Title: Transforming; My Journey through the Lagos State Health System
Author: Dr. Eniayewun Ademuyiwa Benjamin
Year of Publication: 2025
Number of Pages: 293
Category: Autobiography
Behind Dr. Eniayewun’s calm and composed appearance on the cover of Transforming lies a remarkably resilient man. Don’t be fooled by the gentle look; his story reveals strength forged through trials. Within these pages is not just an autobiography, but an inspiring account of what it takes to fix a broken system with integrity, vision, and grit.
A strategic and purpose-driven public health leader, Dr. Eniayewun isn’t out to impress with titles, though he’s held many. He’s here to tell the truth, share lessons, and inspire change. And true to its title, Transforming is a story of personal and institutional growth.
Reading the prologue alone feels like a full experience, rich, thought-provoking, and packed with wisdom. But go further, as you absolutely should, and the insights only deepen. The book is a goldmine for anyone in the medical field or aspiring to lead with purpose. What others take decades to learn is laid out here, page after page.
This isn’t just a life story, it’s a manual. A guide. Essential reading for young medical officers, healthcare administrators, public health professionals, and anyone serious about service and leadership. It’s honest, practical, and at times, painfully eye-opening.
Beyond medicine, it offers lessons in history, leadership, people management, and institutional reform. If you were born in a Nigerian government hospital, you might smile or, more likely, frown at the mention of your birth hospital. Many have declined over the years. But you’ll also find hope in the stories of transformation, facilities that improved under Dr. Eniayewun’s leadership, proving that real change is possible with vision and commitment.
One of the book’s most refreshing aspects is the storytelling style. Dr. Eniayewun writes like he’s sitting across from you, sipping tea, calm, candid, and clear. No pretence, no inflated ego. Just truth and courage.
He doesn’t just talk about leadership, he’s lived it. Often under tremendous pressure, with limited resources, and within systems that resist reform. What drives him isn’t status, but outcomes. His humility and commitment shine through, and his insights from patient-centred care to ethical decision-making could shape a new generation of healthcare leaders.
The book also exposes Nigeria’s harsh healthcare realities. It doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths. Maternal mortality, systemic failure, and administrative bottlenecks. For those unaware, the data and stories will shock you. For those who’ve lived it, it will hit close to home. A foreign reader might think he’s exaggerating. He’s not. This is the Nigeria he served and tried to heal.
Quotes like “A potential unexpressed turns into pain” will leave you thinking. The book is full of such truths, lines that pause you, challenge you, and make you reflect.
Photos included show that the work described isn’t imagined, it’s lived and documented. He shares not just successes but struggles, personal, professional, and systemic. He doesn’t sugarcoat frustrations or conceal the people who stood in his way. His honesty is refreshing and powerful.
Former colleagues may recognise stories of challenge, reform, and resilience. They may smile or remember the weight of pushing progress in a rigid system.
His compassion also comes through, especially in chapters tackling sensitive health issues. He raises tough questions, not to criticise, but to provoke thought and inspire action. And though his tone is gentle, make no mistake, he is tough. The kind of tough that demands accountability. At some point, you might find yourself sitting straighter, thinking, I don’t want to be caught slacking around this man.
Yet, his toughness is purposeful. It pushes you to do better. Soon, you’re underlining phrases, scribbling notes, thinking, I want to be like this when I grow up.
He makes it clear: if you’re aiming for the top, prepare to fight, not to scare you, but to equip you. His message is a wake-up call and a well of strength.
You’ll also spot a hint of stubbornness, the good kind. The kind that confronts decay, insists on accountability, and refuses to accept “that’s how it’s always been.” By the end, you may want to be that kind of stubborn, too.
In the final chapters, the book takes a turn, it begins to feel like a leadership training session. At first, it may slow down or get technical, but stay with it. The lessons are practical, field-tested, and deeply relevant for anyone aspiring to lead in public service or healthcare.
If you care about maternal health in Nigeria, this is a must-read. And if you’re passionate about leadership, systems reform, or becoming a more principled professional, this book deserves a place in your library.
About the reviewer
Titilade Oyemade is a business executive in a leading organisation and holds a degree in Russian Language. She’s the convener of the Hangoutwithtee Ladies Event and the Publisher of Hangoutwithtee magazine. She spends her weekends attending women’s conferences, events and book readings. She loves to have fun and to help other women have the same in their lives. Email: titi.oyemade@gmail.com Social: @tiipreeofficial
