Day Imo NMA Honoured Emele, Four Others
By Gele Agbai
On Sunday, October 26, 2025, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) extended recognition to five of its distinguished members, celebrating their contributions to the medical profession.
The honored medical practitioners include the former Chairman, Dr. Hyacinth Ogugua Emele, Dr. Festus Adeniyi, Dr. Benjamin Anyanwu, Dr. Kingsley Achigbu, Chief Medical Director of the Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri, and the late Dr. Emeka Obioha.
These professionals were awarded the prestigious “Distinguished Medical Practitioner” accolade, representing the highest honor bestowed by the association.
The conferment of these awards was a notable feature of the association’s 2025 Physicians Week.
Throughout the week, the association engaged in various activities, including educational programs, visits to elderly members, retired priests’ homes, and orphanages, as well as a novelty match between the NMA and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Additional events included a “Walk for Life,” outreach initiatives at secondary schools where doctors distributed educational materials, and a thanksgiving service at the Assumpta Cathedral Control Post Owerri.
During his homily, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, expressed concern over the inadequate conditions of service and infrastructure in the country, which have led many local medical practitioners to seek opportunities abroad.
He praised NMA members who have remained in the country and encouraged them to continue their dedicated service.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the NMA Imo State, Dr. Echeta Batholomew Uzodimma, commended the NMA members for their commitment to the profession and their support of his leadership. He also praised the award recipients, asserting that they were truly deserving of the recognition.
In his keynote address on the theme “Healthcare as a Value Chain: Building Efficiency from Policy to Patient,” Consultant Pediatrician Dr. Emeka Nwolisa emphasized that all activities, processes, and participants should focus on transitioning patients from illness to health.
Dr. Nwolisa noted that a robust value chain results in high-quality care, whereas a broken chain leads to increased costs, poor coordination, and suboptimal outcomes.
He acknowledged the challenges within the country’s healthcare system and advocated for enhanced sectoral collaboration, improved funding and transparency, investment in technology, and equitable access to healthcare to achieve efficient outcomes.
Dr. Emele, speaking on behalf of the other award recipients, expressed gratitude to the association for deeming them worthy of the honor. He pledged to continue serving conscientiously in his care for patients and to contribute to the enhancement of medical practice in the country.
