Dr Edozie Felix Odiah is a public health physician/dermatologist and retired Controller of Nigeria Correctional Service. He clocked 70 years recently. In an interview, he speaks about the journey of his life and other sundry issues.
How do you feel at 70?
Age they say is just a number. Since bowing out of the service exactly 10 years ago, I have been active professionally. I am basically running consultancy services in Public Health and other related fields. So, I am retired from active service but not tired, as a physician. My school mates are still practising in Europe and North America; so, I am feeling strong, good and grateful to God. Three scores and 10 is the age recommended by the Scriptures and if you are strong enough, four scores and above. Thank God for taking me to the age of perfect creation. I feel like I’m 28 years old.
Tell us about your experiences in life having come a long way.
My dear, my experiences in life will take us a whole day to talk about, but I will summarise it. My journey of life started as a young boy after my primary school at Christ the King School Asa Road, Aba in 1959/60. Then, you had to touch your ear on opposite side of the head with the performing hand before being admitted into school. In December 1964, I went to my home town Ibusa in the newly created Midwestern Nigeria for Christmas holidays as my father retired from then Eastern Nigeria Labour Office. I stayed back after the holiday, enrolled for my final primary school at St. Thomas Demonstration School Ibusa, completed my primary school and proceeded to St Patrick College Asaba for my secondary school education in January 1966. The war broke out in 1967 and we were dispersed to other schools. I was trapped between Ibusa and Asaba from late ’67 to ’68.
Sometimes in August 1968, I moved to Lagos and in January 1969, I enrolled into St. Finbarr’s College where I completed my secondary school in December 1971. Thereafter, I worked with Mandillas Motors in Lagos from August 1972 to August 1973 before I enrolled for my GCE A’Levels at the Federal School of Science Lagos from September 1973 to June 1975. After then, I moved to the University of Ibadan in September 1975 to study Agriculture. After my first year, I secured scholarship to study Medicine in the United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) in September 1976. I graduated in 1983 from the Minsk State Medical Institute as a meedical doctor and immediately returned home.
This was when my actual journey in life began. I did my NYSC in Abuja between 1984 and ’85 after which I left for Kano where I worked briefly in a private clinic before I joined then Nigeria Prison Service (Medical) in July 1990. During the 2004/2005 academic year, I went into Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) to pursue my Post Graduate programme in Public Health. In 2007, I enrolled for a Post Graduate programme in Dermatology. In 2008/2009, I went back to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) for my Masters Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy. I retired fro the service in October 2013. In March 2015, I worked as a contract staff (ONSA) as the pioneer programme manager Office of the National Coordinator of DERAD programme. I spent less than a year in that office due to regime change which eventually disbanded the entire team that worked with the then NSA. Since then, I have been consulting for international NGOs in Health Education and Health Information Programme.
You are 70 and still strong, what is the secret behind it?
Being strong at this age requires a lot of discipline. You have to eat right, exercise as often as you can, be at peace with yourself, have enough rest, good sleep, above all, be happy always and do the things you can do and leave the rest to God. Stay close to your God and hold fast to your source of strength. Most importantly be prayerful. It is believed that at 70, you have received your boarding pass from God ready to depart. It however depends on how long your flight is delayed.
You are a little older than Nigeria, are you satisfied with the state of the nation today?
The state of the nation today is a reflection of our existence as a nation. Nigeria is a blessed country in all reunification, equally blessed with bad leadership. What we are experiencing today is a cumulative effect of bad leadership since independence. I was asked a few days ago to assess the present government. My reply was that I will be telling you lies if I say anything about this government. Yes, 100 days in office is a lot in a life of any administration, but not enough to see any meaningful change. You don’t assess a government by mere pronunciations. We have heard it over and over, so let’s give them time to settle, familiarize themselves with the problems at hand, then set a working diagnosis for the next four years in the first instance. I can only wish them well and offer my little suggestions as is expected of any elder-statesman.
Medical professionals are leaving Nigeria every day, what do you think is the best solution to stop this trend?
Brain drain in medical profession is a global challenge, not just in Nigeria. There are both internal and external factors responsible for this and the government must take a very serious step to curb this. The PUSH and PULL factor must be dealt with in all honesty and sincerity of purpose. The condition of service must improve. Training programmes for medical doctors are to be scaled up.
The issue of security must be addressed. Abduction and kidnapping of our medical doctors have become too often to understand. Working conditions must improve, healthcare funding must meet the minimum requirement as stipulated by World Health Organisation (WHO). Our Primary Health Care (PHC) centres have to be upgraded to meet the global best practices. Equipment must be appropriate in our health care facilities. The states must assist the federal government in mobilising funds through private sector inclusion in healthcare delivery. This will reduce the pressure on the government in fund raising drive. Community participation in health care delivery should be encouraged. This will reduce pressure on the healthcare providers. The federal government should be encouraged to promulgate policies that are healthcare friendly. They should also learn to keep their promises.
How would you assess the current administration? Are you satisfied with the way things are going?
This government has not settled down to start dealing with the past misgovernance of past administration since independence and worse still, the rot of immediate past regime of ex-President Buhari. Every government has its promised agenda for its citizenry which are part of the party’s manifesto. From the foregoing therefore, it is obvious that any assessment you do now is just an effort in futility. This is so because this administration has not started any of its promised programmes. All we hear is rhetorics as the previous government. Don’t forget that during the campaign period, the current President Tinubu promised to continue from where former President ended. We failed to ask whether from the failed promises or from the insecurity or from the economic woes we found ourselves.
In conclusion, I want to pray for the government to fix our economy and do the right things that will benefit the Nigeria people.
