There are clear thinkers. There are also muddled thinkers. And at the rear are people you can’t explicitly refer to as Thinkers. They are just there. Neither warm nor cold. Not even lukewarm. They fall in between.
Clear thinkers are the ones that can cull everything down into the right points. And they are very hard to find. You can call them scarce commodities if you like. However, when you get yourself a team of clear thinkers, the possibilities are endless. These are men who see tomorrow, trailblazers and high-level executives, often misunderstood by some fellow countrymen still stuck in the old normal of yesterday.
Without any shadow of the doubt, the globally celebrated physician, Dr Joel Onafowokan, Chairman, Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas, (ANPA) Carolina chapter is a rare breed. He is a “scarce commodity”. He is invaluable and priceless. He is an asset to his country and fellow compatriots. Dr Onafowokan is a clear thinker. He belongs to the league of clear thinkers as outlined by Justin Merkins and illustrated above.
Given his scorecard of transformative leadership characterized by unwavering commitment to coordinated sustainable development, Dr Onafowokan is celebrated by fellow Physicians from Nigeria and other parts of the world resident in the Americas. He is a product of ingenuity and resourcefulness, a thoroughbred professional and administrator who approaches leadership roles with great enthusiasm, devotion and selflessness. Dr Onafowokan spends his energy in worthy causes and in the end, triumphs with high-impact achievements.
Dr Onafowokan’s strong leadership and commitment to protecting the political and socio-economic interests of Nigerians in the United States, has through strong alliances with credible development-oriented institutions seen ANPA, Carolina Chapter gain visibility and recognition in the comity of Medical Associations and Governmental Agencies.
A foremost example of such a relationship is the robust alliance between ANPA and the Grand Knight Sir Tonna Okei (Ikuku Oma), led Organization of African Unity (OAU), South Carolina, United States of America (USA).
On Saturday May 3, 2025, the ANPA America Carolina’s Chapter, in conjunction with Heart Bright Foundation, at Carolina Lakes Golf Club, 23012, Kingfisher Dr, Indiana Land, SC, United States of America (USA), held its 2025 ANPA Carolina Symposium and Golf Tournament, to raise funds for ANPA National to support medical missions and workshops in Nigeria.
At the event, ANPA made a donation of $20, 000, to Heart Bright Foundation, a health focused- organization whose mission is to promote cardiovascular wellness through prevention, awareness, and partnerships in the Charlotte Mecklenburg area of the country. The gesture was received by Ms Nicole Bonesteel on behalf of Heart Bright Foundation.
I am confident that the donated sum will go a long way in helping put smiles on the faces of those in need of cardiovascular medical help.
Heart Bright Foundation focuses mainly on cardiovascular wellness and education by treating the risks such as diabetes, stroke, and hypertension. They have a free clinic in the South End area which helps patients that have (or are at high risk for) heart disease or Diabetes.
In a similar vein, the ANPA Carolina chapter, alongside the Nigerian Physicians Advocacy Group (NPAG), Sir Okei’s (Ikuku Oma), OAU met with key U.S. leaders on Saturday, September 14, 2024, in Columbia, SC, and held discussions that focused on opening pathways for strategic collaborations and strengthening critical relationships between government entities and the Nigerian community.
ANPA, a non-profit organization representing Nigerian medical professionals in America was incorporated in 1995 for educational, scientific and charitable purposes as a tax-exempt non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code, NPAG, under the leadership of Dr. Susan Edionwe, MD, FACS, serves as the 501(c)(4) advocacy affiliate of ANPA, a 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization. Both entities represent physicians residing and practicing in the Americas.
The delegation to the meeting was led by Dr Onafowokan (Chairman), Dr Uyi Igbinadolor, with Grand Knight Emeritus Okei (Ikuku Oma), President of OAU, SC, and Ms Nnenna Amuji, Presidential Aide.
The group paid a joint working and courtesy visit to the federal appointee for the South-east Crescent Commission, a federal agency in the United States.
Worthy of mention is that Dr Onafowokan holds in high esteem, his predecessors as attested by his recent visit to the grave side of Dr Nova Omoigui, the former president of ANPA. He was accompanied on the visit by Dr Igbinadolor, a physician per excellence, Okei (Ikuku Oma), President of the Organization of African Unity SC.
Again, as a result of Dr Onafowokan’s sterling leadership provisions, the sheriff of Mecklenburg county was the special guest of honor at the 2025 ANPA end of the year celebration where he praised the relationship ANPA is exploring in conjunction with OAU, and looks forward to a more robust relationship between the sheriff’s county, the sheriff’s office and ANPA.
There are three ways in x-raying Dr Onafowokan’s character trait. Firstly, he is not only a clear thinker but a man with sound leadership judgement and cerebral in thinking. Secondly, his organizing and human relations prowess are not only heroic but exemplary. Thirdly, He is imbued with the capacity to deliver on any given assignment, blessed with grace to take any given organization from where it is to where it ought to be.
A highly skilled physician, Dr Onafowokan specializes in primary care, internal medicine, and hospital care. He’s board-certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine and has advanced certifications in cardiac life support and trauma life support.
Dr Onafowokan earned his medical degree from the University of Benin, Nigeria, and completed his internship and residency at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York.
With over 15 years of experience, he has worked in various clinical settings, including emergency and critical care. He is passionate about providing superior health services and stays updated with the latest research to deliver high-quality care. He is affiliated with Faith Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and holds admitting privileges with Novant Health hospital network.
Very unique is the awareness that in their civil and detribalized nature, Tonna Okei and Joel Onafowokan both married Yoruba wives, Dr (Mrs) Oluwatoyin Okei (Ugodie) and Mrs Anne Onafowokan. And the two women are doing exceedingly well in both home management and in giving support to their husbands community development efforts.
What the above tells us is that Dr Onafowokan is an asset that needs to be deployed for national use. It will be in the immense benefit of our dear country if the government taps from his wealth of exhilarating knowledge and leadership acumen. Given his sterling qualities, efforts and selfless contributions to development, it is my opinion that it will be highly rewarding if Dr Onafowokan is partnered by the government or outrightly hired to bring his skills, leadership, administrative and patriotic fervour to bear on national service, especially as the Tinubu administration focuses on rebuilding the country and renewing Nigerians’ hope for a better tomorrow.
Utomi, a Media Specialist writes from Lagos, Nigeria. He could be reached via [email protected]/08032725374