‘Ups, downs of being famous doctor’s daughter’
Lami Haruna Inusa Samaila works with the World Health Organisation (WHO). She is the first out of two children of Dr. Haruan Samaila, a medical doctor and owner of Rimi Clinic in Kaduna. In this interview she shares her childhood memories, the kind of per
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Maryam Ahmadu-Suka & Haleema Bashir, Kaduna
Daily Trust: How will you describe your father? Lami Haruna Inusa Samaila: He is very kind and caring. Although he also disciplined us, mum did the bulk of it. He tried to instil very good values in us, and I think what I liked the most was not just the talk, we watched how he acted and interacted with people and based on that, we saw the kind of person he is. He taught us to love people, to have empathy and care for people. He advised us to try to live in peace all the time.
DT: Which of his traits would you say you inherited?
Lami: Well, he’s quite gentle and I tend to be as well. I’m not loud and all over the place. I think I’ve also inherited his love of wanting to help and serve. I think that is why I’m also in the medical field. We try to make things better for people.
DT: Were you ever pressured to live up to his name growing up?
Lami: I wouldn’t lie, there has been a bit of pressure. There are so many places that I go to in my line of work, and one way or the other, I meet with somebody who may have known him and whom my father may have impacted. They say he held high standards and that I need to keep up to that and not disappoint him.
DT: If he was not a doctor, what other career do you think he would have excelled in?
Lami: Interestingly, I remember my grandfather actually thought he was going to be a teacher because he loves children a lot. DT: Is he still a practicing doctor?
Lami: My dad is still practicing, consulting, seeing patients and doing surgeries. He works really hard. It’s something I admire about him. DT: What is his favourite food?
Lami: Tuwon Dawa and Miyar Kuka. DT: What types of books does he read?
Lami: He reads all sorts of books, particularly biographies.
DT: What’s the one advice he has given you that has stuck till date?
Lami: He has taught me to remain humble, to love people and remember that the person who has people is the
really rich one.
DT: How has being his daughter opened doors for you?
Lami: It has opened doors for me, personally and professionally. I can travel to Awka now in the East and people will be there for me because of the relationship they have with my dad. They would welcome me and I would have a place to stay. If I need to do clinical attachments abroad, there are places I can stay as well. DT: How does he relax?
Lami: He loves to travel, so when he has free time, you’re most likely to see him doing that. He also likes to watch movies, football and play tennis. He’s always watching tennis.
I can travel to Awka now in the east and people will be there for me because of the relationship they have with my dad. They would welcome me and I would have a house to stay