'I am Naturally Inclined to do Secreterial Work'-Dr.Agbontaen Adesuwa

Could we meet you Sir, tell us, who is Dr. Agbontaen Adesuwa? What prompted your desire to vie for NOA secretary?

Dr.Agbontaen Adesuwa is the current Vice president (North) of the NOA. I have held that position for the past 4 years. Before then I was the Secretary of the FCT chapter . Along with my team members we lifted the chapter to its enviable position. I am fully involved in community eye care services and belong to several NGOS . In recognition of my services, NOA awarded me community optometrist of the year in 2010. I currently run an eye clinic Alpha Zone Eye Clinic in Abuja. I was the secretary of the LOC of the highly successful UNITY 2011 ABUJA AGM/conference

How would you make the changes you desire in NOA to come to pass?
I am highly innovative and organised. I employ e-solutions in my practice and work. I have run websites for the FCT chapter and Northern Zone at my expense. I am the first to use web SMS to send info to members and during the NOA campaign in 2010. I am naturally inclined to do secretarial work. and I wish to employ my skills to give NOA a well organised member data and information management
  I am excited with the caliber of men contesting . I wish to work with my team members to give NOA quality representation. I am abreast with all issues that we are dealing with. My privileged position as VP has given me the experience and know how. I am passionate to make optometrists practice the full range of the training and calling, both in public and private practice and also to deliver optometrists from an all comers affair and give us formidable economic power. By legislature and advocacy, I intend to make this a reality.

 I am passionate to make optometrists practice the full range of the training and calling, both in public and private practice and also to deliver optometrists from an all comers affair and give us formidable economic power.

For a long time now, NOA is yet to get a secretariat, how do you intend to cope with this or bring a desired change, since you are vying to be the secretary?
I am glad to let you know that NOA now has a Secretariat in Abuja and I have almost single handedly with the support of President and exco, made this a reality.

What are the areas of weaknesses you have identified in Optometry teaching, learning, practice and improvements as a profession. How do you intend to tackle them?
While I was secretary of FCT chapter , we found out that the interns coming out of our schools were becoming progressively non employable and to say the least nothing to write home about. We started an intern training program, which was first of its kind and has blossomed to become admirable. I intend to engage the schools to remedy this situation and use every means and resource of NOA to stem this slide. I am glad the presidential candidates have the same perspective.

In my opinion, the post of secretary, is a rare privileged platform, to serve. I do not consider it condescending at all because I have a strong passion to serve. This position needs a strong personality and one with experience and exposure.

Critics are of the view that Optometrists in private practice barely understand the challenges they are currently facing, especially as the JOHESU-NMA strife looms. What is your take on that and what are your views as regards the agitations in the health sector?

I have worked the Kaduna state government for upwards of 5 years in the public service. As VP, I have represented NOA in various national committees and I am fully abreast of the issues at hand. I was practically, almost with the president, at the meetings and dealings that resulted in our new salary structure. I am of the opinion that we should join JOHESU in its struggle. I have been in contact with the top leadership of JOHESU all these years. As an exco, we had strategic reasons not to join them, but it is now imperative that we join forces with them. I have been a key contact person for NOA in panels of the health bill and several other joint team panels

Being an outgoing VP North, is it not condescending to vie for the position of the secretary; and so what would you do differently from your predecessors in NOA?

In my opinion, the post of secretary, is a rare privileged platform, to serve. I do not consider it condescending at all because I have a strong passion to serve. This position needs a strong personality and one with experience and exposure. I intend to bring to bear on this office all my experience as VP.

With the support of the president, I intend to change the perspective members have of this office. I will ensure information will be at my finger tips and also there will be a good flow of information to members. With the fully functional Secretariat and employed staff, this would be much easier. I presently run a practice in Abuja, that gives me time to dedicate to NOA. I need to also add that I am running an online MPH . this has given me a broad perspective of the health care system. I have a blog which contains some more information about me www.projectnoa.com