Tobechukwu Obikili is a multitalented and accomplished entrepreneur who has made significant impact across various sectors. He recently Co-founded Airmed, a healthtech startup based in Nigeria.
With proven track in Healthcare, tech, real estate, marketing and business, Tobechukwu has built a successful career over the last 13 years, consistently leveraging his first rate leadership and innovative thinking skills.
He is a visionary leader and a strategic thinker, who has an impressive track record of originating, executing and implementing successful business strategies.
Tobechukwu is also passionate about giving back to his community and founded various charitable organizations i.e., the SPOCT foundation, Elfimo health outreach etc). He’s a gifted sportsman who has won several football tournaments home and abroad.
Tobechukwu Obikili is also passionate about politics where he founded the Nigerian Students Association at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. He was also elected to the position of Board of Directors of the UOIT Students Association where he led the implementation of policies to advance students well-being.
He is a highly respected and recognised professional, who is committed to playing his own part in the transformation of Nigeria and Africa at large. Ultimately, he’s intentional about making a positive difference in the world.
In this Q&A with TechEconomy, Tobechukwu Obikili, the CEO of Airmed:
The state of healthcare in Nigeria with particular reference to the COVID-19 era:
There has always been an issue in the healthcare space in Nigeria; the gaps are quite obvious. The gaps are either with the workforce, access to information, quality medication or service. As we speak things have become worse because a lot of healthcare workers are migrating to other countries.
It is not a hidden fact that our doctors are resigning and migrating to other places in better service atmosphere, and that is a very big problem for our country. For example, we have been trying to engage the services of corps members.
In the past, the NYSC would easily post a corps member; maybe a pharmacist or a doctor. Currently, they are being posted directly to the hospitals. And you will find out that even these hospitals face shortage of manpower, therefore, are is a great dearth of quality hands to train the fresh graduates/corps members.
Why Airmed?
There are lots of events that prompted me to venture into the healthtech space with Airmed. The basic thing is I understand the importance of using technology to fill-in the gaps (not just in the healthcare sector). Technology makes things easier. Some of the things that I found where the reasons for embarking on Airmed were; first, there was this incidence when we had taken our child to a hospital. Unfortunately, he was misdiagnosed; in less than a week we lost him.
Secondly, I lost some relatives to COVID-19, and I was deeply involved in giving care to some of them. I was contacted to find certain medications that could have helped them to survive, but it took me a longer time to find those medications. In fact, before I could find them, they had passed away.
So, a situation where someone lost both parents to COVID-19 and just little things like the provision of oxygen or an inhaler could probably made a difference. We had a neighbour who died of asthma attack because she did have access to maybe a panic button or someone who could have helped her get an inhaler, oxygen or even an ambulance.
So, there are many things that made me arrive at the decision to move into healthtech space. In addition, I came from a family of healthcare practitioners. My mum as a pharmacist, and uncles as doctors, helped to shape by thoughts about what technology can do in that space.
Also, my mum was involved in a pharmaceutical business. She started a retail pharmaceutical business in 1987 in Surulere by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). But it is a bricks and mortar company of which after my studies in Canada I thought about how to infuse technology into the business. My goal was to help in continuing that business because I have seen impacts it has made. So, I moved back to the country in 2011 and have been part of running the company, especially in bringing technology to make it more seamless.
So, from the experiences I garnered from the retail pharmaceutical business I started building Airmed.
Airmed: The beginning and now, any changes?
We haven’t launched into the mass market, officially. We are currently at the Beta-testing and would appreciate the potential customers help us to test it. We want them to go ahead, order your medications; use the website and have a feel of it. A few people who have used the website have given positive reviews about the user interface (UI) and the website functionalities.
It has not always been this way because technology evolves; we have tried different hands, and means to deliver a topnotch service. Now, I think we have gotten to the point where we comfortable with what we have. We are making attempt to ‘run’ with it, probably, overtime there will be some modifications in the features.
Ideally, we want a situation people will be able to access medications and consultations from anywhere at any time.
As you trying to tackle issues around access to quality healthcare, of course, affordability is one of the major challenges. Do you plan to partner with other healthcare providers?
We believe in partnerships. To start with, Airmed is partnering with Elfimo Pharmaceuticals and other pharmaceutical companies, because of the experience they had over the year. Elfimo is also a wholesale company which means they are able to access quality medications. This will enable us access quality medications at affordable prices. Airmed is not built just for the rich only; it is a solution that serves everybody.
How to access Airmed
Airmed has a website and an app. The app is available on Google Play Store presently while we are still working on the iOS for iPhone users.
How about the mode of payment on the platform?
We have variety of options for payments. We have also integrated a Paystack account both the website and the app.
How are you going to sort the delivery/logistics aspect of the business? Are you going to work with third-party delivery companies to ensure your customers receive speedy delivery?
We have partnered with a few delivery companies. We also have a partnership with GIG Logistics and we hope to on-board others to help in making our delivery process faster.
After sales support is key, not just in the healthcare, but across sectors, what is your plan for a topnotch customer support?
We are developing a process for customer service that will be available any time of the day. We believe is that the customer is the king and must be treated with utmost respect because without them there will be no business. We are going to have different channels through which they will reach us.
Sustainability is a major issue for most startups, how prepared are you to ensure Airmed stands the test of time?
What helps to sustain a business is borne out of passion, focus and dedication to the course. Although, people change directions mid-way into a business, this can also be caused by factors like realising that this is not something they can continue to do. It could be the decision to switch attention to a different direction, or the course is too big for them to handle. Sometimes, it is health challenge. Government policies can also led to such changes.
In my case, I have literally lived all my life in the medical space. I can’t predict about tomorrow, but I can tell you that presently Airmed is my passion. My goal is to ensure we bring positive change in healthcare in Nigeria. Being a victim of some of the inadequacies and knowing that the issues can reoccur, so I am motivated to help change the country by changing what industry at a time.
Are you currently speaking to investors?
Healthtech is a capital intensive project. I have solely financed the project till now. But I have come to the conclusion that the project is not something I can handle alone. So, at some point I would need partners and investors to come on board and we will take it to the next level. It is a dream I have been nurturing, and I have been taking my time to ensure a near-perfect system.
Airmed is going to be dealing with the medical records of individuals, what are you dealing with regards privacy and other related security matters?
In these days of cyber terrorism no body is really safe. The best thing we can do is to partner with cyber security companies. Already, we have an understanding with one of the global leading security companies to protect our backend and ensure safety of everyone that visits our channels.
You launched Airmed at the time some young people are migrating to Europe, America and other countries, what gives you the confidence to continue with the project?
First, I won’t blame anybody for relocating to other countries because love, security and the future of one’s self and family top every other thing. Everyone deserves peace of mind. For me, I have experienced life abroad; I lived in Canada for over 10 years. I understand what it means to live in an organised society. Coming back to Nigeria I realised we do not have another country to call ours. Truly, nobody will build your country for you. We need a few people with this understanding to build the country. It takes a strong will to stay back while others are migrating to foreign lands.
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