Introduction: 

My name is Dolapo Enejoh, I am a public health nutritionist, food adventurer, food storyteller, blogger, health enthusiast, consultant and founder of the Nutritious Lifestyle. I am a graduate of biochemistry from the Federal University of Technology, Minna and I also have a master’s degree in human nutrition from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom.

What do you do/where do you work? 

I work in the Development sector as a Development Consultant & Research advisor. I have worked as a Consultant Public Health Nutritionist with a United States based Non-Governmental Organization where I planned programs (nutrition and health interventions), carried out nutrition assessment of children in communities, referral of malnourished children for therapeutic feeding, micronutrient supplementation for women and children, health promotion, monitoring, evaluation and research. I served as the research lead for a recent study on the waiting time for patients to see a doctor, a DFID funded project under the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP) in partnership with Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Nigeria.

How did you come about the decision of what you currently do? What are some of the career/academic choices that have led you to this point?

When the time came to go for my first degree, my initial plan was to study pharmacy but due to the competitiveness in Nigerian Universities, I went in for biochemistry instead with the intention to make a switch to pharmacy in between the program. However, by my second year, I fell in love with biochemistry and decided not to pursue trying to switch over. In my fourth year, I became really interested in Nutritional biochemistry and that started my interest in Human Nutrition. Upon graduating, I had a clearer picture of what I wanted to do in my career so I set out to seek opportunities. I had to start out by volunteering for several International non-governmental organizations with the aim of acquiring experience in the area of Family Health, HIV/AIDS, Nutrition and Agriculture. I also got certifications in the area of Project management, because I knew my desired career goals would require me handling projects later. I engaged schools and organizations in free seminars and projects in my area of expertise while using the opportunity as a learning curve. I also worked in a food regulatory organization, this experience birthed my desire to seek further training in the field of human nutrition, so I decided to go for my master’s degree in Human Nutrition. After my second degree, I started working as a public health nutritionist.

What inspires or drives you, why do you do what you do? 

My passion for healthy living inspires me greatly. I am a firm believer that even if our health system in Nigeria is not as strong as it can be, if people have access to education and the right tools to help them make a healthier lifestyle change through eating the right foods in the right proportion, living in a hygienically clean environment, desisting from abusing drugs and committing to exercising more; we will be on our way in the right direction to a more healthier population. I am really driven because I work with the vulnerable population (women and children) and my work puts me in a place where I can make significant impact to the health and life of these people.

What skills or habits did you develop along the way that helped you get here and helps you in keeping up with the demands of what you currently do?

For me, the first thing is having the proper mindset and that is a mindset of excellence. Whenever I try to do a time travel of how I got here, I am amazed because if you had met me some fourteen years back, you would have been shocked at this newly emerged personality I have become (that’s why you should never judge anyone by their present story or their current outlook on life). People really do change! At that time, I was timid, afraid, never wanting to explore anything new, I was so complacent and okay in my comfort zone. I finally got to a point where I became tired of being average, this led to a mindset shift and reorientation and since then I have trained myself to never stay in my comfort zone and always think of excellence in whatever I do.

Another mindset I have imbibed is thinking of how to be better and brighter at every point. If there is anything the information age and technology age has taught me, it is that whenever a product is made, plans are immediately underway to create a better and updated version of that product; innovation is key. I believe this is how we should see ourselves and our work, we should always ask ourselves, how can I be better, how can I create an update or upgrade to what I have just done or created.

Another skill I have learnt is believing in myself and refusing to get deterred or discouraged by negatives. I remembered when I was interviewing for my job, I had passed the written and oral stage and was then informed that I did not possess field experience and some other key skills such as monitoring and evaluation. I immediately started telling the interviewer about all the transferable skills I have, making it clear that I was ready and able to learn and acquire any skill required of me in the future. The information that I did not have some of the qualities they wanted could have weakened me on the spot especially considering that I had a first and master’s degree and graduated with a second class upper honors and merit honors in them respectively but I have learnt that irrespective of what comes my way, feeling bad or discouraged should not be my first reaction, rather putting on a good posture and selling myself and brand to the best of my ability will yield a better result. We all have amazing dreams and aspirations but the ability to make adjustments in your dream space and be a fast thinker on your toes leads to positive progress in your personal development. I believe we can match any role and conquer any obstacle.

Another skill that has helped me being open to new learning opportunities and challenges. This has helped me showcase as well as develop my skills. When I started my job, I was on-boarded as a public health nutrition intern with entry level remuneration but I made up my mind to learn and acquire any skill that will be required of me in the future.

I finally got to a point where I became tired of being average, this led to a mindset shift and reorientation and since then I have trained myself to never stay in my comfort zone and always think of excellence in whatever I do. Dolapo Enejoh

Another habit I have imbibed is reading and researching, especially reading and keeping myself up to date with new innovations in my specialized area. Reading broadens your horizon and knowledge-base and gives you innovative ideas to suggest or incorporate in your business or organization which makes you stand out. Research is very important in every field, business and organization; this has gradually become part of my work life. I do a lot of research both within and outside my work zone.

Learning how to relate with people is also an important strategy to have. In my work, I deal with professionals, people with no formal education, people who speak different languages and people from different cultural background. The way I go about my work depends on whoever I am working or relating with at that time. I have learnt flexibility and how to blend myself into the culture of people as well as earn the basics of their language.

One of the challenging things you have to deal with in your work or business and how do you tackle it?

The most challenging thing in my work is helping people unlearn regularly repeated behavioral patterns that does not yield results in order to learn and accept new habits, attitude, and behaviors. This is quite challenging because of cultural norms, background and the lack of interest in change. A tool I find useful and interesting is using social behavior change communication. Developing visual aids and other information, education and communication materials and media has helped me to communicate positive behavioral change and encourage people to discontinue several old practices. For example, encouraging pregnant and nursing mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding, embracing immunization for children, using family planning methods and generally helping people to engage a healthier lifestyle becomes easier when I am able to show and convince them about the benefits they will gain if they embrace a new way of doing things. I think of it as showing people the difference between using a manually operated car or an automated or electric car, both cars have the possibility to get someone to the desired destination but one can decide to choose the more stressful or less stressful option.

I believe this is how we should see ourselves and our work, we should always ask ourselves, how can I be better, how can I create an update or upgrade to what I have just done or created. Dolapo Enejoh

Do you have a spiritual practice? If so, has this influenced or helped you in your work or decisions in anyway?

Yes, I live with the understanding that I am nothing without my God my maker. I seek to know His directives for my life by spending quality time in the place of prayer and studying the Bible. I take time out to retreat, reflect, pray and meditate. This is very important to me as it centers and guides me through the noise that exists in the world.

Other extracurricular or social enterprise outside of your work? 

Nutrition, food and health blogging is one of the extracurricular activities I am usually engaged in. I love to showcase some of the meals I cook in my kitchen and I promote the use of kitchen technology to reduce workload and get cooking done in a quicker and more exciting way. Advocacy, sensitization, nutrition education and empowerment for teachers and caregivers in crèches, primary and secondary schools in Nigeria is also one of my social commitment. I also volunteer as a Guest speaker on the “Well-being” show at one of the prominent radio stations (WE FM) in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.

We all have amazing dreams and aspirations but the ability to make adjustments in your dream space and be a fast thinker on your toes leads to positive progress in your personal development. Dolapo Enejoh

One more thing you intend to do or are working towards and some steps/decisions/skills you are making/learning to achieve it?

Currently, I’m working towards starting my Doctoral, launching my food product line, releasing some e-books on nutrition. I have also been playing around with data analytics and the use of diverse software to solve problems. You know one thing I love about God is that He made humans and gave us the capacity to create things and bring solutions to our world. We only need to do some soul searching and self-discovery on all we are meant to do and be. Time is of the essence, we must work and carry out our life’s assignment as if our whole life is dependent on it. Let us continue to seek to know because there’s always one more thing we can do.

Reading broadens your horizon and knowledge-base and gives you innovative ideas to suggest or incorporate in your business or organization which makes you stand out. Dolapo Enejoh

Thank you

Dolapo Enejoh