In a candid and wide-ranging exclusive interview with The Punch Newspaper, Dr. Tokunbo Shitta-Bey, the Chief Executive Officer of Duchess International Hospital, laid bare his unconventional journey into medicine, his exacting leadership philosophy, and his formidable mission to restore trust in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Breaking from a lineage steeped in law—a “family trade,” he calls it—Dr. Shitta-Bey revealed his career path was set not by legal precedent, but by childhood memories and a classic British comedy.
“I became certain that I wanted to become a doctor at the age of 10,” he stated, citing two key inspirations: visiting his mother, a nurse, at the then Railway Hospital (now FMC, Ebute Metta) and the “clean antiseptic scent of the hospital corridors”; and the 1970s British sitcom “Doctor in the House.”
“The main character… and his fellow medical students appeared to be having so much fun… that I knew instantly at the time that I wanted to be a doctor!” he recalled.
The ‘Character’ Philosophy
That early, lighthearted inspiration solidified into a profound, counterintuitive philosophy on medical education. Dr. Shitta-Bey, who holds both national and international experience, argued that a medical journey is “never ‘rosy’” but instead builds “character… grit, perseverance, hard work and ethical standards.”
This led him to a startling conclusion: “I discovered really early in the process that medicine is really not for clever people! That’s my opinion, of course,” he clarified.
“It didn’t take me very long to conclude that medicine, both in study and in practice, is all about character. It is best suited to those who desperately want to be there… Clever and gifted, and even ‘brilliant’ individuals are often too entitled and rather not inclined to put in the hard work. Medicine requires a humble, intelligent mind; inquisitive, ready to learn, and willing to work.”
A “Bastion of Hope” Built on Trust
This philosophy of “character” is the bedrock of his leadership at Duchess International Hospital, a facility he has guided for just three and a half years. As CEO, he sees himself as the “ultimate custodian of the vision and values,” which he describes as a “24/7 commitment.”
The hospital’s vision is audacious: “to be Africa’s favourite hospital.” Its mission, even more so: “to reverse medical tourism.”
Dr. Shitta-Bey identified the core problem driving an estimated 50,000 Nigerians to spend nearly $1 billion abroad for healthcare annually. “The essential missing or lost ingredient in the hearts and minds of Nigerians is trust!” he declared. “Nigerians have… lost a sense of trust in the healthcare system… Our focus at the Duchess International Hospital… has been the restoration of that trust.”
This focus is yielding results. The hospital, winner of the 2024 “Private Tertiary Healthcare Facility of the Year” award, is now described as a “bastion of hope,” receiving referrals from across the country and abroad.
Yet, Dr. Shitta-Bey’s proudest achievement is more personal: “The Duchess International Hospital is a wholly indigenous brand, created for us, by us,” he said. “We appear to have struck a chord in the hearts and minds of Nigerians… The Duchess is a metaphor for what this country ought to become.”
Leadership in “Gym Shorts”
To build this “oasis of excellence,” Dr. Shitta-Bey employed a hands-on, “shoulder-to-shoulder” leadership style from day one. He recounted holding daily 9 am strategy meetings “at the tail end of the COVID storm… in the final phase of construction,” deliberately building a culture of “punctuality, communication and attention to detail” before the doors even opened.
This accessibility remains a hallmark of his tenure. “It is now taken absolutely for granted by everyone, staff and patients alike, that the CEO is visibly present in the building and accessible,” he shared. “He is quite often to be seen rushing through the building… chatting with staff and relatives… (Including in gym shorts, T-shirt, and backpack if you happen to arrive at the hospital early enough in the morning)!”
Tackling National Crises
Armed with an MBA from Cranfield, a Master’s from King’s College London, and decades of experience in the UK and Nigeria, Dr. Shitta-Bey views his role as a “patriotic duty.”
He addresses the “Japa syndrome” not as a new crisis, but as a “cyclical trend… persisting for several years.” He offered a silver lining: “Our healthcare system is actually now benefiting from the return of established professionals… who, having lived, worked and trained abroad, have now returned to settle… The task at hand is ‘how do we harness this phenomenon’.”
Ultimately, Dr. Shitta-Bey attributes the hospital’s standout success—which includes treating high-profile figures like former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo—to one thing: “This focus on ‘the individual’ is what keeps the CEO awake at night, and is precisely, in my opinion, what distinguishes the Duchess.”
