Attorney Charlie Chikezie and Diasporan Nigerians host Prof John Austin Chikezie (Chief Medical Director, Abịa State University Teaching Hospital) in New Jersey USA
Few clips from the evening
Attorney Charlie Chikezie, alongside some Diasporan Nigerians hosted the Chief Medical Director (C.M.D) of Abịa State University Teaching hospital who was also a former Abịa State commissioner of health, Prof John Austin Chikezie on the evening of March 8, 2024 in New Jersey, USA.
It was a very interactive session with discussions and questions from the hosts and answers provided by Prof Chikezie.
Prof Chikezie is an integral part of the team that helped regain the accreditation of the Abịa State University Teaching hospital program after they had lost the accreditation during the Administration of former Abịa State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazụ. While some credit Mr Otti, the current Abịa State Governor with helping regain the accreditation, many believe that Prof John Austin Chikezie and some other technocrats deserve much of the credit as they worked very assiduously to regain the accreditation within just months of Chikezie being made a Chief Medical Director.
He discussed some of the great plans that Abịa State Governor, Mr Otti has for the State. Chief amongst a plethora of plans is the idea of a “Medical Village” being built and operated in Abịa. With State of the art facilities and top notch professionals, It’s envisioned that it would compete with India as a medical tourism choice for most Africans of Affluence. Various medical sub specialties would be adequately represented within the medical village and it’s expected to attract the services of some of Nigeria’s best medical exports, having a potential of forcing a reverse brain drain within a few years of its operation.
Attorney Chikezie, while urging Igbos to unite and cooperate more with one another, stressed that, “We are Igbos first, before anything else. We need to start doing away with the idea of ‘Anambra this, Anambra that’. It all started after 1976 at the creation of Anambra and Imo states. Before then, we were all brothers and sisters..”
Dr Chike Onyenso suggested that Africans in the diaspora do more towards crafting new political postures a future Abia. He asked, “How do we get Otti to start thinking that the great things he’s doing now is wonderful but the greater thing is the future after his 8 years in Office..?.”
Prof Chikezie suggested that Otti’s entry could mean an era of greater things, as he noted, “What happened in Abịa State was a revolution. It was difficult to rig Otti out ..”
Prof John Austin Chikezie in suggesting that the effects of Otti’s good governance would create a ripple effect that would be felt through out the South East over time. He said, “Success is infectious. Once we have one person get it right, others would key in..”
Igwe Nkem Ọnụmarah expressed happiness in the efforts being made so far by Otti in Abịa but worries that Special interests could come in and try to detail the Otti train. Prof Chikezie reassured him that Otti is a man that always stands firm and means well.
Val ‘Frakas Mo’fire’ Amadị wanted to know how best to replicate the Otti good governance Phenomenon, wondering of it’s possible for other governors to come off their high horses and liase better with Otti to craft out and push through a more common and unified South East economic agenda. The Prof said it’s very possible as success/ good governance is infectious and would eventually touch each and every state in the region. Attorney Ibezim suggests further that a South East Development Corporation, much like the proposed South East development commission could be floated and worked upon by the 5 South Eastern Governors to help strengthen their crafted common agenda.
The group congratulated Prof Chikezie on the school’s plan of setting up a chapel and promised to support them from time to time.
