The great statesmen from Afikpo, Ebonyi state:-
The great statesmen from Afikpo, Ebonyi state:-
A statesman is someone who gives much time to political affairs; a person who is experienced in politics, or a person who is skilled in the management of public or national affairs. Some of the great statesmen from Afikpo, Ebonyi State are:-
- Late Dr. Akanu Ibiam, the first Eastern governor and one of the first Igbo medical doctors. Sir Francis Akanu Ibiam was born into the family of Chief Ibiam Aka on the 29th of November 1906 in Unwana of Afikpo in Ebonyi State. Due to his continuous input professionally and in his personal life he became the first Governor of the Eastern Region in Nigeria.
Akanu Ibiam was the second son of Chief Ibiam Aka, a traditional ruler of Unwana. He himself later became traditional ruler with the title of Ezeogo Isiala 1 of Unwana. Sir Francis Akanu Ibiam attended Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, and Kings College, Lagos. He attended University of St. Andrews (oldest university in Scotland, United Kingdom). He graduated with a medical degree in 1934.
He worked as a medical missionary of the Church of Scotland. He supervised the establishment of Abiriba Hospital (1936-1945). He served as a manager of mission hospitals at Itu and Uburu in Nigeria.
He was elected and ordained as an elder of the Presbyterian Church and became a knight in 1951 for his good work as a medical missionary of the Church of Scotland.
He served as president of the Christian Council of Nigeria (1955-1958). He was appointed principal of Hope Waddell Institution, Calabar in 1957.
He served in the local government, Eastern Regional House of Assembly and in the Legislative and Executive Councils before Nigerian independence.
After Nigerian independence he was appointed Governor of Eastern Region and held this position until he was removed in a military coup in January 15, 1966.
In recognition of his great achievements in public service, the Federal Government of Nigeria named a Federal Polytechnic (Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana) and a major Nigerian airport (Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu) after Akanu Ibiam.
**b. Senator Emmanuel Agbo Oti, one time senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
**c. Late Sam Inya Agha, he was among the founding fathers of Ebonyi State.
- Prof. Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, one time Minister of Health under President Goodluck Jonathan administration.
Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu is an Afikpo indigene born April 22, 1962. He was the Minister of Health of the Federal Republic of Nigeria until his resignation in October 2014.
Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu has had a distinguished career in academics, medicine, administration, government and public service. His career highlights include:
- Renowned professor of medicine with a post graduate specialist training in orthopedic surgery.
- Fellow of West African College of Surgeons.
- Fellow of International College of Surgeons.
- Minister of Health of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Professor Chukwu did well in school he had Distinction in the First School Leaving Certificate Examination (1974), he had his secondary education at the Federal Government College Sokoto, and also had a Distinction in the West African School Certificate Examination (Best Result for 1979 at Federal Government College Sokoto). He was the Best All-round Student in Medicine in the Final Year Examination (University of Lagos 1986). He won awards as the Best Student in Primary Health Care (University of Lagos 1986), Nigerian Medical Association Annual Prize and May & Baker Prize for Best Performance at the Final Professional Examination for MBBS, (University of Lagos 1986).
He continued to excel even after graduation. He won the 2nd Prize in the 8th Baxter Health Care/Africa Health Essay Competition (1990) (Title of Essay: ‘Financing Health through Cost-Recovery’); He was an International Scholar of the American Academic of Orthopedic Surgery 2003 (one of four surgeons selected worldwide; the second Nigerian to achieve this distinction).
He also won the Friend of Pharmacy Award of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Ebonyi State Branch) 2004; Rotary International President’s Citation for Outstanding Effort in the Four Avenues of Service 2004/2005; Vocational Service Award of the Inner Wheel Club of Abakaliki 2005; Distinguished Service Award of the Nigerian Medical Association (Ebonyi State Branch) 2005; Special Award for Outstanding Performance of the Nigerian Union of Journalists Ebonyi State Council 2006; Fellowship Merit Award of Excellence for Effective Social and Human Development of the Institute of Treasury Management and Corporate Finance of Nigeria 2006; Honorary Fellow (FCPS) National Association of Professional Secretarial Staff of Nigeria (NAPSSON) 2007; Award of Excellence (In appreciation of numerous contributions towards medical education in Nigeria) of the Nigerian Medical Students Association (NIMSA) 2008 and was inaugurated into THE ROLL OF HONOUR of the Nigerian Medical Association (Ebonyi State Branch) in 2008.
In service to his Fatherland, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu has also given his best in various managerial and administrative positions held:
He was Head, Accident and Emergency Department, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria (1996-1998); Senior Lecturer in Surgery/Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon, Abia State University/Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Nigeria (1999-2000); Head, Department of Surgery, Abia State University/Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Nigeria (1998-2000). He became an Honorary Consultant Orthopedic and Trauma Surgeon Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki in 2000; Chairman Medical Advisory Committee Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria (2000-2003); Senior Lecturer in Surgery/Senior Consultant Orthopedic and Trauma Surgeon in Ebonyi State University/Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria (2000 – 2007)and the Chief Medical Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (2003-2008).
In 2007, he was appointed a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki; the Deputy Provost, College of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki (4th November, 2008 – Date) and a Visiting Professor of Surgery, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (with effect from 6th April 2010). He was appointed the Honorable Minister of Health of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in April 2010.
During his tenure as Chief Medical Director of the Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital (2003 – 2008), the hospital witnessed phenomenal growth in personnel, physical structures, utilities, clinical services, the number of clinical departments accredited for internship and residency training, and the number of staff who underwent in-service training. The management team, with the cooperation of staff, raised the hospital to a level of excellence that earned it the reputation as ‘the most functional teaching hospital in Nigeria’ and made it a major Centre for undergraduate and postgraduate medical training in the country.
He did not fail in the community and social services. He served as president of Rotary Club of Abakaliki South, Captain of Abakaliki Golf Club and Assistant-Governor Rotary International, 2008/2009; 2010/2011, District 9140 Zone 22.
Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu holds the membership of many national and international professional bodies. He has also attended and participated in several academic and professional conferences and workshops.
As Minister of Health, he headed the approval of the National Strategic Health Development Plan for the health sector by the Federal Executive Council of Nigeria and the signing of the International Health Partnership Plus (IHP+) Compact securing partners commitment to the implementation of the plan. He fought hard with other medical practitioners, Disease control Agencies and Health teams to win the battle against the deadly Ebola Virus. He was the Chairman of the Assembly of ECOWAS Health Ministers; Board member, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; First Vice President of the 64th World Health Assembly and the current Chairman of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) Nigeria of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. He was the Chairman of the 60th Session of the Regional Committee for Africa of the World Health Organization.
As the first federal minister from Afikpo since the dawn of the 3rd Republic, in addition to his distinguished professional and personal background, status as a role model and a source of pride for Afikpo people, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu deserves a recognition as a pace setter and a statesman.
Posted in Politics | Date:December 22nd , 2018 | Comments: 0| Views: 518
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