COVID-19 Kills Foremost Nigerian Radiologist; Buried in Onitsha As Educationist Suggest Improved Working Condition for Lecturers

FROM AFAM AMINU CHIMEZIE, ONITSHA

One of Nigeria’s foremost medical practitioner and UK based Consultant Radiologist, Prof.Akunwata James Olisaeloka Oniah has been buried according to Onitsha tradition.

The late academic and medical guru who lived a better part of his life in the United Kingdom  allegedly died of Corona virus while trying to save the lives of others.

Prof.Oniah who left Nigeria in the 1960’s after securing a United Nations Scholarship studied and lectured in several world class universities such as Saudi Arabia Military University, Kuwait University, Zambia University Teaching Hospital and  later retired as a Consultant Radiologist in Tottenham,United Kingdom before his death at the age of Ninety.

In an interview with the eldest son of the deceased and member prestigious Agbalanze Society of Onitsha,Chief Jude Nnabuenyi Oniah stated that his late father lived a fruitful and fulfilled life.

The educationist and proprietor,Akunne Oniah  Group of Schools Onitsha regretted that his father who left the country early in his active days refused to return to the country to lecture because of the poor working environment in Nigerian education sector and chose to remain where his talent and knowledge would be most appreciated.

While Urging the Nigerian authorities to battle corruption and economic wastage to a standstill ,the educationist said if the government fails to revamp the education sector and make it attractive to brilliant scholars, the country would continue to experience brain drain.

” If the Federal and State Government do not improve the work conditions of our lecturers and those in the education sector,we would continue to experience brain drain just like those in the medical profession.”

” My father refused to come back due to the poor working environment in the country.He was greatly gifted in the medical practice and he chose to stay where he was much appreciated and rewarded”.

He, however, advised government at various levels to equip adequately public institutions and improve the welfare of Nigerian workers, adding that those who are not adding any remarkable value to the development of the country were earning salaries and allowances far much better than those working tirelessly for the development of the country.