Rosemary Komolafe
600-level Medicine & Surgery
University of Ilorin
Hi, Dr Zobo. Thank you for speaking with us; I’ll be starting with an important question. How are you doing?
I am very well, thank you. I’m grateful for that. How are you doing?
I am doing well, thank you, ma’am. Can you tell me five fun and random facts about yourself?
I play the guitar. I’m an athlete. I was Games Prefect in secondary school, and I ran for my university and medical student association. At the time, I was the second-fastest female medical student. I am the first daughter, and I’m from Abia state. I was a student pastor in school, fin. sec. for my class and a chorister in CMDA.
So cool; we have some things in common. Tell me about your medical school experience. What were your best and worst moments?
One of the sad moments of medical school was losing a friend — Dr Nneoma — two days to her induction, may her soul rest in peace. It was a shocking experience for me. Exam periods were never funny, but they were fun. The adrenaline surge was crazy, haha! The random non -medical activities were fun too, and I was quite the noisemaker. I would always practice my UN speeches and play pretend as a rap artist. I always got my friends annoyed.
Haha. Must have been fun.
Yes, it was. I intentionally made sure I had a wonderful experience and created memories while I was in med school.
It’s been four years post med school. Has the experience been what you had hoped?
Yes and No. I say ‘No’ because, in med school, I wanted to be a dermatologist. I told my friends and even put it in my yearbook, but life has a way of shaping you and pushing you towards the path you are meant to be on. With mentorship, conversations, a lot of soul-searching and thought-gathering, I am currently on the path of public health. Public health is so vast; I could still be a dermatologist in the field.
Something that shocked me coming out of med school was that you can’t be excellent by default — you have to put in the work. Everything will not always fall into place because you got into med school and were a scholar or the best graduating medical student, and this work begins while you are still in school. The activities you do play a part in shaping your future and, in turn, your life. So, life post-medical school has not been everything I had hoped, but it has been good.
That’s awesome. Speaking of activities, you began the Public Health journey in medical school. How were you able to combine this with academics and all your extracurricular activities and excel on every front?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach; it’s important to discover yourself and know your strengths. I made sure I spoke with senior colleagues and teachers who guided me. My priority was to graduate and become a doctor. I was conscious about timing — I understood my priorities and apportioned my time appropriately. Anything that would directly affect my academics was a no-no. I spent time on skills that would help me in the future, like public speaking. I was particular about using my extra time for all the other things I wanted to do.
Knowing one’s priorities is important. You mentioned earlier that life has a way of shaping and pushing you. What events, would you say, geared you towards public health?
I love clinical medicine, and I’m quite good at it. I knew I needed the right facilities to be who I wanted to be, and it was frustrating that I had all the passion and skills but not the right environment. I had first-hand experiences with preventable deaths that I couldn’t do anything about. The healthcare practitioners almost always take the blame, not the hospital administration or the federal government. One experience that has stuck with me is a patient I lost. She was post-op, and everything seemed fine. The next morning when I resumed for my routine check, I was told she had died. If we had vital-sign monitors by her bed, the healthcare practitioners on call would have known something was wrong before it was time for routine checks.
I also lost my aunt to cervical cancer in 2016. I found out that, before her diagnosis, she had never heard about cervical cancer. I decided I wanted to deal with the problem at its roots, hence Public Health. I began public health advocacy and health education and decided to get more involved in the politics and administration of healthcare.
Thank you for all the work you do to educate women. How did you come up with the name ‘Dr Zobo’?
Haha! Two reasons. First, I love Zobo; I love the versatility of the drink. I was addicted to soda and began to search for healthier alternatives. Secondly, I used to write on medical and personal development on Facebook as a medical student. I signed out every post with #SipZobo. People started calling me ‘Dr Zobo’, and eventually, I adopted it because it fit — I was trying to dispel medical myths and lies (colloquially known as Zobo) with my posts.
Fellow soda addict here. At what point did you realise social media was a powerful tool you could wield in public health?
I began to get lots of traction on my posts — I got reviews and feedback from people who read my posts. For advocacy, it hit home for me when I made a post on Twitter in 2018 during the Lassa fever outbreak. I was an intern at ABSUTH and a colleague had died at FMC, Umuahia, 45 minutes away from my own hospital. I felt enough wasn’t being done — we needed more PPE, labs and training. I spoke up on Twitter, and it went viral. It got the attention of the NCDC who eventually came to Abia state for training and provided PPE and various consumables.
Wow! Talk about the power of using one’s voice. What was the motivation to begin SMILE With Me?
SMILE With Me started as the CSR of Dr Zobo. I wanted to give back to the community, especially low to middle-income communities and those without access to social media. My friends and I came up with the idea at a restaurant in Aba. Our first project was a cervical cancer outreach. We partnered with my consultant in O and G, Dr Aharuka, who carried out all the 50 screenings while we sourced for funds and carried out publicity. We have grown now to carrying out various projects in over six states.
Reaching the grassroots community and giving back is always important. You regularly use digital marketing as a tool in health promotion through Medically Speaking. Tell me more about how you have been able to achieve this?
Medically Speaking is a health communications brand. We teach people to leverage digital media to grow their brands and help companies reach their target audience. We provide services ranging from mentoring, coaching and training to digital and influencer marketing. We also teach people the business of healthcare, applying for funding and maintaining their clients.
You have won so many prestigious awards; most recent is your nomination for The Future Awards Africa Prize for Health and Wellness. Congratulations on your nomination. How did this recognition make you feel?
When I started this journey, I wasn’t doing it for the awards nor recognition. I still am not. When I got my first national award, I was grateful that I was making an impact and people could see that. I felt affirmed. I didn’t have a lot of people to look up to when I began — I learned on the job — so getting all this recognition and acknowledgement feels good and, sometimes, moves me to tears. I received an award earlier this year when I was so down, and it made me better and reminded me that people were getting helped through me. These awards remind me that I am on the right path and that I’m doing well.
Making some impact is always key. Who inspires you? Do you have mentors?
Yes! I am supported by a clan of women and men. My mum is one of my biggest influences. She enabled me to see beyond where I lived and grew up in. She encouraged me to attend events; she took notes when I spoke and corrected me. Dr Kelechi Okoro (healthertainer) has played a huge role in my social media journey. She encouraged me to join Twitter and got me my first online job. Dr Ifeanyi Nsofor, Dr Adaeze Oreh, and my husband, Collins Akanno, founder of Diet234.com, too — he built my website and has been so supportive. My friends are awesome as well.
The importance of having a community to push and encourage you cannot be overstated. You are big on mentoring younger doctors and colleagues? Why is this important to you?
Mentorship has helped me achieve so much, and I want to pay it forward. I believe teaching completes the circle of learning. I like to be well versed in whatever it is I do, so I know my onions, which are currently expensive.
Hahaha! That’s a good one.
I try. I have found that I learn more as I teach. I want people to be able to say in the future that they are what/who they are because I helped them in whichever way. I like to open the minds of younger colleagues to see opportunities.
The #ENDSARS protests were one of the most successful and transparent the country has held in a long time, put together and sustained by youths. What do you see as the future of young people in Nigeria?
The youths are now aware of the power they possess, and there is no going back from that. The conversations will take a natural course. We will actively engage the government and speak up. I believe the next thing is for more youths to take up more governmental positions.
Yes. I also believe we need to take up more roles and spaces in administration and governance. In terms of medical education, what’s next for you? Residency training? Postgrad studies?
I want to get further studies in Global Health, get my masters, my PhD and become a professor. I never say ‘never’, so residency might be in the cards for me, although I’m not impressed with the state of the residency programmes in Nigeria.
A lot of people share the same sentiments. There has been an exodus of doctors and healthcare professionals from Nigeria. How have you remained motivated to stay back?
We cannot all leave. I am not against people leaving — whatever works best for you. I also plan to leave for further education. I believe coming back, armed with knowledge, is important to build the country. If you cannot return, continue to advocate for things to be better from your point of advantage.
What challenges do you face being a woman in a patriarchal society and a male-dominated field of work?
As a woman, you have to work twice as hard as a man to prove yourself. I am grateful to the women who have worked tirelessly to make it better for us. I always speak up whenever I feel I’m being treated unfairly because I am a woman. I’ll advise women not to see themselves as disadvantaged. Put in your best work and always speak up for equal and fair treatment.
I am a sucker for love. How has married life been? What’s your favourite thing about being married?
I don’t feel married. I live with my friend; we share bills and support each other. Marriage is a partnership. If you decide to get married, it is important to marry someone who understands and supports your vision. It is a transaction — you better my life and I yours. Married life has been great for me.
That’s awesome. Movies or books?
Books definitely. I love paperbacks. I recently started watching movies, thanks to Netflix. I am currently reading ‘The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives’ by Lola Shoneyin.
OMG! I’m also reading the same book. How cool is that?
How do you prevent burnout? What do you do in your free time or to take a break?
I go offline and lazy around. I sleep, see movies, and listen to music. I also love to spend time with family and friends.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Post PhD and well versed in research
How about in 10 years?
I see myself in Global Health administration and politics. I see myself working in the WHO or the UN.
I wish you the best, and I hope we can have more conversations on your journey. Thank you, Dr Zobo.
Click here to watch our YouTube video on favouritism in medical school.
Click here to watch our YouTube video with Dr Kiki Omeili | Doctor and Actress in Nollywood.
Click here to watch our YouTube video on why you shouldn’t study Medicine at the University.
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