PHARMACIST IN DIASPORA: YEWANDE ODUWOLE

By Yemisi Ogundipe & Ishaku Daniel

Let’s meet you.

My name is Yewande Oduwole nee Obadipe, but people close to me address me as Feyisayo. I have a Pharmacy background and reside in London, Ontario, Canada with my family.

I currently work as a Regulatory Affairs Specialist in a Clinical Research Company and as a Consultant Senior Regulatory Associate at an Australian Regulatory Consulting Company. I also volunteer with the Nigerians in Clinical Research and Pharmaceuticals in Canada (NICRPCA) where I currently have a role as a tenured Director. I love to mentor people even though I also still need mentoring, lol. In my spare time (which I hardly get, pray for me), I cook, dance, watch movies or just have family time.

My Japa story is somewhat different because I was not very keen on relocating when I did.

Reluctantly? That is quite interesting; you were pro-Nigeria at the time.

Yes, I was, mostly. I had tried to go study abroad though, but I was not anti-Nigeria either.

So let’s backtrack a little; I glean that you worked with the USP in Nigeria before relocating. How did you land that position?

This takes me back to my hesitance to relocate. I worked as a contract staff at USP and I had good work experience. At USP, I loved that my role was dynamic and enjoyable. I got to work with an amazing team on different regulatory and pharmaceutical quality systems while making a decent salary. Pivotal to getting that role was my network. As an undergraduate, I established a good rapport with one of my former lecturers, Dr. Anyakora, and kept in touch post-graduation; I regard him as a mentor and a friend.

Before working with USP, I worked long hours in a community pharmacy. What prompted my resignation was my boss’s refusal to approve two weeks’ leave when my husband visited from Canada, even though I had worked for about two years without leave. Based on that encounter, I tendered my resignation. Dr Anyakora knew about the issue (we always communicate) so when an opening showed up at USP for a role he thought I was a good fit for, he referred me and set me up for an interview that I was oblivious to. I thought I was going to visit him to get a brief about the job. It turned out to be a full panel interview, and to put it mildly, I fumbled not because I did not know my onions but because I did not prepare and I was caught off guard. I learnt a major lesson from that.

After the interview, I called him to lament, and he reassured me, but I was concerned my colleagues would have a flawed perception of my abilities. I got the job; and my new colleagues, especially the ones that interviewed me, were initially not sure of the capabilities I had (they later told me this on a lighter note) but in no time, I was able to prove myself worthy of the job. Subsequently, I acclimatized and had a valuable time working with USP. The cordial relationship I had with my colleagues at USP remains to date. The well-rounded experience and training I received while there were pivotal in my transition into my current career path in Canada.

What exactly was your job description at USP?

USP stands for United States Pharmacopeia Convention (yes, the same one we all know but they do more than produce the USP editions, hahaha). It is an independent, scientific NGO dedicated to improving global health through standards setting in compounding, biologics, pharmaceutical manufacturing and other fields. At the time (and also till now I believe), they had funding from USAID to help improve the quality of medicines in Nigeria.

So the team was involved in brainstorming, gap assessments, planning and executing different concurrent projects that cut across the different pharmaceutical systems in Nigeria (regulatory, manufacturing, academia) towards achieving this goal.

The projects included lots of training, regulatory assessments, logistics and supply to mention a few. I was on the QA/QC and GMP sub-teams and my day-to-day activities included facilitating and coordinating these projects as well as liaising with the different stakeholders involved to ensure overall success and high-quality deliverables.

Did you nurse the idea of being a QA from school or after school?

I’m currently not working in Quality Assurance, but I have some postgraduate QA training and experience. From school, no! I learnt about QA, QC, and a lot of other career paths in the pharmaceutical industry during my time at USP. In school, the options we knew of seemed to only be community, hospital or pharmaceutical sales, with a very vague knowledge of other aspects of the industry. But there is so much more in the pharma world.

So tell us about your Canadian journey.

I came to Canada to join my husband and when I arrived, I did not have adequate information on what options were available to me career-wise.

The only thing I was aware of was the PEBC licensing exams. And that would only qualify me for clinical pharmacy practice, which I was not very keen on as I have never liked shift work and the toll it could take on my young family as a woman, as well as the routines involved. I weighed the costs (financial, time, and other resources) and was reluctant to take the exams, it would have been a worthy investment and I would have gone ahead if afterwards I would be satisfied but I knew that would not be the case. I did not want to spend 2–3 years trying to get licensed and not use it thereafter.

Clinical pharmacy practice in Canada is similar to what we are used to in terms of routines, shifts, patient-facing and general settings. Of course, there are some clear differences, e.g., in management, coordination, pay etc.

A lot of people, who do not mind pharmacy practice, search out other career paths only because they cannot afford to put in all that sacrifice (there could be different valid reasons for this), but I just would not have been satisfied and that was my main reason for veering off.

I respect Nigerian-Canadian pharmacists a lot because it takes determination, grit and sweat, to obtain licensure and stay committed to that path, so I do encourage anyone passionate about clinical pharmacy practice to weather the storm and get licensed. It pays off, it is a very lucrative career path, just ensure that it is what you that can remain focused on and not get frustrated along the way when the storm comes because it will.

Fortunately for me, I found my way and made a launch into my current career path after about 6 months of confusion, throwing around poor resumes, research and fact-finding. In hindsight, I could have saved myself a lot of stress and time waste, if I knew and worked through my options earlier. So my advice to people relocating newly is to plan — ask lots of questions, do your research, connect and network with people confidently (throw shyness away) and when you land, hit the ground running. The time (and bills!) does not wait for anyone.

Canada is a beautiful country through and through, but it also has its challenges. A major one is that information does not find you; you have to search it out. There are settlement programs and incentives generally for new immigrants but there is specific information that is peculiar to your circumstance that you cannot obtain if you are not vocal about your needs and reach out to people who have towed that path. It is a fast life here and no one will come to you with solutions if you don’t ask, not even the government.

So what was the turning point for you?

About six months after my arrival, I got talking with a fellow Nigeria-trained lady pharmacist, now a friend and colleague (that I met on one of the WhatsApp support groups for Nigerians in Ontario), about pharma industry options in Canada. After a lot of research and questions, we both decided to go to postgraduate school for a 1-year postgrad diploma program that would propel us into the Canadian pharma industry space (based on our situations at the time). Luckily the program I chose aligned perfectly with what I had been introduced to at USP, so it was relatively easy for me to make that choice.

The fees were expensive so I got a loan (and some grant) to fund the program. I started the program when I was 4 months pregnant, took a break two weeks before I had my baby and resumed about 6 weeks postpartum, just so I could finish my program within the slated 1 year. It was hectic and the only reason I could do it was because I knew that was what I wanted and I could not afford to waste any more time. I have since started working in the industry and finished paying off my loan. The Canadian Pharma industry (not pharmacy practice) is devoid of pharmacists. Most pharmacists are either working in hospitals or drug stores, which is amazing, some people have to be there for patients, but it would be great if pharmacists who would like industry practice are aware of the options available. We are trained and capable to be at the helm of the decision-making and developmental affairs when it comes to drugs and lifesaving therapies. All of us do not have to stay at the bench, if we do not want to, that is.

Before you started schooling, did you do odd jobs?

I could not work before schooling, although I applied for pharmacy assistant roles which were not forthcoming, they all asked for a Pharmacy Assistant certification as a requirement. However, I know some people who got pharmacy assistant jobs via recommendation without needing certification. Customer service and Cashier jobs are readily available; however, the turnover rate is very high because it is tiring as it requires a lot of talking, sometimes dealing with angry customers who do not mind telling you to speak proper English (even though your grammar is better than theirs) or go back to Pakistan or wherever you came from. Hahaha (not always, but it happens).

I know some people who initially survived on Uber and food delivery services like Skip the Dishes and Door Dash after getting their first car either by outright purchase or financing (paying for the car through small premiums with interests gradually). One has to pay the bills one way or the other. Just make sure the means are legal.

The financial pressure was not so much on me as my husband was working and allowed me time to figure myself out. It was still hard, however, considering that I had been financially independent for a long time before then. This takes me back to my advice on preparing a plan ahead and hitting the ground running. I know many people who did not have to do ‘survival’ jobs at all.

How is the pay for pharmacy practice in Canada?

The answer to this question is not absolute, times change, and there are differences in remuneration across companies, cities and provinces. That said, as of now, an entry-level clinical pharmacist may earn between $45 to CAD 60 gross pay per hour. For entry-level pharma industry roles, it ranges between $60,000 to 90,000 CAD annual gross pay. Based on discussions with a couple of friends that are practising pharmacists in Canada, the career progression is not as fast as what is obtainable in industry roles and the salary may remain within the same range for many years or have a little increase over the years of experience. Based on this, it is best to negotiate great pay from the start. Also, with good years of experience, there is a long-term opportunity of being a pharmacy owner which is very lucrative.

One of the pros of working in the pharma industry however is that career progression is mostly steady and fast (of course you have to constantly put in the work to grow and keep learning). That comes with increased pay that is as high as or sometimes even higher than what you will get with clinical pharmacy practice with a similar amount/years of experience. I have seen colleagues move into managerial positions within one year. The years of experience before relocation sometimes come in handy in this light, in the overall scheme of things, as one can leverage it to move up faster. Also, there are opportunities to work as a consultant for multiple organizations (even outside Canada) and widen your interests, and portfolio and generate income from multiple sources within the same industry.

There are pros and cons on every side and it is not always rosy. So it will be wise to weigh your options first and choose the best option that suits you.

Does getting a master’s degree help to level one up in job hunting in Canada?

It ultimately depends on one’s career path. Generally, Canadian employers tend to prefer specialized postgraduate certifications and experiences to Master’s degrees (at least for entry or associate-level jobs).

I believe this is because certifications show some level of competency in specific skills, unlike Masters which are general and academic, mostly theory or research-based. For example, consider two pharmacists (with similar experience and strong resumes but no prior project management experience), applying for a project manager or project coordinator role. One has a BSc. in Pharmacy and a PMP® certification, while the other has a BSc. and MSc. in Pharmacy, provided that all other factors involved in the hiring process are similar for both of them, the one with the PMP® certification has a higher chance of being offered the role, all things being equal. Director-level and Senior Executive job postings, however, sometimes require that candidates have a Master’s or PhD. But there are times that even for those, considerable relevant years of experience would be accepted in lieu.

My stance is that, for newcomers, if you desire to go into Academia, then go for a Master’s degree and proceed to a PhD. But if it is to get into the job market, consider relevant certifications first. If your purpose is so you can immigrate after study, you can consider a postgraduate diploma in a course that would be useful in the job market or a relevant Master’s degree (emphasis on ‘relevant’). I am considering a master’s degree sometime shortly to accelerate my movement up the career ladder.

Is Canada strict with work permits even in getting menial jobs like the US?

I think so. To work legally anywhere in Canada, you must have a work permit. I think it is stricter than the US because we are smaller in population, so tracing illegal work IDs may be easier.

What non-clinical roles are available for pharmacists?

There are options in pharmacovigilance and drug safety, medical affairs, medical sales, project management, regulatory affairs, clinical research, pre-clinical research, pharma QA/QC, production management, data and business analysis (yes, tech exists in pharma too). Each of these options is further divided into many more job roles and fields, they are inexhaustive. This is where research comes in, you need that to be able to fully grasp and understand what each of these options entails and decide which of them is for you. Even if we spend a whole day during this interview, we cannot cover everything. So, network and ask questions that can guide you on the right path. I am a big proponent of using LinkedIn; it is an amazing career resource when you learn how to use it to suit your needs.

While these roles are not meant for pharmacists only, pharmacists have an advantage in these roles because of the kind of training we have had. A lot of the concepts are very relatable and many times I find myself having light bulb moments and affirming my love for my career path. I do not feel like I am not a pharmacist at my job, I do not feel like my pharmacy training is wasted or not being used.

To get into regulatory affairs, does one need prior experience?

I would need an entire session to answer this.

Most schools here that offer regulatory affairs require their students to do a co-op (like industrial attachment training) in companies to complement their in-class training. Sometimes the co-op is mandatory towards their degree and others times it is not. It was only recommended by the school I attended but not mandatory. Some schools have fostered relationships with companies and can help their students get into co-op positions within these companies. A lot of students, though, have to find these positions themselves, apply and get in. The duration of the co-op depends on the school and company requirements and could last for about three months on average. It could be paid or unpaid but it ultimately counts as work experience. It can be used on the resume and may give an edge towards landing an industry role.

I did not do a co-op as I simply did not have the time or chance. I finished my program without it since it was not mandatory, and focused on getting my first job after school. One month after finishing my program, I was given a chance by a Regulatory consulting firm based in Australia that needed someone to handle their Canadian regulatory projects. My interview was not the regular type of interview. I was assigned a project to work on, which I had to complete within three days. My boss offered me the job afterwards and the rest is history. Getting that job helped me to get the required experience to secure my current role.

Now, will everyone need to go to school before getting into RA, no! I know of someone who did get an entry-level role without going to school in Canada but this person already worked in RA in a multinational company in Nigeria for some years and also received globally recognized regulatory training before relocating. So, it depends on your experience and skill set which must be relevant to RA and the job requirements, as well as your ability to sell yourself confidently on your resume and interviews. Most people however will need to get some RA training as I did.

RA offers a lot of opportunities in the long run as there are many different categories of healthcare products, niches and regulatory environments in that one could specialize in. It involves knowing a lot of laws and requirements and can be cumbersome, so before you venture into RA as a career, be certain about it, to prevent getting lost and losing motivation along the way.

What do you miss the most about Nigeria?

The food and its freshness! One cannot compare at all. African stores try to make most ingredients accessible but they still cannot be compared. I miss seeing family and friends anytime I want to. I miss the generally happy life that is peculiar to Nigerians and parties. I usually joke that whenever I come to Naija, I will attend any Owanbe I hear of whether I am invited or not, lol. I also miss the communal living and easy access to quick seamless help in every aspect of daily living.

What don’t you miss about Nigeria?

The stress, insecurity and lack of structure are what I do not miss. The absence of a system makes people turn mundane things into prayer points. I do not miss the constant frowning faces I used to see daily in Lagos.

Is there a buzzing Nigerian community in Ontario?

For context, Ontario has a larger landmass than the whole of Nigeria, and the population of only Lagos is higher than the population of the whole of Canada. There are a lot of cities and municipalities within my province, Ontario, that I have not even heard about, not to talk of the other 9 provinces and three territories, so Nigerians are widely spread all over the country. Within the same city, we try to make friends with one another and hang out at intervals when we can.

The larger Nigerian community is majorly virtual people who belong to WhatsApp groups where we regularly interact; however, physical interaction/hangouts mostly occur during summer because the long and cold winter months do not encourage social outings.

What are the fun activities around you or in Canada?

There are beautiful sites all across Canada and I do not think I have scratched the surface of sightseeing yet. There are lovely parks and trails, beautiful landscape scenery up north and lots of tourist attractions. I think one of the most common ones that I have visited is Niagara Falls and it is a sight to behold both in winter and summer. I particularly love road trips through the countryside and seeing farms and people in carriages instead of cars.

Canada is mostly fun, despite the long winter period. There are winter social activities in every city. The question is would anyone want to go out in the negative temperatures? Most times, no. It takes extra effort and planning to step out during the cold season.

The weather was one of the contributory factors that made me seek a remote job opportunity. The gloomy winter weather is probably one of the major causes of depression for immigrants that are not used to such and find it difficult to adjust. However, some people love winter! You never know till you experience it. Overall, Canada is lovely and a place I love to call home. While Nigerians are one of the best people I know in the world and I am proud of our achievements at home and abroad, I hope one day I would be able to say that I am proud of everything related to Nigeria.

What decisions can one make so as not to return to Nigeria out of frustration and lack of fulfilment?

Why don’t you want to return to Nigeria? lol? This will depend on what fulfilment means to a person. If fulfilment is being able to party, have access to round-the-clock help and be close to family members or working to improve global health in low-income countries like Nigeria, then that person will not want to stay in Canada no matter the benefits. The decisions are not absolute and are subjective.

From a career standpoint, I will say come in with a feasible plan and keep your options open, build your network, be disciplined and have integrity. Finance-wise, make sensible and well-thought-out financial decisions. Do not be moved by the flashy and flamboyant lifestyle you see around you. Some people have paid their dues and can afford such a lifestyle, some have those things on credit/loans and can conveniently pay their premiums, and others simply just live the lifestyle on credit and consequently, reach a dead end financially.

Do not borrow money to get things that are not necessary or needed. The system thrives on loans and interest payments, and companies offer loans for almost everything such that one will be neck-deep in debt if one is not conscious and careful. While still trying to find your feet especially, do not buy what you cannot afford. Practice delayed gratification in your first few years. Also, when the going gets good, it does get good, save and invest. Learn about how to manage finances in Canada, it is a different ball game from what we are all used to. There are many resources about that on the internet.

From a family standpoint, come with the realization of the fact that you will have to double the work and effort you put into raising your family. A lot of family-building resources that were easily accessible in Nigeria are not here in Canada. Many situations are poised towards testing the strength of families here. I am also still working hard to navigate those waters carefully. I have seen beautiful Nigerian families and children raised here so I know that it is possible to balance it all.

These are the most significant pieces of advice that I have. I wish you the very best! Thank you.