Career path of a Project Director at a Logistics and Supply Chain Provider

I received my pharmacy degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. My first role was a statutory internship, as required for pharmacists in Nigeria. Afterward, I volunteered as a pharmacist at an antiviral therapy clinic.

This clinic managed patients living with HIV. I also completed part of my internship at the Federal Ministry of Health in Nigeria, working for the government for about a year. This was also a professional requirement for me as a pharmacist.

During my volunteering at the HIV clinic, which was with an organization called Gade Foundation, I also became involved in caring for orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV. This gave me context for why I started working in HIV programming.

Over time, HIV programming evolved to include supply chain management and inventory for antiviral medications. I performed so well as a volunteer that Gade Foundation offered me a job. I had put a lot of effort into my volunteering work, and it helped kick-start my career.

My work with Gade Foundation revolved around HIV programming. This involved procuring and managing the logistics and supply chain for HIV treatment. As a pharmacist in an HIV clinic, this became a core skill set I developed.

From that small clinic, I moved on to work with Howard University. They had a program in Nigeria focused on pharmacy systems, related to HIV programming, as part of their Global Health HIV AIDS initiative. This was a large program funded by the U.S. government through PEPFAR.

PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, was authorized by President George W. Bush. During my time there, my role expanded to oversee multiple clinics in southwest Nigeria. We focused on HIV treatment and care, strengthening pharmacy systems, and managing supply chains and procurement.

My career trajectory shifted from volunteering to full-time procurement, logistics, and supply chain management for HIV commodities. This expanded beyond just medications to include lab reagents and other necessary medical supplies. I managed these for a region of Nigeria, supporting up to 30 clinics.

I then moved to work on other projects funded by the U.S. government, such as the USAID | DELIVER Projects. Concurrently, the organization managing this project was also involved with another initiative called SCMS, Supply Chain Management Systems. These programs focused on procurement, logistics, and supply chain management for commodities treating not only HIV but also malaria, tuberculosis, and family planning.

My career accelerated, and I began managing these operations at a national level. At one point, I served as a Senior Contract Advisor and Team Lead for procurement, logistics, and supply chain management. I also held roles in contracting, Christian management, and warehousing.

I also worked with United States Agency for International Development in Kampala, Uganda, and the U.S. Embassy in Kampala for two years. My current role is Project Director for a procurement and business services project funded by the Global Fund. The Global Fund is a Geneva-based organization that finances health programs worldwide, including HIV, AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.

My current company, MEB Global Reach, won a bid with the Global Fund, and I am the project director for this initiative in Nigeria. I also previously worked for International SOS, managing medical logistics for Afghan evacuees housed at Fort Dix, an army base in New Jersey. I collaborated with teams from the Department of Defense, Department of State, and other organizations to address their medical needs.

My career path has been extensive, starting as an intern pharmacist and volunteer, working in HIV clinics, and ultimately becoming a project director.