An African 'Florence Nightingale' a Biography
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An African 'Florence Nightingale' a biography of: Chief (Dr) Mrs Kofoworola Abeni Pratt OFR, Hon. LLD (Ife), Teacher's Dip., SRN, SCM, Ward Sisters' Cert., Nursing Admin. Cert., FWACN, Hon. FRCN, OSTJ, Florence Nightingale Medal by Dr Justus A. Akinsanya, B.Sc. (Hons) London, Ph.D. (London) Reader in Nursing Studies Dorset Institute of Higher Education, U.K. VANTAGE PUBLISHERS' LTD. IBADAN, NIGERIA Table of Contents © Dr Justus A. Akinsanya 1987 All rights reserved. Acknowledgements lX No part of this publication may be reproduced or trans Preface Xl mitted, in any formor by any means, without prior per mission from the publishers. CHAPTERS I. The Early Years 1 First published 1987 2. Marriage and Family Life 12 3. The Teaching Profession 26 4. The Nursing Profession 39 Published by 5. Life at St Thomas' 55 VANTAGE PUBLISHERS (INT.) LTD., 6. Establishing a Base for a 98A Old Ibadan Airport, Career in Nursing 69 P. 0. Box 7669, 7. The University College Hospital, Secretariat, Ibadan-Nigeria's Premier Hospital 79 Ibadan. 8. Progress in Nursing: Development of Higher Education for Nigerian Nurses 105 9. Towards a Better Future for 123 ISBN 978 2458 18 X (limp edition) Nursing in Nigeria 145 ISBN 978 2458 26 0 (hardback edition) 10. Professional Nursing in Nigeria 11. A Lady in Politics 163 12. KofoworolaAbeni - a Lady of many parts 182 Printed by Adeyemi Press Ltd., Ijebu-Ife, Nigeria. Appendix 212 Index 217 Dedicated to the memory of the late Dr Olu Pratt Acknowledge1nents It is difficult in a few lines to thank all those who have contributed to this biography. I have acquired many debts in the course of preparing this book for publi cation but my primary acknowledgement is to Chief (Mrs) Kofoworola Abeni Pratt. During my period at the Nursing Council of Nigeria, I began the collection of materials for a comprehensive history of nursing as seen from the Council's official records. It soon became clear that a recurring name in all the information being col lected was the contribution of Chief (Dr) Mrs Kofowo rola Abeni Pratt to the development of nursing in Nigeria. And so I decided to focus attention on this unique Nigerian nurse. We spent numerous hours in re corded conversations and reviewed the transcripts of these discussions. There were many debated points and sometimes frank disagreement on issues peripheral but perhaps essential to an understanding of the subject of this biography. I am indebted to Dr Olu Pratt and his son, Dr Babatunde Pratt, both of whom provided illumi nating answers to some of the less known aspects of Mrs Pratt's private life as a wife and a mother. Other categories of indebtedness are to be acknow ledged. Officially, I have received helpful information from the University College Hospital, Ibadan; Depart- ment of Nursing, University of Ibadan; University of Lagos Teaching Hospital; University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University); Ministry of Health, Lagos Statel Federal Ministry of Health, Lagos, Nursing Council of Nigeria, Lagos and the National Council of Women Societies, Nigeria. Many individuals have contributed and offers infor- mation either indirectly through their writing or directly IX in ,person. Space does not permit me to mention all of Preface them by name. I am thankful to the followingpersonali ties for their direct and indirect contributions to this biography: Lady 0. Abayomi, Alhaji D. Adamu, Mrs 0. A. Adewole, Mrs A. Adegoroye, Professor (Mrs) E.O. Adebo, Mr E.O. Adelowo, Mr Justice and Mrs J. A. Adefarasin, Lady Kofo Ademola, Dr J.E. Adetoro, Mrs The Nzmsing Times invited me in 1975 to review the 0.0. Alade, Mrs 0. Akinkugbe, Mrs V. Akitobi, Mrs biography of Florence Nightingale written by the dis Bailey, I. Amobi, Mrs Elizabeth Anstee, Mrs Adetoun historian, Elspeth Huxley. As I settled down Pro tinguished Alhaji M.A. Baker, Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony, to the fascinating story of the world's acknowledged Professor I.A. fessor M.A. Bankole, Mr R. Gbadamosi, founder of modern professional nursing, I wondered the late Rt Rev. Grillo, Mr Justice and Mrs lghodaro, what motivated a reputedly wealthy, upper middle class (rtd), Mr LG.A. Jadesimi, Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson nglish lady to take on the challenges of caring for the Miss 0.0. � Justice C.A. Johnson, Miss M. McClelland, sick. The month was February and I duly submitted the Miss I.L. Morri Kujore, Chief Dr M.A. Majekodunmi, review for publication. By the time it reached the pages M.A. Odesanya, _ son, MBE, Mrs I.C. Nzeako, Mr Justice of the Journal, I was already in Nigeria at the Nursing Ogunlesi, Miss Alhaji Alade Odunewu, Professor T. Council where Chief (Mrs) Pratt had been the firstnurse Mr S.S. Okezie, 0.A. Oguntolu, Mrs T.N. Okechukwu, to occupy the position of Chairman of Council. and Mrs Oredugba, Mr Mrs J.Y.D. Osorno, Archdeacon In the three years that I spent at the Council, I was to Mr G. Parker, Miss E. E.O. Otitoju, Miss G. Oyelude, a great deal about this nurse whose career Miss M. Smyth, learn Shanu, Miss S. Quinn, CBE, PRCN, resembles, in many ways, that of Florence Nightingale, Segun (former Bishop of CBE and the Rt Rev. F. 0. and my fascination with her contributions to nursing led children, Stephen and Lagos). My wife, Cynthia, and to my accepting the challenge to write this biography. and supportive throughout the Karen have been patient This, therefore, is the story of a remarkable Nigerian preparation of this book. example of womanhood is a living testimony to gratitude to Mr A.O. whose Finally, I owe a very special can achieve with dedication and of Publishing, Mac what an individual Amori, formerly the first Director The past six years, spent collecting and put and currently Chair hard_ work. millan Nigeria Publishers Limited for this book, have been revea Limited, Ibadan, tmg together materials man/Publisher, Vantage Publishers and instructive for me. To be a woman in a male support and encourage ling Nigeria for his understanding, dominated society, indeed, in such a world, is not an to the realisation of getting this ment all along in seeing e sy experience: many have fallen under the weight of book published. � d1�approval for daring to challenge the status quo Dr Justus A. Akinsanya remforced by cultural mores. Poole, Dorset It is a pleasure and a privilege to invite the reader to 1987 share with me the trials, tribulations, joy and, above all, XI X the humanity of Chief (Dr) Mrs Kofoworola Abeni 1 Pratt. For nurses, doctors and members of the health profession in general, this book is a testimony to the struggle that had gone before as seen through the eyes and ears, indeed the commitments, of Nigeria's No. 1 nurse, and philanthropist, recently described by a Niger ian national newspaper as 'a spirited social worker and The Early Years activist'. Dr Justus A. Akinsanya London At the turn of the century when colonialism was thriving April 1987 in Africa, events were taking place in Lagos which were to change the course of history in a iater Nigeria. One of such events was the birth of a daughter to a couple living in Lagos, Augustus Alfred Scott and Elizabeth Omowunmi from the Johnson family. Kofmvorola Abeni Pratt (nee Scott) was the second of four children of the couple�two boys and two girls. Mr Scott was born in Lagos and was himself the son of a distinguished Lagosian whose father had settled in Lagos from Sierra Leone. Her paternal grandmother was the daughter of Chief Taiwo, alias 'Olowo', who became the Olofin of lsheri in Lagos State. As Kofoworola Abeni did not spend her early childhood with her parents, her paternal grandmother saw to it that she, Kofoworola Abeni,knew her mother's family. She often took her on weekly visits to the Dohertys, particularly Chief Bayo Doherty, Mrs Gomez (his sister) and Auntie Samota (their aunt). Reg ular visits were also paid to the Oyedeles, the Thompsons, Mrs Bell and the Silvas. especially Chief Afolabi Silva's father, as well as to her two aunts, Mrs Remi Afunku and Mrs Joku Williams. The family is rooted in Lagos but connections have been traced to Ijeun in Abeokuta in Ogun State, Iseyin in Oyo State and Isheri on the paternalside: and llesha, also in Oyr, State, on her maternal side. It is clear fromthe records, Xll however ' that Chief Taiwo Olowo was the towering boarded at their schools or lived in the disciplined strength behind the family tree, for he was a successful environment of a vicarage. The prevailing idea of child merchant whose disciplined mind, business acumen and rearing in those days was that boys were to be brought diplomatic ability were recognised by colonial adminis up to face challenging roles while girls were protected trators of the day. He acted as ambassador-at-large and prepared fora submissive role in the familyand the within and outside Nigeria and conducted delicate nego community. The young Kofoworola Abeni enjoyed the tiations in business and politics in neighbouring States company of her brothers who returned home frequently. such as Dahomey (now Republic of Benin). Although During these early days, a tragic event occurred which Christianity was already being established in Lagos at perhaps shaped the later development of the growing this time, Chief Taiwo Olowo was himself a devotee of girl. At the end of the First World War in 1918, an influ the IfaOracle who became an early convert to Christian enza epidemic swept through West Africa; and Lagos, ity.