Meet Olamide Akinyemi Olanipekun – A Passionate Pediatric Nurse

Hello, thank you for having me. I’m Olamide Akinyemi Olanipekun. As a pediatric nurse, my role entails nursing. Well, if I say nursing, it will be a tautology, so I will rather say caring for children from birth to 18 years, assessing their health needs and ensuring they are met, providing support and comfort to children and their families, escalating their health needs to appropriate authorities, advocating for children as well as protecting them from harm and abuse. 

My Inspiration: The Journey to Pediatric Nursing

My inspiration actually came from someone I regard as my role model, Mrs. Toyin Onigbanjo; she owns August Secrets, a leading nutrition company for children in Africa. Encountering her was a Kairos moment for me. It was a season in my life where I was trusting God to tell me the specific specialty He wants me to do in the nursing profession, and it happened that she was a guest speaker in a session of DDK’s Acceleration Intensive Course where she spoke passionately about what she does, and in that moment God spoke to me and even took me back to the beginning of my journey as a nurse, and I realized I had actually always worked with children, and the same moment God told me the school I would attend for His will to be accomplished, and yeah, that’s how I found myself here, loving and nursing children with the whole of my heart. 

The Most Rewarding Aspect of Pediatric Nursing

Nursing children to health and having them reunite with their families after a period of hospitalization. Parents are also appreciative of the services I render, which makes it rewarding. 

Challenges in Pediatric Nursing

That would probably be caring for difficult patients and difficult families, and that’s where teamwork with my other colleagues comes in; with their help, we are all able to navigate whatever difficulties we have with the patient and their families. Aside from that, I really do enjoy working in my role. 

Parenting and Nurturing: The Foundation of a Child’s Development

Why the First Five Years Matter

The first five years in a child’s life are considered the most crucial years. A child’s brain is like the empty pages of a book, and it’s whatever you fill it with that it will eventually contain. We don’t say, Oh, those initial years they are still little and know nothing. No, from the moment they are born, parenting and nurturing begin, and we have to do it with so much intention, knowing fully well that in the long run whatever we have put in develops. 

The Balance Between Nurturing and Discipline

Nurturing and discipline go hand in hand; I like to always liken discipline to discipleship. You are under authority and learning from a superior person. It is a child that we love that we also discipline. God loves us, and He disciplines us, yet still nurtures us, making sure that our needs are met. It’s the same we do for our children as earthly parents. I really do not believe there should be any struggle with both, and if there is, it means something is missing and a proper understanding of both terms should be established. 

We have several examples around us, and I am certain that if anyone looks around, they will find them too. Recently, I was reflecting on how Daddy and Mummy Mike Bamiloye successfully raised godly children—an outstanding example of well-nurtured children. I, myself, am a living example. The Word of God instructs us to train our children in the way they should go, and when they grow, they will not depart from it. By God’s grace, we will do our part and trust Him to always do His.

Advancing Child Development in Africa

I personally believe a solid and well-structured child social service will improve the quality of lives of children in Africa. Many children suffer from abuse and harm; their rights are not being upheld, and it is not the right thing. 

Children should be cared for from a holistic standpoint, not just as a minority. They are minors, but actually our priority.

Advice for Aspiring Pediatric Nurses and Healthcare Professionals

Passion and hard work are all I encourage. If you are not passionate, you won’t enjoy the job, but without hard work as well, you won’t grow at the job.