where she is taking the business, which she cherishes and is passionate about

The Victor Oloyede Awosika family is known for enterprise. Notable are their interests in the educational and healthcare sectors. They are also known to have a company in the property management of the nation’s economy.

However, many people have mostly associated the growth of the family’s businesses with Chief Mrs. Winifred Awosika, the matriarch of the family, since the founder of the empire, Dr. (Chief) Victor Oloyede Awosika has been absent for a while now.

So, with the thinking that the children should be poised to take over the management of the businesses, The Guardian met one of the scions, Miss Olutoyin Awosika, a lawyer in the hospital environment. She is the Executive Director of Holy Trinity Group of Hospitals.

So, which area of her parents’ businesses is she overseeing?

“People like us cannot be said to be taking over our parents’ businesses,” she replied smilingly.

In her view, the correct observation would be that such children are working hard to improve on what their parents have built.

She said: “My sister, who is the Medical Director, was pretty young and had not qualified, when our father passed on. So, I have been running the hospital for about 25 years now.

Speaking on the hospitals, which administrations she heads, she explained that they have upheld the founder’s dream of providing good and quality healthcare for Nigerians.

“At the moment, we have such services as the intensive care unit (ICU), which is ultra modern,” she explained. “It has been working to capacity, since it began about three years ago. There are also the Dental and Eye clinics. We have the paeditric ward and offer dialysis for kidney patients. All departments work to full capacity and the ultimate aim is to upgrade to a teaching hospital.

“We have branches at Ikorodu, Abuja and Ilasamaja. Bishop Awosika Memorial Hospital, Yaba Road, Ondo is named after our grandfather and it is part of the Holy Trinity group.”

But is she aware that the Nigerian healthcare sector, of which private hospitals are a part, has been described variously as white elephant projects or mere consulting rooms, where patients only go to see doctors to get prescriptions and then source the medicines elsewhere?

She would want the public to discard this perception, as in her opinion, it would be wrong to categorise all private hospitals that way.

“Our group of hospitals gives drugs to patients,” she said. “We also provide specialists care. We have cardiologists, dermatologists, nephrologists, as well as neurologists, who attend to our clients. The ones we do not have, we invite from outside to attend to our patients.”

Besides, she pointed out, health management organisation (HMOs) is doing well for the sector these days.

How was it growing up, especially with her kind of parents?

“I learned a lot from my father, especially. He was patient with people. He was also humble and taught us how to show gratefulness. On my part, I try to appreciate people, and even when they annoy me, I try to do my best,” she said.

Toyin spent much of her life abroad before returning to the country in 2009. One of the things she observed is that the cultures and attitudes to work ethics are different in Nigeria, compared to what obtains abroad.

She said: “It was alarming coming from abroad to work here. But, we have to make Nigeria what we want it to be. One of the main challenges is managing people in the workplace. It is not easy at all. Why would a hospital staff want to take public holidays,” she queried with consternation.

“And even when there are three free working days, they were prepared to stay away from work. I did not think it was appropriate for an organisation that provides essential services to allow this and I have insisted that workers should come to work, even if it is only for a few hours. I think some of them have realised that this young lady knows what she is doing.”

How does she cope as a Lawyer working in a hospital?

“People ask me how I do it, and I tell them that it is the grace of God Almighty,” she said. “I learn everyday and learn from my mistakes. I am learning the medical terms, and I improve daily, though it was difficult in the beginning.

“My sister, Dr. (Chief) Mrs. Busola Fasheun, who is the Medical Director, is my role model. We work as a team. She comes to work very early and is always on top of things. I am grateful to God for having her.”

She credited her mother, Chief Mrs. Winifred Awosika, for instilling in her the discipline to give her best in all that she does.

“She is a strict disciplinarian and a visionary,” she explained. “And contrary to people’s perception, I am not a silver spoon child. I work really hard to earn my living.”

Right from childhood, she has always been independent. She recalled once operating a salon and spa in Ikeja, which she named Urban Retreat.

“We made hair and nails and sold products to enhance hair growth, as well as hair extensions,” she reminisced.

At some point, she was the Editor-in-chief of Empress Magazine, a journal published by her mother. However, she had to close it down, because the hospital work demands her presence 24 hours daily.

“One could be called up at 2 a.m., because there is need for blood transfusion and you have to make provision for it,” she explained.

For beautiful Toyin, a woman should always look good. So, to stay beautiful and maintain her looks, she has developed a strict beauty regimen. She enjoys African diets, which are rich in vegetables.

Her advice to other youths is that hard work is the root to success, and it does not depend on whose child you are.

“I thank my parents for giving me the chance, but I believe that individuals should work hard and be focused in their endeavours.”