Mutiat Adegoke-Sanusi

There are entrepreneurs and there are entrepreneurs. Mrs. Mutiat Adegoke-Sanusi has carved a niche for herself in free enterprise, ‘disappointing’ those who thought that she missed working in one of the big hospitals or becoming a drug maker, considering her education, writes RAHEEMAH AROGUNDADE

Jack of many trades
A certified pharmacist, school owner, event planner and decorator, Mrs. Mutiat Adegoke-Sanusi is not just an entrepreneur; she is a serial entrepreneur inspired by her love for her profession and concern for her immediate environment. This birthed many pharmaceutical stores in various locations in Lagos. She also owns primary and secondary schools, an event hall and rental service, a decorating agency among others.

She is the chief executive officer of De Royal Treet Global Services Limited, under which the above businesses fall.

Aside her interest in education and pharmacy, her passion forevent management led to the establishment of Royal TreetHalls and Rentals.

Call her jack of many trades, master of all.

Early Life
Born on January 30, 1967, Mrs. Adegoke-Sanusi hails from Ijede in Lagos State where she grew up. Being the first of five children, she grew up with a great deal of leadership qualities and zeal for success. A huge responsibility fell on her as the first child because she realised that she had to set the pace for her siblings.

Badagry Grammar School in Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm.) in 1990, moulded her. She became a fellow of West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacist will in 2005.

Career
After her tertiary education in 1990, she worked briefly at the Air Force Medical Centre, Ikeja, before establishing her pharmaceutical stores.

She decided to go into community pharmacy, which involves making drugs accessible to the public, by supplying medications based on doctors’ prescription and selling over-the-counter drugs. Her intention to practise pharmacy and have time for her family pushed her into community pharmacy, with the first shop, Hasmut Pharmacy, in Ikotun, in 1993. Other branches in Ijede, Epe, Ipaja and Egan towns in Lagos followed. Her chain of retail stores is well managed.

Honours
For her diligence, she has received several awards, including Award of Excellence by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter.

Educationist
In 2006, her love for education led her to establish Blue Royal School in Ikotun. The school comprises the day care, nursery, basic and high school sections. Till now, Blue Royal School remains one of the top schools in Lagos with robust curriculum and holistic teaching syllabus. The school boasts a proud, excellent and strong alumni network.

Passion is everything
She has made it clear that professional life is clearly distinct from passion. Though a successful pharmacist, her passion for event management and decoration was not quenched.

“I have always dreamt of having an event centre and rental service. When the opportunity came, I simply worked on it and in 2009 started the event centre and rentals,” she said.

This diligent, experienced entrepreneur with many years experience from managing her personal businesses is also an education enthusiast.

Giving back to society
De Royal Pharmacy has organised various sensitisation programmes and donated to various communities as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

Challenges
Business is riddled. Mrs. Adegoke-Sanusi has received her own baptism of challenges.

She said, “The greatest challenge I have faced is manpower. Like they say, getting the round peg into the round hole can be quite difficult.

“Likewise, getting the most suitable and qualified professionals for each of the businesses posed a challenge. Getting professionals to work in the pharmacy was difficult. Also, getting education specialists and grounded academics to work in the school was similarly challenging.”

Wise counsel
Advising aspiring entrepreneurs, she said, “Whatever business you decide to go into, have sufficient knowledge about it, to prevent extremely bad situations. Being adequately equipped will prevent mishaps. Second, adequate management of staff is very important. This is because staff management differs according to business.

“In addition, having a comprehensive and unambiguous business plan is required. By doing this, you know exactly what you want to achieve. It will further help you prevent waste of resources.

“Also important is the separation of the finance for each of the businesses.”

Adegoke-Sanusi is indeed an inspiration.