Q: Please tell us about yourself
I am My name is Juliana Ayoade Onimisi-Smith, born on 1st April 1954, married to Mr Henry Oluwafemi Onimisi Smith. I am from Osun state, precisely Ile Ife. My husband is from Okene, Adavi Local Government, Kogi State. I am a nurse. After my BSc Nursing, I decided to go and do Evaluation, because I love anything calculation and Evaluation is loaded with statistics and calculation. I decided to go for Evaluation because people used to think that nurses are dunces, just commoners. I felt I should prove a point and go and specialize, have my PhD in something else and prove my worth, which I actually did. After my Masters, I was invited for PhD because of my score. According to University of Ibadan, I was the best in that class, so people were wondering.

I obtained my PHd in Educational Evaluation in 1996 from the University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri.
I also have a Certificate in Health Planning and Management in 1996 from University of Ilorin, Ilorin. Cert. in Health Management Information System. 1999.
Human Resources Development International Training Centre, Crown Agent, 3-10 Marine Parade, Worthing West Sussex, Great Britain.
a, Cert. in Project Cycle Management. 2005.
b, Cert. in Computer Application in Training, Design and Delivery. 1997.
And other certificates from other institutions in Nigeria

My mother is Adereni Adelokun Adeluyi. My father is Rufus Adedoja Adeluyi Adelokun. I'm totally Ife born because my father and mother are from Ife and are both from different royal families. There is one thing about me people do not know my parents were married for over ten years before they gave birth to me. My mother had already given up hope and asked my father to marry another lady, so that he can have a child. Luckily for her, when that lady came and had a child, my mother too got pregnant and I was born. I was born at Ile Ife in 7th Day Adventist hospital. My father was working with ECN then, and was posted to Coal City or Enugu, because they were using coal to generate energy for Nigeria then. As an accountant, he was posted to Enugu. I spent my first three years in Enugu, before my father was transferred back to Ibadan, so they had to bring me back with them to Ibadan. I can remember some of my childhood then, playing, singing Igbo songs.

Q: What are your biggest strengths and what are your biggest weaknesses
The Ayoade you're hearing from has a strong will. There is nothing that you will do to pull me down because, I just look at human beings, that, you can behave anyhow, anytime and I take it like that. I will just laugh and move on. That is my own nature. If you decide to talk to me the next moment, I will talk with you. If you say you are still busy, wanting to grudge, I will just be looking at you and be laughing. There's nothing anybody can do to me that will keep me so low for a long time. That is my strength.
The only thing that is my weakness is that, anytime, anywhere, I'm with people don't try to relegate my relatives or my family. That is trying to insult or bring them down. That is when I will spark. After some time, my will, will tell me again that, why do you have to quarrel with this person? That's the person's upbringing. You should just accept and tolerate that person and I will move on.

Q: What is your typical day like now
Normally, I wake up go to mass, because I am a Catholic. I go to mass early in the morning, between 6 - 6:30, we're done. Then I go straight to my office. If I'm on night duty, when I was still working in the hospital, I will do my duty, and then go for afternoon mass or evening mass. That is how I do and God is my strength.
Q: How did you start your day when you first started at work
I wake up in morning, take my bath, go for mass, come back, cook breakfast, eat with my family and that's how the day goes on. I do some readings on my phone. At times, I do some reading from books. There are times I have some things I want research on, I go into it and look for it. At times, I go for check up.
Q: How was your early life growing up, your days as a teenager
As a teenager (laughs), I will tell you that I asked a lot of questions. When I see something, I will ask. I asked my parents, I asked teachers, I always wanted to know. I was too inquisitive but my parents encouraged me, that, it's a child that wants to learn that asks questions. Some of my friends don't like it, they say 'You ask too many questions', but that is just what I am. Some people feel you're arguing with them or attacking them, but I just want to know.
Q: Did the degree you did in school directly help you with your chosen career
Of course it did, because after the BSc, I was lecturing in the school. I did Nursing Education, so I was lecturing in the school. I'm so happy and glad that I helped so many through, and up till today, some of them are still coming to greet me. Then, after that, when I went for Evaluation, I thought I would go back to the school, but the Commissioner then said, no, I should come to the ministry, and be in charge of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, and that was how I started my career. I found out that I was so useful in it, that I was able to bring in, with my experience and my knowledge, and with classmates, you know, this externality function of education.

I was able to be exposed to many people, classmates that were able to help me, and with their help, I was able to bring in lots of funds into the state. The Commissioner was so happy about that. We were able to have projects, programmes like World Bank Health Project, African Development Bank Project, to mention a few. I was able to bring in lots of funds because of my knowledge in Evaluation, which I did that time, in the International Educational Evaluation Centre. People came from all over the world for the training, for Masters, for PhD in Evaluation. I was able to help the state, my state of marriage a lot. Many who realised it were happy about it. The state was able to make landmark in health care delivery.

Q: What was your first job
A: My first job was as a student nurse, because then, you work and go to school. There were periods allotted for going to school and periods allotted for going to wards. You're put in different wards you go six to six weeks round all the wards. We were being paid so we have to go to work. Normally, I didn't want to be a nurse from the start. It was the choice of my father, because his cousin was also a nurse. He used to say, “I love the way they dress immaculately, they're very smart, they walk smartly, they attend to people smartly, so I want my children to be nurses.” We were three nurses in my father's children and one Public Health officer. Many times,
I will run from the school, he will chase me back to the school. I didn't want to be a nurse because at that time, I had an admission for Pharmacy I had an admission for Education. I was thinking I would go for those ones, instead of Nursing. I'm not regretting it. Actually, I enjoyed it because, you're able to quickly recognise what is going on in your children and you quickly attend to it, and even members of your family.

Q: What was it like getting your first salary pay cheque
A: That time, I was going to be sixteen, so I don't even know what a salary was. My father opened an account and the money was put in there. Whenever I needed anything, I ask him and he gives me. Later, he gave me a passbook for my salary, and that's where he had been keeping all my salary. He bought land for me to build. It was then I knew that he was not even touching the money. Immediately they pay me, I give him.
Q: Did you have a mentor in your early days at work
A: There is no way you will not have some people that will help you when you are in a workplace. There was somebody, when I was in the School of Nursing, Dr Abioye. Dr Abioye's method is different. When you're late, you will just meet a paper on your table, 'Madam, you are late, please try to make amends and come early from today on.' He will not quarrel with you, he will not speak with you, it's just the paper. Everybody used to be scared of him because of the records he keeps. It was later I found out that the man meant nothing, than for you to just improv
Q: What is your current or your last job
A: After I retired, I was given a sort of contract, to be lecturing in the School of Nursing, Obangede and I was given an offer as a Facilitator in Open University. I was doing that till 2015, before the children told me to stop. Now, I just sit at home, at times, I go out to give some lectures in the church. I belong to the Health Committee in the church. We give some lectures, free medical approach care, medical checkup and so on for the people in the church, after Mass in the morning, on Saturday or other days. That is what I'm doing now (laughs).
Q: How do your balance your work and your life
A: I do bulk buying. I cook and put it in the deep freezer, in bits. At times, we are involved with World Bank issues, the World Bank team. That required me to come home late, since I have to wait behind as the head of the department. I make sure I stock the house with foods. Sometimes, I make some chin-chin and buy biscuits, so that when the children come from school, unable to warm food themselves, before I get home, they eat the snacks and take some juice
Q: How do you manage stress
A: I don't joke with medical check-up. I go often. I don't put things too much to heart. I believe that whatever will be, will be. I don't get myself stressed up. Once I feel like sleeping, I sleep. Once I know I'm getting to a breaking point, I surrender and leave.
Q: What are your hobbies
A: I love reading. I love my privacy. I love researching. I like dancing too, to any type of music
Q: What is your ideal vacation
A: I go to Port Harcourt to relax with my grandchildren and also London to have good time with my son, only daughter and my grandchildren there too.
Q: Your favorite food, dessert and Snack
A: Beans and fish. I eat salad once in a while. As a teenager and when I got married, I love ice-cream, but now I don't like it anymore. Any type of fruit is my snack. I don't like flour
Q: How about when you were young, have they changed a lot
A: Yes, I could remember we compete and run about. The only thing that has changed is, now, I look at these things and say, 'Is this not silly?' You run around, getting money, doing this and that, working, selling, stressing yourself, over nothing. At the end, you just sit and look. Now, my idea has changed towards taking things easy, just as they come. Live life, feels free and feel happy. At times, go through some funny things, look at them and laugh. You may even be the only one, just laugh. You'd find out that everyone struggling to have everything will eventually leave the money behind in the world. I don't get myself involved in struggling.
Q: Your favorite place in the world outside Nigeria
A: I love UK. I was there about three times for training when I was still working, but home is home my dear (laughs). Anytime, I'm there, after two or three weeks, I will start feeling like seeing a corner in my room. My vacation, if I want to enjoy it, should not be more than two weeks. Once it's getting to two, three, four weeks, I will get bored, I will want to come back home, because I love being at home.
Q: How did you meet your Spouse
A: It was at the University of Ibadan. We were on Orientation Week, during which they bring cinema and so on. I was on my way to the cinema. We just got to the university that time most of us didn't know our way around. I was looking for where the cinema is and that was how we met. He asked, 'What are you looking for?' I thought he was a fresher, I told him we're in Orientation period and we want to go and watch the cinema. He then said, 'Let's go together, I know the place'. He was walking slowly, and then, I told him I don't want to be late. He said they'll use African time. I said there's nothing like African time, time is time. He started arguing with me. That was we argued, clicked, moved on and got married.
Q: How many children do you have
A: Three
Q: Did you want more
A: (Laughs) Only grandchildren.
Q: Did any of them follow in your footsteps, career wise
A: One did. The only that worked in the hospital did Medicine and he's a Consultant in UK.
Q: How does that make you feel
A: I feel the joy. No matter the work you're doing, just serve humanity. Serve from your heart. Do what you can do to help humanity.
Q: What do you think of people that force their children to do what they want
A: That is, if it possible. You may force a child to do something, for example, my father said I must be a nurse, after being a nurse, I moved out, but not moving out totally. What I did was Health Research in Evaluation.
Q: What is your favorite time of the day
A: It depends on what I have at hand to do.
Q: What experiences have you had in your life that you’d say have shaped you to be the person you are today
A: Ah! The first one is when I had my first child. It was a very prolonged labour. Finally, when the baby came out, amidst preparation for C-section, I just took a deep breath. That was one of the greatest experiences. The other one was when, after writing series of letters and proposals since we just got to Kogi, and there was no office, we were always sitting under the tree, we got the first pay cheque from World Bank and we were able to move into our own offices. I was so happy.
Q: What one thing do wish you could go back in time and do all over again
A: I don't think there's anything like that. I have no regrets. Whatever comes, I take it as the will of God.
Q: What are the best qualities you look for in people
A: Honesty and faithfulness
Q: How is your relationship with God
A: It's been God giving me the grace. I have no power of my own. I always pray to God not to allow me go astray, to always bring me to Him. I commit everything into the hands of God, to the extent that, (To the interviewer: I want you to laugh) anytime, we write proposal, asking for money, loan or grant for the state, after writing and typing the letter, I type myself because I'm computer literate, I will carry the letter to the church and put in front of the Blessed Sacrament, that God should approve it. Most times, all these things go on smoothly. When I left the ministry, they kept coming to ask how I was doing it, that, nothing is forthcoming. I tell them to go and pray.
Q: If you could pick 3 people to have a conversation with either living or dead, who would they be
A: My dad, because we were so close. When growing, if I ask him for anything, he gives me without questioning. Then, my classmates, in the School of Nursing. Anytime, I want to speak with them, I just pick my phone and call.
Q: What are your 3 greatest achievements thus far
A: I prefer to say those things given by God (smiles).

Q: Beef or Chicken or Fish
A: Chicken
Q: Hot or Cold weather
A: Cold weather
Q: Morning, Afternoon or Night
A: Morning
Q: Sweet or spicy foods
A: Neither of the two
Q: Read, Watch TV or Listen to music to relax
A: Listening to music
Q: Iphone or Android
A: iPhone
Q: Window seat or aisle on a plane
A: Window
Q: Europe, Asia or North America to visit
A: Europe
Q: Going out or staying home
A: Staying at home

Q: Please can you give us 3 people that we can interviews as well
A: I will send that to you as text.
Q: Please can you give some advice to the young people coming behind you
A: Anything you're doing just put in service. Make sure you serve, because we're created by God, to serve God and to serve each other. Anywhere you are, position or anything you're doing, make sure you give service from your heart, even if people do not appreciate it. Just give service, love yourself, love God, love your neighbour and love whatever you are doing.