By Chinedu Adonu
The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Memphys Neurosurgery Hospital, Enugu, Prof. Sam Ohaegbulam has expressed worry over perceived disregard of academic professors by the Nigerian government.
He stated that the attitude of favouring politicians and disregarding professors in the country kept Nigeria in the position she is today.
Prof. Ohaegbulam made this known at Amedeo event center,Enugu during the Night of Tribute organised in the honour of Prof Anezionwu Okoro who died on Tuesday Jan. 20, 2024 in Enugu.
He described Prof Okoro as a man with exceptional humility, stressing that he never saw him quarrel with anyone.
“Okoro is a unique person who knows how to resolve disputes.
He served very high positions as a director in the oil industries and nobody ever challenged his transparency and honesty. He was dedicated and committed teacher.
Medical field will miss him on the treatment of skin diseases.
“I feel bad the way professors are being treated in Nigeria. Myself with all the experience, how much is my pension? But somebody goes to the Senate or House of Rep for four years and will have a pension that I will never earn in all my career as a professor.
“That’s the difference between us being professors in this part of the country. If you want to go into politics, you will get anything you want and get away with it Unfortunately that has kept Nigeria in the position we are today. I hope it will change,” he said.
The traditional ruler of Nandom Traditional Area, Upper West Region, Ghana, HRH Edmund Nminyem, said that Prof. Okoro, the author of ‘Village Headmaster’ will not be forgotten in the history of Africa.
He described Okoro as the greatest dermatologist in African, adding that he was a Pan African per excellence who believed in the unity of Africa.
According to him, Okoro has done a lot in his literary writing and will not die in the history of Africa, in science and politics and in humanities.
“We should immortalize and celebrate him and if we have few people like him, Africa will be a great continent scientifically, politically and otherwise.
“He was so humble, very great in scientific world or poetic and each time I wanted to give up, Okoro will encouraged me. He will do all he can to help his friends which I benefited immensely,” he said.
The Founder of Albino Foundation, Mr Jake Epelle, said Okoro was more than a medical doctor to persons with albinoism.
He said the literary icon started treating them as far back as 1954 and had continued to treat them until his death.
“He was very inspiring, has touched lives and anyone with albinoism that he treated comes with clean and smooth skin. He was the second dermatologist in Africa, a father and a mentor,” he extolled him.
In a sermon, Venerable Emeka Ezeji of All Saint Anglican Church, Enugu added that Okoro was an eminent Anglican who lived his life for others, a lovely human being who rendered service to humanity.
According to him, late Okoro wrote more poems than those in the university.
“He is a socialite who loved mingling with others, had his tentacles, was widely spread as he married from Edo and often reached out to humanity which was the gospel of Christ. He had touched a lot of lives and I pray that his children will continue the legacies that he left for them,” the clergyman said.
Source: Vanguard