It was a thrilling moment for Pharm. (Mazi) Sam Ohuabunwa, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria as Prof. Lere Baale, chief executive officer, Business School Netherlands (BSN) Nigeria, gave a beautiful and excellent account of his leadership role in Nigeria.
In a special virtual birthday celebration organised by Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc and anchored by Pharm. (Mrs) Chovwe Emaniru, the welcome address was delivered by Dr ABC Orjiako, chairman, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc.
Prof. Baale said he met the celebrant 39 years ago precisely 3 August and worked with him directly for eight years.
Speaking on his leadership role, Baale said Mazi has shown the world what leadership is and what it meant to the world especially during this pandemic, as COVID has made things much more complex.
“Mazi is a person who rules, guides and inspires others. He is a man of vision, understanding, clarity and most importantly an agile man.
While delivering his lecture, the professor explained that you need no title to be a leader as turbulent times build great leaders. He added that the deeper your relationships, the stronger your leadership and that is what Ohuabunwa has done over time.
He said if you want to be a great leader like Ohuabunwa, you must become a great person and also note that you need no title to be a leader, the major rules you need are just these five: innovation, mastery, authenticity, guts and ethics.
“Mazi has demonstrated that turbulent times build great leaders who apply the following five rules: speaking with candour, prioritizing of activities, bearing in mind that adversity breed opportunity and responding instead of reacting and then giving kudos to those who perform well.
“There are also five rules in life that can guide your relationships and also strengthen your leadership, ability to want to proffer solution, power to understand from others’ perspective, mingle with people, amuse and nurture people’s dream”, Baale said.
According to him, to be a great leader, one must first become a great person and these are the first five rules, seeing clearly, knowing that health is wealth, having the mind that inspiration matters, not neglecting your family and also elevating your lifestyle.
Quoting from Lori Deschene, he said: “A leader must be a person who breaks the cycle, if you were judged, choose understanding. If you were rejected, choose acceptance. If you were shamed, choose compassion. Be the person you needed when you were hurting not the person who hurt you.
“Vow to be better than what broke you – to heal instead of becoming bitter so you can act from your heart, not your pain”.
He further added that there are four keys to influence others, the first thing one must consider is organisational intelligence, team promotion, trust building and also leveraging networks and these are the attributes Ohuabunwa has demonstrated ever since he met him.
Baale also added that if you must be a leader with influence, you must give when they don’t have to care for others, grow continually, live authentically, empower others, manage hardship, and serve with humility.
He said if you are a leader or want to become one you must learn to dance when it rains. Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance even when it rains.
He said the value you place on your future will determine the sacrifices you make today. And, not also forgetting to trust in the Lord with all your heart and also not to lean unto your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your path.
He congratulated Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa on his recent book titled Wired to Lead.
Speaking on the personality of Sam as he is fondly called in Pharmacy circles, Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, a very close friend of the celebrant said although he is 10 years older than the celebrant, he won’t fail to recognise Sam as a good family man and how he admires his family so much.
He further noted that himself and Sam have a lot in common, adding that they both studied Pharmacy at the University of Ife, and joined Pfizer after graduation. They attended the same Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church, Ikeja and also are leaders in the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International.
Atueyi narrated how Sam showed an exemplary leadership skill and intelligence at NAPPSA conference in U.S.A some years ago when he was told to stand in for the keynote speaker who could not make it to the conference. “Mazi rose to the occasion by demonstrating his capability and leadership skills by presenting a very good paper even within the short notice”.
He continued: “Ohuabunwa can multitask, he is full of energy, strong man and his strength is not coming from the carbohydrate that we all take but from the word of God.
He supported his point by quoting from Isaiah 40:31, which says: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint”.
“I am wishing Sam a happy birthday and a prosperous long life and if he decides to go into politics as some people have wished, I believe that if God wants him to do so, the same God will equip and help him to succeed in politics,” Atueyi prayed.
Pharm. Tayo Unigwe also said he is wishing Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa very happy 70th birthday, adding that may God grant him more grace for many more decades in good health.
The Neimeth celebration of Mazi’s 70th birthday was attended by eminent Nigerians and distinguished pharmacists, including Dr ABC Orjiako, chairman, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc; Prof. Chinedum Babalola, vice-chancellor, Chrisland University, Pharm. (Sir) Ike Onyechi, managing director, Alpha Pharmacy; Prof. Maurice Iwu; Pharm. Akin Deko, Pharm. Stella Abiri, and Mr Kumar Santosh among others.
 Sam Ohuabunwa, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria as Prof. Lere Baale, chief executive officer, Business){kind=link}