Reading helps me relax ! — 80-year-old pharmacist

Eighty-year-old Alfred Lewis shares his experiences as a council manager and pharmacist in this interview with GBENGA ADENIJI

How was your growing up like?

LewisIt was very interesting. I was born on January 24, 1934 to Mr. Albert Lewis and Mrs. Lydia Lewis. I was always in the church for mass. I could ride a horse as early as I could remember. As a matter of fact, at the age of seven, I was always riding horses on the streets of Lagos especially during Christmas celebrations.

I was born a Catholic and attended Holy Cross Catholic School, Igbosere, Lagos, from 1939 to 1947. Thereafter, I was offered a scholarship by the United African Company to continue my education at St. Gregory’s College, Ikoyi, Lagos.  UAC awarded me the scholarship to St. Gregory’s College because my father was one of their employees. When I was in the school, I played cricket, football and hockey. But I did not participate in athletics. After leaving St. Gregory’s College, I went to study pharmacy at the School of Pharmacy, Yaba, Lagos.

After the completion of the course, I joined the UAC. While I was working there, I was still playing polo, cricket and hockey. I eventually joined Polo Club because of my interest in polo. I became a manager in 1959 and thus became the youngest manager in UAC then.  I recall that I won my first polo cup in 1959 in Ibadan. I travelled to many states for polo tournaments. In 1960, I travelled to Ghana where I won two polo competitions.

 Did you ever fall off a horse while playing polo?

Of course, I did fall off horses while playing polo. I don’t know of any polo player that has never fallen off a horse. The thing is that when one falls, one gets up and rides again. Such experience is normal in polo and should not stop one from playing polo again. I was virtually born as a lover of horses and like I said earlier, I started riding horses very early.  At a time in my career, I was sent to England by Hoffman-la-Roche, an agent of UAC. I did not play polo while I was there but when I returned to Nigeria, I continued playing it.

 What did you go to England to do?

I was sent to England to study salesmanship. The course lasted for four months. When I returned, I was on secondment from UAC to Hoffman-la-Roche. But UAC was still paying my salary. I was the first Nigerian to represent Hoffman-la-Roche. I travelled to many states in Nigeria when I was with them. I was given a car to make my job easy in addition to the personal car I was driving then. After the expiration of the attachment, I returned to UAC. I retired as Head, Pharmacy department, UAC in 1978. I worked for 34 years. Before my retirement, I was also appointed the Lagos City Council Manager from 1975 to 1977 by the then military governor of Lagos State, Adekunle Lawal. I was still in UAC when the appointment came.

 What was your experience from pharmacy to politics?

It was great because there were a lot of things we had to put right. I was appointed to serve humanity because of my managerial experience and as an indigene of the state. I did my best to revamp the council because there was no discipline at the time I took over. I had to bring my wealth of experience from a disciplined society (private sector) to the public sector. The system was very corrupt then and even now, I do not think things have really changed much. There were many ghost workers in the council then. We worked very hard to bring sanity to the place and generated money to properly run the council. In fact, we did a lot of cleaning. There was a plan to introduce incinerator system but I objected it because I knew it would not work. We were using our own waste management system and if we decided to use the incinerator system, we would need to import fuel from Port Harcourt before using them.

 Were you married before you travelled abroad?

Of course, I was married all the while I was working and playing polo. We even had some children then.

 How did you meet your wife?

I met my wife, Augustina at UAC’s A.J Seward Kingsway Chemist. She was working there then.

 What attracted you to her?

Her beauty and brilliance. She is a very beautiful and brilliant woman.

 After your retirement, what did you do?

I worked briefly with Eleganza Group of Companies. Precisely, I worked there for two years. After leaving, I assisted a friend to inaugurate a complex in Edo State and to help revive a company. I later joined a company when I returned to Lagos. The company was owned by a friend and it produced materials for fabrication. When I left the company, I decided to devote my time to serving humanity in whatever capacity I can.

 Considering your years of practice as a pharmacist, did you encourage any of your children to study pharmacy?

I did not influence or encourage any of my children to study pharmacy. I only encouraged them to study very hard and develop professions of their own. I did not see any reason why I should influence their career choices.

 What professions are they into?

We have wonderful and good children who make us proud always. One is a professor, another is a medical doctor while one studied geography. Some of them live in Nigeria while others live abroad.  They are all doing well in their chosen professions.

 What is your view on the rivalry between doctors and pharmacists?

It is something we see nowadays. When I was in UAC, we never witnessed such rivalry between both medical professionals. Doctors were doctors and pharmacists were pharmacists during  our time. One did not meddle in the affairs of the other. What I know is that doctors can prescribe drugs but it should be in liaison with pharmacists who can recommend in view of the available drugs. Pharmacists know all the available drugs anyway.  I don’t think there should be any rivalry between them.

 Can you recall any memorable moment as a pharmacist?

Yes. It was during the war. Nigerian troops depended on us to supply drugs to them. There were times we had to make sure that those injured got the best of treatment.

 How did you cope with your family during the war?

We were together in Lagos. We had normal working hours except there was an emergency and we had to start operations early. We didn’t experience much of the war in Lagos. The impact was more in the East. But generally, people were not happy about the war and that was why they were happy it ended. It was a good thing it ended.

 What kind of training did you give your children?

We gave them a good training. They were well brought up.

 How do you relax?              

The best way I like to relax is by reading. I used to read a lot until my eyes got bad. That was the best form of relaxation for me. But I still find a way of meeting with some friends. It is another way I relax.

 What is your favourite meal?

I have no special meal. But I like Nigerian dishes any day. I enjoy eba, okro soup and rice.

 Do you attend social events?

My love for social activities is not as it used to be. In fact, I used to play billiards and I was once a champion of the game. I didn’t like golf because I am lazy person when it comes to walking. Otherwise, I would have played golf. Golf involves walking. My favourite game as I said earlier is polo.

 What is the secret of your good health?

I don’t have any secret. When I was a young man, I believed that one should have good health, good living and good exercises. I kept to these principles as I came of age. I do not even have any food secret. I eat what normal people eat and I do not drink alcohol. I have never tasted alcohol.  I only take beverages, water and sweet things because I have a sweet tooth.

 How best do you think government can tackle drug counterfeiting?

There was drug counterfeiting during my time too. It was checked to some extent during that time but since I was at the top, it was difficult to tackle it at the bottom. The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Dr. Paul Orhii, is doing his best. But I think there should be more re-orientation and education among Nigerians. Every Nigerian wants to be rich no matter the cost. With such attitude, it is not going to be easy to put things right. If anybody wants to be rich, there is no problem once the person is doing things legitimately. But it becomes a problem when one makes money through dubious means. He or she will no doubt smile to the banks, but such money can never last. What happens when the owner dies? It is the people that don’t know how he or she got the money that will squander it and if there are untrained children left behind by the deceased, they are the ones who will waste it.

 Was there any reason you chose to study pharmacy?

I wanted to study medicine as a UAC scholar then but the company was short of pharmacists. I then decided to study pharmacy.

 How would you advise pharmacists and would-be pharmacists? 

Pharmacists should always keep to the ethics of the profession.  They should not engage in anything that can bring the profession to disrepute. This is very important because we are in a society where there are fewer professionals in every profession.  Those aspiring to study pharmacy should study hard and stay focused.

 What is your advice to youths?

They should face whatever they are doing well. It is also important for them to know the right things and do what is right  always.