sitemaster ABOUT THE MAN: DR SURAJUDEEN JUNAID
Dr Junaid is best described as a cosmopolitan. However, those who say he is a northerner are right. Born in Jos, North Central, Nigeria, had his primary education at Nurudeen Primary School, Jos and secondary school education at Government College Pankshin, Plateau State. He proceeded to the prestigious FCVMLT Vom, Plateau State for his AIMLT and FMLSCN, Master of Science and PhD from University of Jos.
He did his NYSC in Taraba State, North Eastern Nigeria. He works in Vom, Plateau State. While Schooling in Pankshin, the natives named him Juryit and while working in Vom, the natives named him Jambol. This attests to his flexible lifestyle and high level of tolerance.
Those who argue that he is from South Western Nigeria are not wrong either. They hinge their position on his ancestry. His parents migrated from Ogbomosho North LGA of Oyo state, South Western Nigeria to settle in the Tin City State of Plateau since the pre-colonial era. His names and fluent Yoruba speaking attribute stands him out to the delight of southern western Nigerians.
However, those who say he is a Pan Nigerian are more correct. They draw their conclusion on the fact that he has had a blend of all regions of Nigeria. His life in the North and ancestry in the SW blended with a consistent work and relationship with people from South South and South East of Nigeria be it AMLSN, SSAUTHRIAI, ASUCA and in most importantly in NVRI Vom which people have termed a miniature Nigeria since all Nigerians reside and work there. They insist that he is not a regional Nigerian after a critical scrutiny of his mentality, mindset and leadership disposition.
The saying that goes "success has many friends and failure is an orphan" succinctly describes Dr Junaid's acceptability. If he was not an accessible asset, these regions would have not scrambled to identify with him.
He is a seasoned academic cum prolific unionist. He possesses two Masters degrees: Master in Medical Laboratory Science (MMLS) from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and Master of Science degree from University of Jos. He followed it up with a PhD from University of Jos. His academic prowess is evident in the may publications he has to his credit in international peer review journals.
He is a man that fits into the bill to take AMLSN to the Promised Land as National President.
HIS ANTECEDENTS
Dr Junaid represents hard work, integrity and foresight. He is a rare mix of untainted humility, courage and focus.
He is strategic in action, contagious in dream and liberal with knowledge. He does not waste his ammunition; experience and wit has taught him what to do, when to do it and how to do it. He parades an intimidating record of mouth-watering achievements in unionism and personal life and has remained an imposing and intimidating presence in the main bowl of professional contests.
He knows when to win with a stone, when to win with a stroll and when to win with song. His philosophy is in making and positioning ladders to raise layers of leaders that will mount the stage with him, believing that he has not succeeded except others succeed because of him. He could risk his life to swim across the turbulent river then build a bridge so that those coming behind him have a smoother sail. Simply put, he blazes the trail in haunted terrains.
His passion for AMLSN is unparalleled. He has remained a constant voice and face whether as a NEO or not. His role as pioneer member of AMLSN e-learning team was rated invaluable as it has today birthed and weaned to stability the project.
While campaigning for National Secretary in 2014, he told MLS nationwide that he would ensure AMLSN has a permanent Secretariat when voted into office. Details of his contributions to AMLSN from the chapter to the national levels are captured
His achievements under several leadership teams include:
- Digitalization of AMLSN minutes, documents and operations under the Raheem-led government. A promise made and kept
- Played critical role in acquisition of grant for establishment of e-learning project and its policy design for its sustainability
- Given AMLSN strong corporate visibility across the country hence improving on our image and impact
- Midwifed purchase of AMLSN permanent secretariat, a promise made and kept
- Generated relevant documents, strong argument and correspondence to government towards centralization of posting intern medical laboratory scientists by FMoH which approval has just been obtained from government
- Through convincing and passionate letters to Police Service Commission, AMLSN obtained approval for recognition and proper placement of MLS in the Nigerian Police Forces
- Through tenacious advocacy and sound secretariat packaging of relevant documents to National Assembly, the bill for establishment of NPCGMLS has already passed 3rd reading awaiting executive assent.
- Through understanding of circulars and provision of stronger argument and correspondences, AMLSN destroyed all toxic bills in the national assembly that were not in the interest of our profession
- Vigorously pursuit of all inherited court cases leading to resounding victories and generation of a well mapped strategy for implementation
- Successful pursuit and implementation of Enhanced Entry Point for Medical Laboratory Scientists
- Did critical secretariat work towards floating of AMLSN Research Foundation (Pa Shonekan Research Foundation)
- Rejuvenation of AMLSN BoT through rigorous secretariat work
- Anchored the demanding secretariat work of AMLSN constitutional review
- Pursued and ensued proper implementation of scheme of service in AMLSN NVRI Vom chapter (2001-2012)
- Ensured proper placement of MLS in Vom Chapter (2016/2017)
- Worked very hard with chapter Exco to ensure implementation of EEP in Vom chapter
- Worked hard with Exco to establish the existing welfare schemes used by Amlsn Vom chapter. Due to its robust nature, it is still in operation since 2002 till date
- Defended and protected stoutly the interest of MLS in the reviewed Conditions of Service for Research Institutes in Nigeria
- Worked hard to support continuous employment and mentorship of MLS in NVRI Vom
Dr Junaid, the Leader AMLSN Needs
Leaders are visionary. They see ahead and act ahead of time. They are also innovators. They dare what others would ordinarily dread! They present nothing but results!
In 2012 when Dr Junaid Suraj was made the Chairman of Scientific Committee by the Plateau State Branch, they had an idea that his exposure and passion were essential assets towards organizing state scientific sessions. He grabbed it with both hands in spite of his national and international prominence and went to work. To the glory of God, Dr Junaid did not disappoint. He and his team navigated the rough terrains of blazing a trail. They staged the first state conference in the branch that year. They followed it up with subsequent editions throughout the eventful tenure. Visionary leadership successfully brought down the idea from the imaginary to the real world! Today, that template is there for successive generations to follow.
Ladies and gentlemen, a visionary leader is a doer. His word is his bond. When he promises, he goes all out to do. Others may give excuses, vision delivers on promise!
What about the unanimous decision by the senate to throw away the bill seeking to establish the office of the Surgeon General? What ground work did the National Secretariat do? What magic words did the National Secretary tell the committee? What magic words did he script on the documents presented to the committee that turned the proposed bill into a leper fit for the evil forest?
A master strategist, a visionary leader, an innovator and a servant leader is what AMLSN needs to take us to the Promised Land.
Dr Junaid: A Modern Day Unionist
The reason why there is always fight in the garages and motor parks associations is because they believe leadership is about confrontation. Confrontation leads to free for all fight.
The primitive way for survival in the pre-colonial era was the animalistic philosophy of "Lion the Jungle King". In this setting, you bully and terrorize others with unbridled cannibalism to announce your lordship and leadership.
In the contemporary setting however, so much has changed. Superior reasoning and knowledge in a well-mannered presentation has since replaced archaic gangsterism, confrontation and contest of biceps. The leadership posture of recent achievers in AMLSN has shown a consistent thick line of superior reasoning, rational approach and systematic horse trading leading to awesome results and landmark achievements. Mr Manason Rubainu, though bullish in frame and looks went for cerebral firepower to humble his contenders while he held sway. He sent them back to the classroom many times for more tutorials. While they went to update their cerebral fuel, he took the spoils without a fight. His successor, Dr GC Okara, unleashed a bloodless revolution with high-octane mental zest to conquer without the primitivism of jungle fighters. His blend of history, story and wit was his password to accessing what he went out for. Alh TY Raheem came in with sufficient horse power of lobbying, daring what others dreaded hence succeeding in hitherto unsuccessful terrains without the primitive use of sticks and biceps like village fighters.
We need men of wit and modern ideologies not gangsters to lead us to the next level. Wise and visionary men trade in mental not muscular strength. Dr Junaid is a wise man. He is a master strategist with a Lion heart. He is an experienced unionist with intimidating records of achievements without breaking any rule or suffering any casualty in the process. It takes knowledge and strategy to go to the Lion's den, hold it bare-handed and bring it to the slaughter slab without suffering any casualty. Those who claimed have suffered casualties in this business should blame it on their irrationality instead of make-belief guts
THE VISION THEME CAST
Write the vision, make it plain…
The vision is the light with which we see tomorrow today. It is a tool with which a new professional edifice would be hewn and presented as an irresistible damsel to dazzle her peers in a professional beauty parade. It is also a stool on which we would sit comfortably as front line professional association, relinquishing any traditional back sit we may had hitherto been fixated to. It is a voice which sound is not only to be heard but to be heeded to by recalcitrant authorities. The vision is a magnet with a very strong magnetic field capable of dragging into our domain our lawful rights, privileges and benefits, no matter where they are hidden. It is a room for the young and the old, ladies and gentlemen of our noble profession for meaningful engagement and mentoring towards professional development. The vision is a broom with which we must sweep away the filth that litters our professional constituency, professional culture and professional conscience which has made it professionally unkempt. It is an umbrella that embraces all, shelters and shields all, irrespective of who holds the umbrella or who is under its shade
The vision is the rebirth of the professional pride we must carry as a new born as we send invitation letters to friends and families for the professional naming ceremony. It is to rise above the shame and sham of professional mediocrity into worthy professional meritocracy, as elite health professionals that we are. The vision is to collapse imaginary walls of division that have threatened our cohesion. Whether they be ethnic, religious or social; our vision is to show them the way out of our professional existence. Our brotherhood must not be eroded by any vice. The vision was birthed by our forefathers who did not become active in professional fraternity because they wanted positions in AMLSN but because they saw the association as a ground to till not as a cash cow to sell. The vision is to make the young know that they are youthful and useful. It is also to make the old look golden in influence and graceful affluence. Providing a policy direction and platform for all to showcase their worth for the common good of the profession
The vision is to take back our lost territories from professional parasites. It is also to advance into hitherto unorthodox territories for professional service and relevance. The vision is to cleanse and purge our ranks of infiltrations that have desecrated our calling, distorted our professional identity, deflowered our professional garment and stripped us of professional pride. The vision is to awaken those that slumber; to stand erect those who bow in shame; to make those who walk, run; to make those who run, fly. That none should stagnate nor retard professionally and otherwise. It is to rebrand and reinvent our public image and increase our stamina on the podium of professional relevance so that we do not get pushed over again so easily. It is to use our in-house resources as a launching pad for outreach towards professional emancipation and expansion. The vision is an antidote against division. No matter the source and coloration. The vision has sufficient provision to promotion The vision was, now is, and will ever be for the good of the profession!
The vision as casted above, has been condensed into the following thematic areas which make our agenda
- Consolidation & Revitalization: Dr Junaid appreciates that AMLSN has made significant progress courtesy of efforts of successive leaders. He also believes that AMLSN is indeed work in progress and is ready to consolidate on gains already recorded, strengthen observed weaknesses as well as explore new possibilities. The success recorded on secretariat pursuit will be consolidated upon, the e-learning project will be sustained through deliberate policy framework and implementation geared at self-sustenance. We shall forge a stronger partnership with MLSCN to ensure we defeat quackery and impose our professional abilities. Subgroups in AMLSN shall be given due recognition and guidance in the best way possible as to improve on our ideals and services
- Professional Emancipation & Image Projection: Our public and corporate image needs to be more imposing and defined. This will be possible when we do a holistic clear out of impostors that have masked as MLS over the years. We shall in the process rebrand and reinvent both our practice and outlook in such a manner as to answer our cherished name and brand
- Networking: we shall continue to connect locally and internationally to access institutional grants for programs like e-learning and core research projects. We shall also leverage on it for scholarship opportunities for promising youngsters in our midst for the sake of strengthening capacity.
- Welfare Schemes: Our eyes shall remain opened in all institutions with MLS in their employment to ensure no one is short changed in terms of wages and enshrined benefits. We shall redouble efforts to ensure whole scale implementation of our scheme of service to our members be they in the civil, military or paramilitary services
- Job opportunities: We shall man with stout dexterity our current job niches while launching aggressive advocacies to orthodox and unorthodox sectors to expand our professional niches for occupation by our teeming young graduates
- NPGCMLS: We shall ensure prompt and smooth take off of the National Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science and West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science with a solid institutional framework to make is financially self-sustaining for qualitative man power development
- We shall strengthen our legislative committee to enable articulate and pursue more bills in the national assembly on key areas of our practice for professional perpetuity and relevance
- We shall synergize with relevant professional bodies in the medical and non-medical sectors to forge a common front for professional harmony, growth and corporate activism in critical areas of interest
- We shall set up special teams and committees to enable us achieve identified milestones such Journal of Medical Laboratory Science (JMLS) and AMLSN Research Foundation amongst others. These special committees shall also keep a close look at the existing subgroups in AMLSN for guidance and compliance as well as recommend for consideration those seeking official recognition
Lastly, the campaign coinage of Vision is all encompassing. It is triple-lensed telescope with retrospective, introspective and prospective lenses. Retrospectively, we must look at how it all started and how we have fared thus far, using our ideals and vision of our fore fathers as the coordinates. The intention is to check our degree of regression, not for the easy blame game that others do but to enable us draw our agenda for action. Introspectively, our visionary lenses must look at what we presently have (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats). This will enable us build on our strengths and weaknesses thus limiting our threats as we take up all opportunities available to us
Compiled by Directorate, Media and Publicity, Vision Network with Massive Support from Mass Movement for Junaid Presidency, 2017
