Our Reporter
Nigerian Optometrists have expressed their expectations for the newly elected President of the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA), Dr Obinna Awiaka.
Recently, at the 44th Annual General Meeting of the NOA held at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel, the business mogul, whose charming manifesto of reuniting, rebuilding and rebranding the association captivated majority of the delegates, was elected President to pilot the affairs of the association over the next two years.
Dr Obinna Awiaka, a seasoned practitioner based in Lagos, promised to help standardize the quality of eye care delivery and advance the profession in Nigeria through education, advocacy and training. The new helmsman is resolute in helping tackle quackery and other vices that contribute to the increasing rate of avoidable blindness and visual impairment in the country.
Among those who expressed their opinion on the expectations for the new administration include the Registrar of the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN), Professor Ebele UzoDike, who tasked the new leadership to diligently promote Peace, Unity and Cohesion within the profession in order to foster purposeful achievements. The erudite scholar also tasked the President and his team to follow through on already-existing projects and programmes, with special emphasis on the NOA National Secretariat project, and see it come to fruition.
Dr Nkem Okoroafor, a seasoned, well-known member of the NOA rechoed the sentiments of the Registrar on embracing the culture of inclusiveness and unity across the cadres of practitioners in Nigeria. That, to him, will help maximize the contribution of members towards achieving the association’s objective.He tasked the new helmsman to make concerted efforts towards reintegrating aggrieved members, re-entrenching respect for elder optometrists, as well as internal financial reforms.
A senior and respected member of the NOA, Dr Franca Awurum, wants the team to work towards harmonising the disparity in service and welfare packages between private and public service practitioners, helping encourage practitioners to have an improved sense of job satisfaction and worth in society. She also tasked the team to localize access to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in order to encourage continuous learning and regular license renewal of practice by more members. These sentiments were echoed by former Vice President and National Coordinator of the Family of Optometric Mentors (FOM), who further called on the new leaders to quickly set to task in energising inactive chapters of the NOA, a declaration of state of emergency on the national Secretariat project, institution of FOM units in all chapters, standardization of internship programmes and resources, and institution of cooperative societies within the NOA family.
Chairman of the NOA in Imo state, Dr Chinaka Nwosu, wants the national Secretariat project accorded utmost priority, while standardizing billing procedures across Optometric Clinics.
His Lagos counterpart, Dr John Samssedi, agrees that carrying all stakeholders including young optometrists along, and providing operational templates for quality leadership and financial reforms at both national and chapter levels should receive vigorous attention.
Immediate past national PRO of the NOA, Dr Raymond Aguboshim, called on the newly elected officers of the association to be dedicated to duty and work assiduously in moving the association further up the path of purposefulness and impact.
Among those elected alongside Dr Obinna Awiaka to lead the NOA to include Dr Oluchi John-Isiodu (VP East), Dr Temple Nwosu (VP North), Dr Afe Dania (VP South), Dr Ogechi Nwokedi (VP West), Dr Victor Aliche (General Secretary), Dr Priscilia Imade (Assistant Secretary), Dr Chioma Nwogwugwu (Treasurer), Dr Genevieve Njiko Inno-Nwakpuda (Financial Secretary) and Dr Okechukwu Egboluche (Public Relations Officer).
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