Why did you choose LSE, and why did you choose your programme of study?

I chose LSE because it remains one of the top ranking educational institutions in social policy and I wanted to learn from the best in class and a masters in Health Economics Policy and Management (HEPM) was the missing link in my professional career. My life’s ambition has been to facilitate access to affordable healthcare to the citizens in resource constrained regions of Africa through information technology and innovative systems of healthcare financing. Throughout my professional career which has predominately been in Healthcare Management Organisations (HMOs) spanning over two decades, I have gained practical experiences with entrepreneurial start-ups as well as publicly listed HMOs in both the United States and Africa.  An academic perspective gained at LSE in HEPM combined with my experiences in the United States and Africa puts me in a very unique position of being a change agent who can develops and delivers suitable healthcare policy and solutions in Africa, and my country Nigeria.

Overall, how do you look back on your LSE experience?

My experience at LSE was very intensive and rewarding.  Often times I complained about the work load including reading materials and case studies, but in hindsight it was an excellent learning process.  Most important were the connections I made with my classmates some of who I have kept in touch with to date. Invaluable!

Please describe your career path to date:

My Career started after I relocated to the United States from Nigeria in 1995 with a degree in computer science and post graduate diploma in Finance. I held various senior management positions with Independence Blue Cross Philadelphia and AmeriHealth HMO Houston Texas and transitioned to Regional Director of Information Technology and Project Management at CIGNA Healthcare Houston Texas between 1996 to 2003 following which I relocated to Nigeria. 

I entered the healthcare industry in Nigeria as a consultant to the largest health insurance company and transitioned to become the Chief Operating Officer, and subsequently the CEO of its subsidiary. I started my consulting firm, Lionstone Healthcare Partners, when I realised not much capacity existed to support the much needed statewide transition to health insurance and financing systems.

During this time - for over 7 years, I volunteered my time as the the Secretary for the Society for Quality in Healthcare in Nigeria, a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to become the accrediting institution for healthcare organisations in Nigeria. 

I also attended an Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD Business School in 2008 to further develop my managerial skills.

Why did you choose your current job?

I chose my current job because the objectives of the organisation aligned with my own personal career ambition. Its focus on low income communities, creating access to quality healthcare through innovative financing models using technology, use of local capacity to build sustainable systems and replication of successful models across other African countries.

Tell us about your current job:

My current job is based in Lagos Nigeria but with activities in several other states outside Lagos. I manage a team of highly talented innovative medical and non-medical staff to develop systems, implement demand and supply side projects in the healthcare sector, provide technical assistance to various partners including State Governments officials, developmental agencies and donor organisations, while interfacing with the Head office based in Amsterdam and coordinating ideas with other country offices in Africa.

What advice do you have for LSE students who are looking to enter a similar profession to you?

There is so much work to be done in developing health systems which are sustainable in Africa. At the same time, there is increasing focus and support from agencies and donor organisations such as Gates Foundation, DFID, USAID, UKAID to name a few, who are trying to support existing in country systems, seeking transparent innovative management systems and technology for output based financing model.  If you want to make a difference in the lives of so many low income communities not just in Africa but around the world, HEPM at LSE may just be the institution that channels you to the organisation to achieve your career objective.