Nonye Umahi,
CEO of Crystal Science Limited is a young, daring, dynamic, self motivated Medical Laboratory
Scientist and an amazon who sees a bright future for the profession of Medical Laboratory Science in Nigeria especially in the area of wealth creation and
human capital empowerment. She spills the beans on the missing link that is
responsible for the current spate of frustration among upcoming folks in
the profession and proffers a way out of joblessness and opens the door to
mind-blowing business opportunities yet to be fully tapped in the Nigerian
economy, the reason for the mass immigration of Asians and Indians into Nigeria.
Her message could be aptly decribed as
'How To Make It In Nigeria
As A Medical Laboratory Scientist'. Enjoy
You are welcome to
this interview session
Nonye: Thank you very much
Can you briefly introduce
yourself?
Nonye: I am Nonye Umahi,a medical laboratory scientist
and the CEO of Crystal Science For Health
You must have worked for other organizations before setting up your own business.
Nonye: Yes please
Can you tell us some
of them?
Nonye: Well, I started from SPDC I.A. Hospital P.H ,
moved to General Hospital Eleme, then a HMO; got back to the bench in Pathcare
and finally managed medical devices for a manufacturing firm.
So what's your motivation
for going solo, or let me put it this way-Why did you fire your boss?
Nonye: Oh I didn't fire him. My boss had some
issues with the Rivers State over a contract so our operation was stalled.I
went into consultancy, recruitment and locum jobs so decided to give it a
corporate image and start training our colleagues whom Isaw had a large skills
gap that are needed to take them beyond the bench
Hmm. So you creatively
found a way out of your unexpected circumstances when you were out of job to
start a Medical Laboratory Science centered business?
Nonye: Exactly.
Because there are so many
opportunities within our profession so using the training I got in the
university, I took a leap.
Many young Medical
Laboratory Scientists wouldn't believe that statement you just made that there
are many opportunities in Medical Laboratory Science. Can you be more explicit?
Nonye: Technology entrepreneurship is the future now so
as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, especially our young ones, they should see
each topic in every course done in school as a career ground.They even stand
better opportunities than their senior colleagues.
So in short, you are
saying they should stop waiting for Teaching hospitals and FMC jobs and look at
the bigger picture?
Nonye: Yes especially those that've a flair for
business.
What’s the guarantee
that they’ll make it in Nigeria if they do as you are passionately suggesting
and teaching?
Nonye: In setting up a business, there is no guarantee
for success. However, a hardworking entrepreneur can make a huge success though
there are challenges of infrastructure. If they get the rudiments and
practice them judiciously, they would make it.
I
see you subtly recommending they get the right knowledge and training before
they launch their desired business.
Nonye: Yes, training is very important as that is
what sharpens your basic training in the higher institution and also changes a
myopic vision to a long-sighted one. Unfortunately in Nigeria, people set
up businesses without appropaite knowledge and consultation which becomes a
recipe for failure
Is this where your
organization comes in? You have been moving from South-South to North
Central and very soon to South East. What's your motive and what are your
offers to prospective attendees?
Nonye: It's going to be same as in other zones. I
want to avail our colleagues with the massive opportunities that abound beyond
our hospital's and private laboratory's bench so we could reposition ourselves
by becoming more empowered especially in this present dispensation in the
country over MDGs and transformation agenda. The medical sector needs to
key into the science and technology innovation by the Government so we could
add value to the society in terms of qaulity health.
On a final note, what
inspiring message do you want to leave for young and upcoming MLS in Nigeria?
Nonye: The future is very bright and I don't want them
to loose hope. Let them develop themselves with the new skills in the
profession through trainings and mentorship then see what business they could
venture into especially little ones that don't need much like marketing of
reagents and kits and then grow from there and start manufacturing or
fabricating.
Thanks for finding
time out of your very tight schedule for this interview. Wishing you the best
in your endeavours.
Nonye: Thank you very much Benard and keep up your good
work.
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