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In a 5 part series of rigorous intellectual discussions with renowned experts, The Achebe Colloquium will showcase profiles and roundtable discussions of world-class professionals in myriad fields, bringing to the fore levels of excellence and achievement in the younger generation that most Nigerians are not even aware of.

The first Colloquium – Science and Medicine features a  series of discussions with
reknown experts on health
care issues facing Nigeria

About the Colloquium

After nearly 18 months, the Chinua Achebe Foundation is about to conclude its ambitious Interview project of conversations with Nigeria’s elder statesmen and women. The final interviews will be published shortly and the entire project will be concluded with an elaborate conversation with Professor Chinua Achebe.

This month, the Foundation will turn to a generation of future leaders within Nigeria and the Diaspora, whose life and work offer the hope of solutions to the grave issues raised by our elders.

In a 5 part series of rigorous intellectual discussions with renowned experts, The Achebe Colloquium will showcase profiles and roundtable discussions of world-class professionals in myriad fields, bringing to the fore levels of excellence and achievement in the younger generation that most Nigerians are not even aware of.

The first Colloquium – Science and Medicine - will be serialized in several media next week. The entire project will be conducted in a manner accessible to the majority of Nigerians and other interested persons around the globe.

 We invite our brilliant youth to join us as we ponder our collective future together.

Sincerely, 

Chinua Achebe Foundation Media Office

Robot  # 1 | 02.10.2006 21:39

The first Colloquium – Science and Medicine features a series of discussions with rekn...Read the full article.

Uche Nworah  # 2 | 03.10.2006 06:56

This is a laudable project but there seems to be an underlying belief in the project, that it is only Nigerian doctors in the diaspora that are excelling. This argument is flawed because these doctors in the diaspora have access to cutting-edge technology, first class facilities and reserach funding to do their job very well. Given similar conditions, home-based medical professionals would excel as well. I suggest that subsequent editions should also profile Nigerian doctors and medical practitioners based in Nigeria who are actually 'miracle working' their way through life everyday, they are the ones in the firing line who carry out surgical procedures with candle lights and smiles on their faces. They surely deserve our praises too because they are operating in a system under harsh professional conditions that they did not create. if this project carries on highlighting only Ivy League trained and practicing medical professionals of Nigerian origin, there is a tendency that it may alienate those that are based in Nigeria and disparage their practice and efforts, these people are also outstanding practitioners and they continue to provide medicare to millions of Nigerians who are still living below the poverty line. In conclusion, the project should move away from the 'elitist' mode.

Orems1  # 3 | 03.10.2006 21:04

I would like to congratulate the Achebe group for doing a good job.I personally know of a few of the people there.I know Dr Olutoye and Dr Boye Adewoye personally.I can attest to the fact that they are both brilliant and hard working gentlemen.Boye has been my friend since at least 1986 when we met at the Nigerian Medical school games in Jos and we were both residents in UCH Ibadan in the early 90's he was a few years ahead of me. Dr Olutoye trained in Ife and i met him a few days after arriving in the United sattes.He heard i was around through my brother who was also a resident in 1995 in the Medical College of Virginia.I had my first Nigerian party in his house.This anecdotes are just to personalise these people. I however agree with Uche that not much mention is made of people in Nigeria except Prof Aghaji and Prof Akunyuli. There are a lot of medical giants in Nigeria still contributing a few examples are Dr Yombo Awojobi the brother of the late Prof Ayo Awojobi who is based in Eruwa in Oyo state and makes his own Intravenous fluids,Autoclave machines and surgical beds. In the department of Surgery in UCH you have people like Dr J.K Ladipo, Prof Adebamowo, Temitayo Shokunbi who is the Chair of Neurosurgery this chair was once held by the first African Neurosurgeon E Latunde Odeku whom i have written about. Also Prof mrs Wura Shokunbi of Hematology oncology who trained My friend Dr Adewoye in Nigeria. What i am saying is that in each Medical, pharmacy school and Nursing school in Nigeria their is excellence you just have to search for it and acknowledge it. Though the list is elitist it is a starting point.

Papino  # 4 | 04.10.2006 17:24

Excellent job and worthy of commendation. Anybody who wants to down-play the difficulties of coming out tops in the medical field in the United States and UK should think again.These folks deserve extra commendation as almost 95% of them started from a Nigerian medical school before going abroad to specialise.while abroad,they faced all forms of marginalisation but scaled through the hurdles.As a lecturer who probably has more stuff than his colleagues that are more favoured,Uche knows what i mean. That should not be construed to mean that the good ones in Nigeria should not be profiled.I am of the strong convinction that Nigerians who have set the pace in the medical field on a global scale are more in the diaspora than at home.The principal reason being the brain drain phenomenon that is still sweeping through the medical field till date. Meanwhile,i believe that the series started with folks in the medical field and would touch on other areas where Nigerians have and are still setting the pace. Good job guys

katampe  # 5 | 04.10.2006 21:55

It is a nice beginning. I am glad they profiled the young Nigerians that are doing extremely well overseas.I am not sure it is elitist per se, since most of them started out in Nigerian schools. So, they did excel when you factor-in where they started from and where they are now. I believe we should celebrate and be proud of them. I found it encouraging that the young women were not in complete agreement with the Professor woman based in Nigeria on embracing american system of health delivery. They seemed to have better grasp of isocial issues even though they live abroad. As for the other Nigerian professor (male) he seemed more like an activist that a medical practitioner.I wished he talked less of the many problems and focused more on the solution. In summary, it was a delight to see the nice faces, especially that of the women and equally inspirational to see that we have talents amongst the younger generation doing us proud in the white man's land.I hope the policy makers can enlist them as consultants sometime soon to help shape better health policies back home.