Chukwuedu Nwokolo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chukwuedu Nwokolo FRCP, RCPE, MRCS, OFR, MRCP
Born	(1921-04-19)19 April 1921
Died	18 May 2014(2014-05-18) (aged 93) New York
Nationality	Nigerian
Education	Human, medical and life sciences
Alma mater	Yaba Higher College, University of Ibadan, Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup: London, University of Minnesota
Occupation	Medical doctor, humanitarian, research scientist and professor of medicine
Years active	1947–2004
Known for	Discovering and mapping out the area of lung disease in Eastern Nigeria, with a study of the disease in Africa and clinical research for its control
Notable work	An Introduction to Clinical Medicine
Title	Emeritus Professor
Spouse(s)	Njideka Priscilla Nwokolo: née: Okonkwo
Children	7
Parent(s)	Nathaniel Ezuma Nwokolo and Matilda Nwokolo: née: Efobi

Chukwuedu Nathaniel II Nwokolo (born April 19, 1921 – died May 18, 2014) was a famous Nigerian doctor. He specialized in diseases common in hot, tropical places. He became well-known for finding and studying a lung disease called paragonimiasis in Eastern Nigeria. He also worked hard to find ways to control this disease across Africa. Dr. Nwokolo also started a special program called SICREP (Sickle Cell Research Programme) to help fight sickle cell disease in Nigeria and around the world.

Early Life and Family

Chukwuedu Nwokolo was born on April 19, 1921. His birthplace was Amaimo, which is now in Imo State, Nigeria. His parents, Nathaniel Ezuma Nwokolo and Matilda Nwokolo, worked as evangelists for the Church Mission Society. Chukwuedu was the first boy among their seven children. His father was a church teacher, and his mother was trained at the Church Missionary Society in Onitsha.

Education Journey

Chukwuedu Nwokolo started his primary school in Ezinihitte-Mbaise. He then went to Government College Umuahia. In 1939, he joined Higher College Yaba to study medicine. At that time, Yaba College was the only science-focused higher education school in Nigeria.

His medical course took seven years, including a time where he worked in hospitals. He trained at the General Hospital Lagos and Aba General Hospital. In 1946, Nwokolo officially became a medical doctor. He earned his LMS (Licenciate of the School of Medicine) and won a special award called the Walter Johnson prize for public health.

Starting His Medical Career

First Doctor Jobs

After finishing his training at Lagos General Hospital, Dr. Nwokolo worked at General Hospital Enugu from 1947 to 1949.

In 1948, the University College Ibadan opened its teaching hospital. They asked the government for young doctors to work there. Dr. Nwokolo was one of the first doctors to join them in 1949. He worked in the medicine department at the University College Hospital until 1950. After that, he moved to London with a strong recommendation letter from his professor, Alexander Brown.

Studying in England

When he arrived in England in 1950, he studied at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup. He worked in medicine and surgery in Dover. This helped him get permission to practice medicine in Great Britain. He then became a senior doctor in the unit for older patients at Queen Mary's Hospital. There, Dr. Nwokolo worked to get his MRCP (Membership of the Royal College of Physicians).

In 1952, Dr. Nwokolo moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, to prepare more for the MRCP exam. He attended classes and clinics at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. In early 1953, he passed the MRCP exam. He was one of the first Africans and the second Nigerian to achieve this. With his MRCP, he returned to Queen Mary's Hospital in London as a physician. He came back to Nigeria as a specialist in internal medicine just in time for his wedding. He married Njideka Priscilla Okonkwo on July 4, 1953.

Working for the Government

Back in Nigeria, Dr. Nwokolo rejoined the government's medical service. He was given a special medical officer position. He mainly worked at General Hospital Enugu. In the evenings, he also saw patients at his home. He was in charge of the medical wards, where patients stayed and received treatment.

Important Research

Dr. Nwokolo did a lot of medical research both in hospitals and out in the field. He studied serious health issues like endomyocardial fibrosis (a heart condition), endemic goitre (a thyroid problem), and sickle-cell disease. He also researched other health needs in Nigeria. He often traveled on weekends to different parts of Eastern Nigeria, Northern Nigeria, and Mid-Western Nigeria for his fieldwork.

He published about nine research papers while working for the government. Because of his strong research, he was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (F.R.C.P.) in 1960. His supervisors, Professor Alexander Brown and Professor Harold Scaborough, recommended him for this honor. Professor Brown also invited him to teach as a senior lecturer at University College Ibadan. Later, Professor Brown, working with the Rockefeller Foundation, recommended Dr. Nwokolo for a research fellowship in gastroenterology (the study of the digestive system) at the University of Minnesota in the United States.

Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship

From 1963 to 1964, Dr. Nwokolo had his fellowship at the University of Minnesota. He worked in the gastroenterology unit. After finishing his fellowship, he stopped briefly in the United Kingdom. There, he was honored as an "Edinburgh Free Man of the City" and given the "Key to the City of Edinburgh" in Scotland. This was because he was a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

Later Career and Achievements

Starting a New Department

After returning from the United States, Dr. Nwokolo became an associate professor of medicine. He then created a new sub-department for gastroenterology. He led research on many digestive problems, using new methods he learned in the United States.

During the Nigerian Civil War

In 1966, before the Nigerian civil war started in 1967, Dr. Nwokolo moved his family from Ibadan to Enugu. This was because of rising tensions and violence against the Igbo people.

Helping to Build Medical Schools

Many specialist doctors, including Dr. Nwokolo, who had to leave Ibadan and Lagos, decided to create a new University Teaching Hospital in Enugu. They quickly got approval from the military governor, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. The Enugu General Hospital became the base for this new teaching hospital. Governor Ojukwu also approved the fast establishment of a faculty of medicine. Professor Kodilinye became its head, and Dr. Nwokolo became the first head of the department of medicine and associate dean at this new medical school.

Dr. Nwokolo continued his work as head of the medicine department. When Enugu was in danger during the war, the university teaching hospital moved to Awka-Etiti. During this difficult time, Dr. Nwokolo researched problems like starvation and malnutrition. He visited churches and public gatherings to teach people about healthy eating for survival. He also distributed many printed papers with advice.

When the Nigerian Civil War ended in 1970, Dr. Nwokolo and his family returned to Enugu. Their house had been looted and burned, so he had to rebuild it.

With the Nigerian Federal Government's approval, the University of Nigeria Nsukka reopened. Dr. Nwokolo returned to his position as head of the department of medicine. In 1971, he was appointed a full professor. Professor Eldryd Parry, a well-known academic, confirmed that Dr. Nwokolo played a key role in setting up medical schools in Enugu and Nsukka.

Dr. Nwokolo was also an advisor for the World Health Organization. He received many honors throughout his career. He was a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College, the West African College of Physicians, and the Nigerian Academy of Science. He also held the Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons: MRCS and Membership of the Royal College of Physicians: MRCP. He was given the title of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic: OFR.

He served as chairman of the joint council of ASUTECH (Anambra State University of Technology, now Nnamdi Azikiwe University) and the Institute of Management and Technology. He was also the board chairman of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

To honor his work, the Professor Chukwuedu Nwokolo Annual Lecture Series and Award of Prizes for Academic Excellence were started in 2006. These awards encourage research and learning.

Honors and Awards

Dr. Nwokolo received many important honors and awards throughout his life:

• He was a Licentiate from the Royal College of Physicians of London.
• He received honorary doctor of science degrees from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Ibadan.
• He was a professor emeritus at the University of Nigeria Nsukka.
• He won the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award.
• He was the national chairman and vice-president at the West African College of Physicians.
• He served as pro-chancellor and chairman of council at Ahmadu Bello University.
• He was chairman of the Medical Research Council of Nigeria.
• He was president of the Association of Physicians of Nigeria.
• He was given the special title of Ugo-Dibia, meaning "Eagle of Medicine."

Some specific achievements and honors include:

• 1972–75: Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Nigeria Nsukka. He was also a Professor of Medicine from 1971 to 1980.
• 1974: Accepted an invitation from the Japanese government as a dean and visited the University of Tokyo. They were working with the University of Nigeria Nsukka on research.
• 1977–80: Chairman of the National Institute for Medical Research in Yaba, Nigeria.
• 1982: Appointed Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the University of Nigeria Nsukka. On July 15, he received the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award and the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic: OFR honor from President Shehu Shagari.
• 1984: Awarded a D.Sc (Doctor of Science) honoris causa by the University of Maiduguri.
• 1985: Appointed chairman of the joint council of ASUTECH (Anambra State University of Technology, now Nnamdi Azikiwe University) and IMT (Institute of Management and Technology). He helped create the Awka campus of ASUTECH, which became the current Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
• 1986: Appointed board chairman of UCTH (University of Calabar Teaching Hospital). He served until 1994. He was also appointed a member of the National Science and Technology Development Fund.
• 1988: Honored with a Doctor of Science degree by the University of Ibadan.
• 1994: Dr. Nwokolo started a private research group called SICREP (Sickle Cell Research Programme) to work on sickle-cell disease.
• 1996: Appointed Knight of Saint Christopher by the Anglican Church Diocese on the Niger. He was also honored by the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College with a distinguished fellowship award.
• 1998: Featured in a Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) documentary about Nigerian Heroes. He was nominated for the Mary Slessor Distinguished Merit Award for his service to humanity. This was for his research, for starting the Drug Revolving Fund at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, and for being the longest-serving chairman of the hospital's board.
• 2004: On January 15, the Professor Chukwuedu Nwokolo Hall was opened at the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu.

Personal Life

Dr. Chukwuedu Nwokolo and his wife, Lady Njideka Nwokolo, had seven children: four girls and three boys. They were married on July 4, 1953. Dr. Nwokolo passed away in New York, United States, on May 18, 2014, at the age of 93.

See also

• Nigerian Medical Association
• Nwabueze Nwokolo
• John T. Nwangwu