Dr Christopher Gbelokoto Okojie

JMBR: A Peer-review Journal of Biomedical Sciences December 2006 Vol. 5 No.2 pp-5-12

EDITORIAL

In Memoriam: Dr Christopher Gbelokoto Okojie

Friday Okonofua

Dr Christopher Gbelokoto Okojie, who died on honorary membership of FIGO in 1996. In October 7, 2006 at the age of 86 years, was 2003, he was again honored by FIGO with the one of the most distinguished medical doctors Distinguished Community Service Award, an in Nigeria in the second half of the twentieth honor reserved for obstetricians and gyneco- century. He graduated from the medical school logists around the world who have demon- in 1947, and immediately began a career in strated great passion and commitment in the rural medical practice two years later. He provision of clinical care to neglected popula- founded the pioneer private medical Centre tions. Indeed, Dr Christopher Okojie was the in Esanland, the Zuma Memorial Hospital on first Nigerian to receive this presti-gious March 27, 1950, which was the main medical award. centre available to the people of the area for Dr Christopher Okojie was past President the subsequent 40 years. of the Nigerian Medical Association and Past As the proprietor of this hospital, Dr Secretary of Health (Minister of Health) of the Christopher Okojie treated the most bizarre Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was a fellow medical conditions; provided antenatal, of the National Postgraduate Medical College delivery, postnatal and family planning of Nigeria, a fellow of the International College services to rural women; established a pioneer of Surgeons and a member of the Population orphanage home for abandoned children; Council of New York, USA. He led a principled trained several generations of nurses and and simple life dedicated to the service of the midwives; and offered a channel through people. He never wavered in his determi- which medical students from various nation to assist the poor and to advice young Nigerian Universities gained experience in men and women, not only in the health- rural medical practice. Indeed, the editor of related professions but also in other spheres this journal was born at the Zuma Memorial of life. Thus, he was a role model, mentor and Hospital and delivered by the great sage adviser to successive generations of Nigerian himself in mid-1950. It was in recognition of doctors, a celebrated humanist, philan- his prowess as a rural medical practitioner, thropist, trail blazer, advocate for the masses that the International Federation of Gyne- and a pacifist. cology and Obstetrics (FIGO) offered him the

Members, Nigerian Reproductive Health Research Network, c/o Women’s Health and Action Research Centre, 4 Alofoje Street, off Uwasota Road, PO Box 10231, Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State. Nigeria © CMS UNIBEN JMBR 2006; 5(2): 5-11 6 Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research Apart from his great achievements in the himself a visionary, who achieved so much medical profession, Dr Christopher Okojie as Vice-Chancellor of Nigeria’s foremost excelled as a writer, anthropologist, defender University. His succinct and eloquent of the causes of his native Esan people, and a narration of the life of Dr Okojie is a living veritable lexicologist. Surely, it will be testimony of the worth of the man who difficult to get such a Nigerian doctor of so worked so hard in his lifetime to lift the image many parts so soon in Nigeria. If Dr of the medical profession and to protect the Christopher Okojie had lived in other parts of lives of men and women in disadvantaged the world, he would be revered in perpetuity circumstances. as a hero, a sage and even a saint. In recognition of the achievements of this May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace, celebrated Nigerian doctor, the Editorial Board Amen. of the Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research has decided to immortalize his name, so that successive generations of Nigerian doctors will learn from his chosen path of wisdom and decide to mirror their lives after the examples he has set. We therefore decided it was appropriate to carry the full- length funeral oration delivered by Professor Abhulimen Richard Anao at the time of his burial. Professor Anao is the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, A FAREWELL TRIBUTE TO DR. CHRISTOPHER GBELOKOTO OKOJIE

Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Nigeria 6 Oyaide Avenue, GRA P.O. Box 5993 Benin City, Nigeria Tel: 08053791619

Richard A. Anao

Here lies before us the earthly remains of a Social Services, Federal Republic of Nigeria; proud and princely hero; one who fought the Former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of battle of this life gallantly and triumphed; one Council, University of Ibadan; Former member who pioneered and blazed many trials; one Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Management whose light shone so brightly that all around Board, Uselu, Benin; Former Deputy President, him could see with it. Today, rather than Boys Scout of Nigeria; Former Chairman, mourn his demise, we call on you all to join Nigeria Institute of Oil Palm Research, Benin; us to celebrate the life of this great man who Chairman, Esan Orthography Committee; was our father, grandfather, great grandfather, Former Chairman, Edo Economic Advisory uncle, brother, friend and compatriot – Dr. Council; Writer; Historian; Anthropologist; XTO GBELOKOTO OKOJIE - Officer of the Ethnographer; Lexicographer; Federal Republic of Nigeria; Licentiate of the Born, April 9, 1920; called away from this School of Medicine, Nigeria; Fellow of the earth on October 7, 2006. Dr. Christopher (a International College of Surgeons; Honorary name he fondly abbreviated to “Xto”) Fellow of the International Federation of Gbelokoto Okojie, a dual Prince of Ugboha and Gynecology and Obstetrics; Fellow of the Irrua kingdoms, was from all accounts an Nigerian Medical Council; Doctor of Science intellectual giant, a leading light not only in (honoris causa), Ambrose Alli University; his primary discipline of Medicine, but also Founder and Chief Medical Director Zuma in the other fields of learning (History, Memorial Hospital, Irrua; Former National Anthropology, Ethnography, Lexicography) in President, Nigerian Medical Association; which he investigated and explored. He Patron, Association of General & Medical leaves behind for us a copious body of seminal Practitioners of Nigeria; Former Member, knowledge, a solid foundation which future Board of Trustees, National Postgraduate generations of researchers will find indispen- Medical College of Nigeria; Former member, sable in their further inquiries. He was a devoted Nigerian Medical Research Council; Council servant of his people, a compa-ssionate provider member, The Population Council; Former for the poor and neglected people of this earth. Associate Lecturer in Community Health, Dr. Okojie comes in the same mould as the famed University of Lagos and University of Benin; Mother Theresa of Calcutta, of blessed memory, Member of the Honorable order of who lived and died for the poor. He is no doubt contemporary Historians; Former member, one of the greatest sons of Esanland, (nay, of Board of Governors, Nigerian Broadcasting Nigeria) that have ever lived. Throughout his corporation; Former member, Eastern Region life, he displayed such love, compassion, of Nigeria Finance Corporation; Former commit-ment to his cause, energy, drive and zeal Chairman, Western Nigeria Development for knowledge that you do not often find Corporation; Former Minister, Works & endowed in one person. Transport, Midwest Region of Nigeria; Former Dr. Okojie definitely lived ahead of his time Honorable Secretary (Minister) of Health & in the manner that he came to a recognition © CMS UNIBEN JMBR 2006; 5(2): 5-11 8 Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research of the health needs of his people and got dispensary and saved her life. He also saw himself immersed in the arduous task of many cases of neglected scrotal hernia and bringing relief and succour to them, long hydrocele during his short stay at home. before it became the concern of government These incidents stirred and agitated Dr. to spread this basic necessity of life to all the Okojie’s compassionate mind, whereupon he nook and crannies of the land. decided there and then to resign his Dr. Xto Gbelokoto Okojie showed government appointment and return home to intellectual promise from an early age. Racing serve his people. Zuma Memorial Hospital, through his primary and secondary education Irrua, was opened on 27th March 1950 in a in which he attended some of the best known private house. Thus, he went into this lofty schools of his time, including Government venture with no money, no infrastructure, no College, Ibadan (in which he studied with a water in flowing taps, no electricity or government scholarship), he entered the telephone; but with his doctor’s certificate, Higher College, Yaba, in 1941, to undertake abundant raw energy and dogged determi- his premedical studies, this time with the nation. The hospital ward comprised just 12 sponsorship of another of our beloved, public- wooden beds. Thus began a fight which he spirited and benevolent uncles, Prince M. E. waged throughout his life against the forces Osobase of blessed memory, (“Pa Inono”, as of ignorance, superstition and disease in we all fondly called him). Dr. Okojie Esanland. distinguished himself in the premedical class This is the story of the humble beginning and entered the Medical School proper with of a medical establishment which has now a government scholarship in 1942, qualifying attained such maturity and fame that has as a full medical doctor 5 years later. As attracted world-wide recognition and expected, he took up employment with the commendation. Today, the hospital has Nigerian Medical Department immediately expanded to become one of the best-known afterwards, but this was not for very long; for, private medical establishments in Nigeria, Dr. Okojie took the momentous plunge, just 3 comprising some 120 beds; a Family Planning years later, of following the altruistic and Clinic that attends to some 41, 000 women; patriotic dictates of his heart which has an internationally recognized School of marked him out today as one of the most Midwifery that has turned out well over 1,100 selfless and dedicated Nigerians of his time. Grade 1 Midwives; and an Orphanage which A few moving incidents, we are told, led has parented over 70 abandoned children, to this momentous plunge. In 1949 during some of whom have grown up to become one of his visits home, he was invited to see a professionals and breadwinners in their own helpless pregnant woman in agony; she had right, among whom there is today a Veterinary been in labour for more than 24 hours in a Doctor, a Lawyer and a Reverend Gentleman. small Missionary Hospital. The staff of the The person who brought all this about has hospital had apparently run out of ideas how now passed into the great beyond. On this to manage the situation. Dr. Okojie had to do occasion, it would be inappropriate to mourn an emergency caesarean operation which but simply to give gratitude to the Almighty saved both the woman and her baby. During Creator for his life, and to toast and celebrate the same visit, Dr. Okojie was again invited to this life. But, lest we forget, Dr. Okojie was see a postpartum lady bleeding on a road side, not just a medical doctor who pioneered in apparently abandoned by her people who health delivery to the poor and needy. His total believed that her condition was as a result of dedication to his calling in the realm of an offence she had committed against the practical medicine did not quench his quest ‘gods’. Dr. Okojie took the Lady to a nearby for greater intellectual attainment. He found © CMS UNIBEN JMBR 2006; 5(2): 5-11 In Memoriam Dr Christopher Gbelokoto Okojie 9 time now and again to travel overseas to update the meanings of Esan names and proverbs, etc., himself in his profession. During one of such in all of which he wrote books. In later years trips, in 1956, he took a specialist course in Dr. Okojie turned his attention to lexicography. surgery at the postgraduate Medical College of Only recently in 2005, he published and New York University and bagged the most launched an Esan Dictionary, the first attempt distinguished Fellowship of the International ever made to produce such a monumental College of Surgeons (FICS). This course of work. He was also involved in the translation study was pursued jointly with a Fulbright of church hymns into Esan Language. At the Fellowship and a Smith Mundt scholarship. senile age of 86, only three months before his Yes, our father, brother and uncle was the demise, (August 2006, precisely), when I very epitome of selflessness, public spirited- visited him in the company of his brother Dr. ness, compassion and unflinching devotion Sonny Elimuan Okojie and his wife, Professor to his people. However, besides all this, what Christie Okojie, he was engaged in another is especially remarkable about this great man book project, this time devoted to exploring was the diversity of his academic interests. the phenomenon of “reincarnation”, a widely His academic brilliance and unquenchable held belief among us Esan. This uncompleted quest for knowledge found expression in work now invites any keen scholars among fields of learning which were very far removed us to pick up from where he stopped from medicine. So versatile and multi- I have myself strained my own imagina- talented was Dr. Xto Gbelokoto Okojie that it tion envisaging how Dr. Okojie could have is impossible to classify him in any one managed to combine such diverse and discipline or calling. His interests spanned seemingly incompatible interests. I have tried medicine, history, anthropology, literature, to visualize a medical doctor and a consu- linguistics and lexicography, a very rare mmate surgeon at that, who, having worked combination indeed in any one person. So assiduously in the theatre during the day varied were the fields in which he applied his wielding scalpels, forceps or lancets, settles mental acuity! He belongs to that select group down in his study at night when he should be of persons who applied their innate intelli- resting and recuperating, or perhaps revising gence, inquisitiveness, energy and passion for work to numerous fields of human endeavour. his surgery books in preparation for the next In this, he can be likened to such great day’s theatre work; but instead, sits down to achievers as Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519), deciphering his historical jottings, trying to who was a painter, a sculptor, an architect and reconcile ambivalent and conflicting claims of an engineer, all rolled into one. Or Michelangelo oral depositions of elders, in order to produce (1475-1564) who was a poet, a painter, a an intelligible Esan ethnography and record sculptor and an architect, or the celebrated Esan culture, customs and traditions. A unique Aristotle (384 – 322 BC) who was a scientist combination of interests and virtues indeed! and philosopher and a mathematician at the In reading through his works one is struck same time. These were men who recognized with awe at the degree of his erudition and as our own Dr. Okojie did, that the gift of proficiency with the English Language. To intellect, if one is endowed with it, can be illustrate the nature of the difficulties which applied to limitless areas of endeavour. he faced in his arduous research, consider the It is remarkable that Dr. Xto Gbelokoto following sentence which is taken from one Okojie, besides being a practising medical of his works, entitled Esan Native Laws and doctor of great distinction, also found time to Customs with Ethnographic Studies of the research and document a history of Esan Esan People, first published in 1960, and later people as well as Esan customs and traditions; revised in 1994, at page xi. © CMS UNIBEN JMBR 2006; 5(2): 5-11 10 Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research Addressing his readers, he says: ORDER OF CONTEM-PORARY HONORABLE “I would want you to know from the outset HISTORIANS (by Time Magazine). that you are about to wade through a mass of The above three traits very appropriately history, tradition and Esan way of life affecting sum up Dr. Okojie’s personality. As a proud a period of some 500 years. Collection of and patriotic son of Esanland he devoted materials by one proud to be born and bred himself for 56 years to rendering selfless service in Esanland is easy – but the sifting of to the poor and needy; yet, also found time to evidence, much of which is not only confused collect and record a history and anthropology but unbelievably biased, is not just difficult which would for all time portray what we but requires something more than a deep really are Esans people, how we came to be, sense of responsibility: the fear of God” and what we can legitimately aspire to become Yes, the fear of God! in the general scheme of things, in this nation and as citizens of the world. In the forgoing, Dr. Okojie reveals three key Dr. Okojie was aware of the seminal nature aspects of his personality: of his historical and anthropological endeavours and despite his endless and First, a person who is distinctly proud of his painstaking toils, leaves room for future origins. Dr. Okojie was indeed intensely proud contributions by scholars who would modify of his Esan roots. This showed up glaringly or complement his findings. This can be seen in his mien, and in his consummate passion from another excerpt from the same work to project, document and preserve the Esan earlier referred to. He says at page xix. Language for posterity. “I am only constructing a ladder of encouragement Second, his painstaking and persevering with which future literary brains amongst us nature. The book in question matured to the Esan will rise to greater heights; you add present state over a period of 40 years during another rung to this ladder and you will be doing which he traveled round every Esan town at your fatherland and country infinite service”. least two times and conducted over 365 Dr. Okojie was of course the archetypical interviews. How many scholars of the present scholar who expected that seminal works generation would have that amount of such as his always tended to generate contro- patience and perseverance? versies, and like the scholar that he was, he did not shirk this, but instead he invited it. Third, he possesses a deep sense of respon- At page xiv of his book, he states: sibility, which springs from his fear of God. “For months after the publication of this This clearly attests to Dr. Okojie’s unalloyed work I expect an avalanche of historical fire- and unquestioning belief and faith in his works! I expect abuses, praises and arguments Creator, to Whom he owes a duty to speak the – if fact the hornets nest will be thoroughly truth always as he sees it. The authentic stirred but in the midst of this our people will nature of his work, his claim to being an ask more questions about their origin, traditions authoritative historian in his own right, is and custom which were being indiscri- clearly attested to by the fact that the Foreword minately labeled as PRIMITIVE and better of this book was written by a well-known forgotten. If I succeed in creating that amount historian of the stature of Prof. S. O. Biobaku, of stimulus and self examination I will consider who was a notable history scholar and one my labour in the last forty years amply rewarded.” time Director of Yoruba Historical Research Ladies and gentlemen, such was the Scheme at the University of Ibadan. In 1959, modesty and openness of this man who has Dr. Okojie was admitted to Membership of the now departed from us. © CMS UNIBEN JMBR 2006; 5(2): 5-11 In Memoriam Dr Christopher Gbelokoto Okojie 11 But, we may well ask: why do we deem it Ode to Dr. Xto Gbelokoto Okojie necessary to survey Dr. Okojie’s life, as we are The great Iroko has fallen, doing here? Is it just to sing his praises, to It now lies prostrate on the ground, eulogise him for his great achievements, or is The stanchion on which we all leaned. What shall become of the lesser trees of the forest, it for the pride of those of us that claim to be The ferns, the shrubs, the creepers, his relations? No, it is none of these. It is Which sheltered erstwhile in its folds? simply to hoist aloft for all to see, we the Our great sage has passed away living, the virtues of goodness and diligence, Taking with him his peerless wisdom, of patriotism and devotion, of compassion and And his endless quest for knowledge. selflessness, so that we can all try to follow We’ll certainly miss him, but we will not mourn; his footsteps. Only through such emulation We’ll feel his loss, but not cry. can we have derived full benefit from Dr. Instead, we’ll rejoice that he lived among us, A glorious and fulfilled life, Okojie’s life. Indeed the likes of Dr. Okojie That enriched each one of us, provide us a unique opportunity to examine And blazed the trial we now must follow. our own lives in order to recognize those We will give praise and glory to the Lord aspects in which we can learn from the Who gave him to use the Esan people, departed and take steps to reposition our own And made him a citizen of the world. lives. His life indeed provides such immense We will thank the Lord who endowed him references as can be beneficial to us all in such So loftily, ….. from which fountain a soul searching exercise. He gave abundantly to humanity; From which his light shone with rare brilliance, In the words of Henry Wadswarth A light that will continue to illuminate, Longfellow, that great American poet, who Long after it was extinguished. lived between 1807 and 1882: And so to you our beloved sage, Our devoted father and uncle, “Lives of great men all remind us As you depart this toilsome earth, We can make our lives sublime. As you give up your mortal cloak, And, departing, leave behind us Which every one must do in turn Footprints on the sands of time In obedience to the Will of God Let us, then, be up and doing Remember what you always taught us With a heart for any fate That there is another life, not here. Still achieving, still pursuing That all does not end on earth. Learn to labour and to wait”. May the beautiful seeds you sowed Our father, brother, uncle, devoted his entire Now blossom forth with pleasant fruits working life from 1950 to 2006 (56 years) to For your delight in the worlds beyond. serving humanity, ministering onto their As you savour God’s rich blessings, health needs as well as cultivating their As you bask in the resplendence of heavenly light Remember to give praise and glory to Him cultural awareness without demanding or Whose love and grace gave you life. expecting any earthly reward for his services. He left indelible footprints on the sands of Now, go forth and stride with vigour time. We should try to be motivated by such an Along the path which leads to Paradise We pray the Lord will open to you example of nobility and selflessness! We will The gates to His eternal Kingdom. of course all feel his absence from our midst, for Where there’s no more death, it is truly a great loss. Especially so for us the No pain, and no sorrow; members of his family. To us, our pillar of Where all is peace and bliss! support and beacon of light has been uprooted. As I reminisced over this great life I wrote Amen! down a poem which I will now read: