INNOVATING FOR AFRICA
Oct 10th, 2009 by admin
Awojobi, a Nigerian innovator and physician, who for the past twenty
years has transformed a rural community with no modern infrastructure
into an exemplary health care center.With the support of the people of Eruwa, a subsistence farming
community in Oyo State, Awojobi built a fully functioning hospital
and invented environmentally friendly medical equipment with locally
available materials – providing safe and affordable healthcare to
thousands of people.
unit powered by Eruwa farmers’ discarded corn cobs, using car parts
to build a fully functioning operating table, constructing a water
harvesting and reservoir system, building a hematocrit centrifuge out
of bicycle wheels to measure patients’ blood and fabricating a
sandcrete mixer and compacter using a rotating drum with a sigmoid
shaped blade to mix the sand.
crumbling infrastructure, and in a poor and marginalized farming
community with no water or electricity Awojobi’s life work is a
living testament of what can be achieved if Nigerians combine vision,
ingenuity, perseverance and a love for the marginalized with dogged
determination and hard work.
revolutionary business philosophy including an open accounting system
and profit sharing with staff, has brought health and a totally
sustainable livelihood to Eruwans. A typical surgical procedure at
Awojobi’s hospital costs a fraction of what it costs in big city
hospitals, attracting people from far away states, including poor
cattle herders from northern Nigeria.
“Awojobi is more than an indigene’’, says the local king, the Eleruwa
of Eruwa. ‘‘He has contributed immensely to the health development of
this land. He relates very well to the royal stool and the kingdom of
Eruwa so he deserves a Chieftaincy title, which we’ve actually given
to him.’’
“I am inspired by my teachers who taught me at the University of
Ibadan, and am proud to say that I studied and developed my
professional life solely in Nigeria,” said Awojobi as he addressed a
packed audience at Silverbird cinema. “If Nigerians would only invest
in training and look for local solutions, we have all the resources
we need to improve our country.”
Awojobi’s mentor, renowned Professor Emeritus Ogunlesi made a
passionate speech at the film premiere, insisting that the future of
Nigeria’s medical profession depends on the emulation of Awojobi, and
being committed to research and development using our ample but
wasted natural resources. He also hopes that Awojobi receives
national recognition for his vital work.
the corporate social responsibility of filmmakers, to help the public
see home grown role models who can inspire us.”