The Nation Newspaper

Category: Celebrity

  • How our innocent doctors became exposed to Ebola

    How our innocent doctors became exposed to Ebola

    Prof. Aaron Ojule, the Chief Medical Director of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), was at the centre of the battle against Ebola during the outbreak of the deadly disease in Rivers State last year. He relives his experience, in this exclusive interview with PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA and also speaks about the challenges confronting the health sector in the country, among other issues.

    You are in your second tenure as the Chief Medical Director of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). How would you say you have fared?

    I assumed duty on November 9, 2009 and I am in my second tenure as the Chief Medical Director of this hospital. When you talk about my achievements, you should look at the bed capacity of this hospital. Before now, it was 110, but today we have 840 beds. That is because we have added new units and services. It is about 60 per cent increase in bed capacity. We have completed and furnished new paediatrics block. We have also completed and furnished the Nuclear Medicine Building, the male and female dental ward and so many of them.

    I have 38 projects which are either completed or ongoing under my administration. Under my administration, the hospital has not lost accreditation for any existing training programme. All departments and programmes due for re-accreditation were successfully re-accredited. They include general surgery, internal medicine, paediadrics and gynaecology.

    Some of the projects are capital intensive. Does that mean you are getting more allocation from the Federal Government and other donors?

    One thing is to get the fund, another thing is to utilise it properly. There is nothing extraordinary we are doing except that the little money we get from government and the one we generate here, we ensure that it is properly utilised. Also we have been able to attract partners to come and help us to do one or two things in addition. But to a large extent, the money we are using is from the government, but we are able to utilise it.

    What other areas do you think you still need government’s assistance?

    We believe that the new government will take a critical look at the health sector, because any big public hospital like ours has several challenges that make it not to run well. I know that as a journalist, people must have complained to you about one thing or the other in the hospital. It is not because we are not aware or because we don’t want to do anything; it is because of the challenges we have and some challenges that government has.

    I would like to commend the government for what they are doing. But I believe that things can get better and can only get better if government injects more money into the system. When you travel abroad and you see their hospitals, there is nothing that stops us from getting our hospitals to those standards. We can provide those services we see abroad and keep our environment clean.

    And you believe that by doing so, people would trust our health sector more?

    Yes. It is all about process. Because of such issues, we started the amenity ward for those who can afford it; to give them the ambience and services they need in order to reduce capital flight. Now, there is nobody to fund it due to economic downturn. So, what we are doing is to source partners through public/private partnership.

    That is not to say that the health sector has not improved. The health sector in real sense has improved over time. Whether they like it or not, we cannot deny the fact that the health sector has improved. When you travel to other African countries for seminars and you meet your colleagues from those countries, you will know that Nigeria is far ahead of them. There was a programme under the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, where government took time to re-equip many of our teaching hospitals. Of course, UPTH was one of the beneficiaries. The government gave N2 billion to each of these hospitals and bought equipment and other things. That alone revolutionalised the health care system in Nigeria.

    There is an improvement in our health sector, but the problem is that we have not got to where we should be. We want to get to where we would be compared to the hospitals in Europe, India and Israel. We have not got there, but we have made a lot of improvement.

    What is the difference between our hospitals and the ones abroad?

    The major difference is in terms of technology and equipment. Over there, their buildings and environments are clean. They have constant electricity and water supply. But here, we are struggling with the basic things. There is no water, no electricity, the hospital management struggle. And when you go to the hospital and you don’t see these basic things, you will not be happy. But abroad, they have gone beyond these challenges. We need money to acquire new technology and to train people to know how to use the equipment, and those things cost money. That is the difference.

    We the Nigerian doctors, if we operate in those environment we are like super stars. Nigerian doctors are professionally qualified. Like here, we train doctors and that is our special mandate as a teaching hospital. In terms of manpower, we don’t have any problem.

    The doctors in this hospital were fully involved in the fight against Ebola outbreak last year, and one of them was actually infected. Yet, some people believe that the  outbreak was political. What really happened?

    If anybody tells you that Ebola outbreak in Rivers State was political, that is a fallacy. The outbreak was real. We struggled over it to a level that one of our members was infected. She was treated and she survived. So, it was not political but real. I want to use this opportunity to commend the Federal Government and the state government for all the actions and leadership they showed during the Ebola outbreak. Ebola was like a war and all of us were involved as a nation.

    The team from the Federal Government collaborated with the state government and they showed a lot of commitment. Former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Health Minister Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, showed a lot of commitment. The immediate past governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, and former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Paker, also deserve commendation. So, there was a joining of forces from federal to state. The Federal Government sent a delegation that was joined by the state delegation with the assistance of foreign partners like Doctors Without Border, WHO and others. We constituted a team and, of course, most of the manpower came from this institution. With all hands on deck, we were able to defeat Ebola.

    But a lot of people said the UPTH was not prepared for the task of tackling the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Rivers State…

    Ebola is a special kind of illness. Nigeria had not witnessed anything of that nature before. You remember that when it started in the West Africa sub-region, we thought it would not reach Nigeria. Then it landed in Lagos and everybody was shouting. Although we were preparing people, telling them what to do in case anything happened in Port Harcourt; don’t forget that it was when the outbreak occurred in Lagos that we started training our health workers on the precaution to take, because the most important thing about Ebola is prevention.

    When eventually we had an index case in Port Harcourt, it was a big battle. And then the resident doctors were on strike. Some of our doctors happened to be treating the index case without knowing it. Remember a doctor who was practising in Rumuokoro became ill. The doctor who was running a private clinic was married to one of our doctors. Because the Rumuokoro doctor was our doctor, other doctors participated in his treatment. We have various specialists, so the doctors in this hospital were invited to manage the infected doctor, who is their colleague. Of course, they didn’t know it was Ebola, so they were all exposed. That was why we were in the thick of it. And when we realised that it was Ebola, it became a big war.

    Again, we hosted the diagnostic lab for Ebola. In the initial cases, we were sending samples to Lagos, but later our own lab was set up. We were very seriously involved. Anybody who said we were not prepared, then I may not know what the person means by not being prepared. Because we were involved to the extent that we started producing our own hand sanitisers.

    Although we didn’t have a lot of money, the sanitisers were produced according to the standard set by WHO. And during that period, many hospitals in town refused to take anybody who had a fever. They said it was Ebola. But because we are a government hospital, the apex hospital, we have to prepare to take anybody rejected by other clinics. These were some of our contributions during the outbreak.

    What is your experience like when doctors are on strike at the point when their services are needed most?

    Like today (June 10), I got a letter of indefinite strike from the Association of Resident Doctors, UPTH Branch. They said that by midnight, they will go on strike. But I know that I was in their meeting this morning talking to them not to go on strike. What I told them is that look, even if what you are asking for is your right, the timing is wrong. We just had a new government which has not settled down. And we are aware that our President is a gentle man, he is an action man, and his past record shows that he has a listening ear. He doesn’t tolerate anything that is wrong. This kind of President, if you tell him your problem and you convince him, he is definitely going to look into the problem. He is not a man who runs away from solving problems.

    I have pleaded with them to give this government time to settle down. I am not supposed to be at their meeting but I had to go because this nation belongs to all of us. When there is strike and the place is shut down, everybody suffers, especially the innocent Nigerians who have no other place to go to.

    All I am saying is that let them give this incoming government some time. The economy is bad. Despite that, the new government is a listening one. They are morally upright and I believe President Muhammadu Buhari and his team will solve their problem. But they need time to settle down.

    People are complaining that most of the doctors who attend to patients at UPTH are student doctors. How true is this allegation?

    Thank you for asking this question. One thing is that most people don’t understand how a teaching hospital runs. Many people are also ignorant of the categories of doctors that work in the teaching hospital. I think you are right, and as a journalist, you should educate the people.

    Part of our medical mandate is to train medical manpower and not only doctors. That is why we have many training institutions here. But with regard to doctors, we do training for undergraduates and for post-graduates. Undergraduates are people who are in the university aspiring to have a degree in medicine. And that is why we are a teaching hospital. Those who are in the university as undergraduates are not yet doctors; they don’t have certificates. So if you want to call them student doctors, they are really student doctors and they are not allowed to treat any patient because they are learning. They can never treat patients because they are not licensed. They have consultants who are teaching them. The consultants are specialists and we have the highest concentration of specialists in the entire nation.

    We have 170 consultants in this hospital. When a consultant or a resident doctor is treating a patient, the ones you called student doctors have the right to stay around and ask questions and observe. That is how we train them. Before they can do anything, they must be guided by the specialists. For you to treat a person, you must have a licence. If somebody who doesn’t have a licence treats a patient, that person is a quack.

    Now, the mistake people make is that we also train post-graduate doctors. Doctors who have first degree, we train them to become specialists. The person can be an eye doctor, ear, bone and so on. And before you can be trained as a specialist, you must first of all qualify as a doctor. If you go to a private hospital or clinic out there and they are treating you, would you say they are student doctors? They have already qualified as doctors with many years of experience. Medicine is too large, and for you to practise, you have to specialise in one part of it. That is what makes that person a specialist.

    At what point would a person in need of treatment be rejected by a hospital?

    Well, it depends on information. We are a government hospital and government established this hospital to treat Nigerians. The people have a social contract with government, and the basic function of government is to protect life and property. Your life is your greatest possession, so government takes the maintenance of life very seriously. That is why the health sector is an essential service. You cannot be sending somebody to government hospital and you would be turned away. We are under oath from government not to reject anybody. We are the apex. If we reject a person, where do you want the person to go to?

    What happened is that because we are a government hospital, we have a limited bed capacity. At some point in time, everywhere will be filled up. There is no time we are not oversubscribed. When it is filled up, if it is our labour or emergency ward and then you have a new person coming in, if you are in my shoe, what would you tell the person? We have a standard rule that when you come to the hospital, a doctor will evaluate you and talk to you. And if it is something that needs prescription, he will do that. But if after seeing you, it is something that you need to be admitted and everywhere is filled up, what do you want me to do? You will go and look for space elsewhere. We can then invite the person when we have space.

    If a patient says he doesn’t have money to pay after treatment, as a government-owned hospital, how would you handle such matter?

    We have many poor people in the society. That is why as a government-owned hospital, we try our best to make sure that service delivery does not shut down. That is the major reason I begged these doctors not to go on strike, because it is the ordinary Nigerian who would suffer, especially those who don’t have money.

    Now, when people come to the hospital, the first concern is not money but to save life, especially in emergency. That is not to say that we don’t collect money. But the focus is not on money but to save life. However, to save life we need certain basic inputs. We need consumables to keep the hospital growing. What we charge people is discounted price because it is government people. Government pays the salary of everybody and all the buildings are owned and maintained by government. The amount of money that government is spending to run the hospital is much. Our salary bill is close to N500 million every month. If we ask people to be paying so that government can stop spending, many Nigerians cannot afford it.

    The money people are paying here is cheaper than they pay in private hospitals. What surprises us is that even with this discounted fee, many Nigerians are unable to pay after you would have rendered some services. And when you say, ‘Pay your money,’ he or she would say, ‘I don’t have money.’ At that point, what we do is to appeal, begging them to link their parents or relatives. There are some difficult ones who would tell you that they don’t have anybody and the people that brought them to the hospital would run away.

    We have also set up what we call an indigent patient fund so that the privileged ones can donate. When we have this kind of challenge, we can put hand into the indigent fund. But many Nigerians are not contributing to it. We go to churches and other organisations, asking them to contribute but the response is not the way it should be. But we have some catholic organisations that have been so faithful contributing to the fund.

    There are funny situations where you have treated the person and he is unable to pay his bill. And when you have another person waiting to take over his bed, it becomes necessary that he pays to make space for another. We try our best that we don’t maltreat them. But at the same time, if you don’t accept money, the hospital will shut down. So, we try and make them see reasons through the help of the Medical Service Department.

    It is also a specialist department. They know how to trace the family of the patient even if it means visiting their village to plead with them to see reason to pay something if they cannot afford the whole bill. One thing is certain, we cannot deny somebody treatment because he or she doesn’t have money. But because we have treated the person, he should pay something. This hospital is a common heritage for all Nigerians and everybody must contribute to maintain it.

    Let me also use this opportunity to appeal to well-to-do Nigerians to help to contribute to the indigent patients’ fund. A hospital like this needs many things. We cannot continue to struggle. Companies should come here and contribute as part of their social corporate responsibility. Life is the greatest asset to possess. Once your health is poor, you cannot enjoy life any longer and you cannot equate anything with life.

  • Dahiru Mangal bounces back

    If there was one name that loomed large during the Yar’Adua administration, it was that of Dahiru Mangal. He built a reputation for himself as a friend of the late Nigerian President. After the death of Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, however, the billionaire businessman disappeared from the social radar.

    But after years of hiatus from the social scene, the highly connected brains behind Max Airlines is in the news again as he recently moved from his Wuse home in Iluobe area of Abuja to a place around the Ministerial Hill in Maitama. The new edifice reportedly cost the businessman about N5 billion.

    Needless to say that the house is now the talk of the town in Abuja, with many saying that Dahiru had simply disappeared from the social scene to restrategise.

  • Funke Agagu regains groove

    Funke Agagu regains groove

    The tragedies that befell former First Lady of Ondo State, Olufunke Agagu, in quick succession about two years ago were such that would reduce a woman without a strong heart to an emotional wreck. But Olufunke Agagu is not just any woman; she is an epitome of strength and a source of inspiration to many.

    In September 2013, it was as if her world was crashing when her husband, a brilliant geologist, former Minister of Aviation, Power and Steel and ex-Governor of Ondo State, died after a brief illness. The following month, Olufunke sank deeper into grief when the Associated Aviation flight 361 conveying her husband’s corpse to Akure, the Ondo State capital, for state burial with 13 passengers and seven crew members, crashed on take-off from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, killing some of the sympathisers on board.

    After a long period of mourning, Funke has come to the realiszation that the past cannot be reconstructed and life must go on. The soft-spoken lady and founder of Handicapped Education Foundation (HANDEF)is learning to smile again. Last week, she feted some primary and secondary school pupils as well as physically impaired trainees to mark HANDEF’s 10th empowerment programme in Akure.

    Since it was founded in 2008, HANDEF has been encouraging people living with disabilities by organising seminars and workshops to empower them on health issues, business and entrepreneurship, and partnering with other local and international organisations to give them a sense of belonging.

    Seventeen people living with various disabilities at the HANDEF Mobility Aid and Braille Centre were given six laptop computers and three knitting machines while eight others received cash. Eleven primary and secondary school pupils also won several awards and cash prizes in a competition organised by HANDEF.

  • All set for Kessingnton Adebutu’s 80th birthday

    All set for Kessingnton Adebutu’s 80th birthday

    Chief Kessignton Adebutu, the business magnate who sits atop a multi-million naira betting business, wields the magic wand that transforms seemingly unprofitable ventures into business empires. Popularly known as Baba Ijebu, Adebutu is synonymous with lottery business in Nigeria.

    The billionaire cum philanthropist is set to join the octogenarian club this month and is gearing up for a birthday shindig that will rock the social milieu to its foundation.

    As would be expected, the celebration of Adebutu’s 80th birthday will be far from being a pseudo event. He is known to wield a lot of influence with his lottery outfit, Premiere Lotto Limited, which he founded in 1956. Since then, he has remained committed to the pursuit of excellence and selfless service towards humanity.

  • Storm over for Toke Makinwa

    Storm over for Toke Makinwa

    Nothing can be more inspiring than seeing a woman rise above pain and heartbreak and encourage others while at it. Like an empress, who is not allowed to show even a moment of weakness, Toke Makinwa has shocked many by going through a life changing phase without even flinching.

    Despite recently being in the news over her troubled marriage, Toke surprisingly set her pain aside and used her situation to inspire others.  She rose above the storm and channelled her challenge into a positive purpose.

    The on air media personality inspired others by saying: “The amount of emails I have received from women across the world going through difficult situations is heartbreaking. Thank you all for sharing. In a world where the popular belief out there is that women hate each other, women can’t stand each other etc, I have gotten emails/calls from women sharing their own personal pains, and that is courageous.

    “I can’t reply everyone, even though I honestly wish I could. It is funny how God uses even the most unbelievable things to bless you. I have been given a voice, a platform. I don’t even know how it all happened but I woke up one day and I found God and with that came purpose.

    “It’s never about you, as hard as it seems. Sometimes you go through things not for you but for the people around you who need direction, a word of prayer or more. May God heal every broken heart out there. May His light give you the courage to begin to love yourself. It is tough being a woman; the pressure is real. You don’t have to be a victim; you can rise above it all.

    “Do not let society tell you otherwise. Be bold. Be strong. Trust God’s purpose for your life and keep shinning.”

    To Toke, life must go on, as she confirmed that her Vlog would still be active.

  • Kola Karim adopts low profile

    Kola Karim adopts low profile

    Businesswise, Kola Karim is a genie with special powers. His ideas have translated into a multi-million dollar business empire. He always seems to be on the good sides of fortune and fate. The magnitude of his business success has caused many to wonder why he chose to ignore the limelight.

    Of course, Kola is no stranger to fame. He is the Group Managing Director of Shore Energy International, among many other multi-million dollar businesses. A billionaire businessman, Kola owns a private jet, a yacht and several luxury cars in which he is chauffeured around London and other cities of the world.

    At home, however, the avid Polo player has maintained a low profile lifestyle for reasons known to him.

  • Marriage on the card for Jibola Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has added one more to his long list of fortunes. Only recently, he became the first Oyo State governor to win a re-election. Now he has added the joy of his daughter’s engagement to her heartthrob a few days ago.

    Jibola Ajimobi’s fiancé, simply identified as Ayo, requested her hand in marriage on Sunday, June 14, 2015 at an exotic private dinner to mark her birthday. Although there are no words yet on their wedding, Governor Ajimobi is said to be gearing up for a high octane ceremony to mark the lovebirds’ union.

    Spotted at the engagement dinner were friends and associates of the lovebirds as well as Jibola’s elder sister, Abisola, who is married to Kolapo Daisi.

  • Secrets of my 60-year-old marriage

    Secrets of my 60-year-old marriage

    Theirs is an exceptional union. In a country where marriages crash like the naira in the foreign exchange market, 88-year-old Chief Matthew Nnaemeke Uba’s marriage with his wife, Veronica, is still waxing strong after 60 years. Like the lovebirds that they are, Uba and his wife never hesitate to openly display their affection at every given opportunity, leaving younger couples green with envy. It was, therefore, not surprising that they recently rolled out the drums in celebration of the 60th anniversary of their wedding. On hand to celebrate with them were their numerous friends, which include top government functionaries,  Nollywood actors and actresses, particularly those from the Onicha-Uku axis in Delta State. Chief (Mrs) Veronica Uba shares with PAUL UKPABIO the secrets of the massive success of their marital union.

    Six decades of living together as husband and wife is no mean feat. What has been the secret?

    Mrs Uba, 79, with her 88-yr-old husband
    Mrs Uba, 79, with
    her 88-yr-old husband

    No one can take credit for the success of our union for six decades. Not even my husband or myself. It is the grace of God. God has been the cornerstone and builder of this marriage. I cannot thank Him enough for His mercies. However, I must say that no marriage is perfect. Tolerance and endurance have been the basis of our union. My husband has been supportive and understanding.

    Looking back, would you say that young people got married earlier then than they do today?

    Things were not as difficult then as they are now in the sense that immediately you finished your studies, you got employed and started growing. Today, it is unfortunate that people no longer start up early for numerous reasons. The unemployment rate is too high. Young men and women would pass out of the university and seek jobs for many years. How can someone who is still dependent on his or her parents talk of marriage? It is only when you are financially capable that you can do that.

    Another reason is that many young people today are seeking unrealistic choices. They are looking for Mr. and Miss. Perfect. Are you perfect yourself? So, they waste time looking for what is not available. You cannot get a woman or man who is 100 per cent good. Get some appreciable percentage and start building on that.

    Did you engage in courtship with your husband like we have it now?

    No, there was no such thing as courtship at that time. As you know, the only constant thing in life is change. So, during our time, we did not know what they call courtship. All that happened was that if a male had grown up to the age of getting married, he would inform his family. The young man would begin to search for a suitable girl. Upon finding his choice, the girl would be betrothed to him. Over time, the necessary marriage rites would be performed and she would be escorted home to her husband.

    What really attracted you to him?

    In our time, the mode of searching for a wife was different. There was no such thing as boyfriend and girlfriend. A man would come to seek your hand in marriage, and if you liked him, you would go on, if not, you also had the right to say no. Although, there was no courtship, you still had a choice. I wanted a man who would take care of me and treat me well. We are like birds of the same feather in the sense that he had earlier mentioned that he had no sister, while I also had no biological brother. So, when we got married, he became an elder brother of some sort. I looked up to him as one and he took me in the same vein.

    In those days, wealth wasn’t the primary consideration such that if a man didn’t own a car or wasn’t rich, he was disqualified. It wasn’t so, unlike today. In any case, how many people were educated? However, when he came to seek my hand in marriage, my father was vehemently opposed to it.

    Why?

    His reason was that teachers were harsh. My father didn’t want any man who would maltreat me. I lost my mother when I was a toddler, so my father protected us and didn’t want us to be maltreated in any form, and he stood his ground that I wasn’t going to marry a teacher because he felt that teachers were harsh.

    However, that was a wrong perception. In those days, teachers’ disciplinary stance was legendary, unlike what obtains now. Unfortunately, many people mistook our disciplinary actions and strictness for harshness.

    Is he a loving man?

    Yes, of course. He loves and cares so much for his family. But he is a no-nonsense man. I would tell you that our being together for these past decades has been by the grace of the Almighty God. Like I said, there is no specific format in marriage. All you need is find your bearing and ride with it.

    Another quality that attracted me to him was his intelligence and honesty. He is strict and true to his belief. Many people also misunderstand his uprightness for stubbornness, but time proved a lot of things right. He always stands for what is right and this often brought him at loggerheads with people, and they would end up saying, ‘M. N. Uba is a stubborn man’.

    He is truly kind and loving but has zero tolerance for injustice and oppression. That is why I love him and he has remained a role model to many people.

    Is he still strict at 88?

    Not anymore. As you know, time changes a lot of things. Age has certainly slowed him down. He was like a roaring lion in his heyday, yet kind.

    Can you share with us some of the challenges that you went through as a couple?

    There were so many changes. Where do I start? There is no marriage that is devoid of challenge, especially when you are faced with the issue of childlessness. Ours was no exception. It was a tough one for us as a young couple. The first hurdle was having to live apart after we got married. We couldn’t live together because he was teaching in a missionary school, which was against the school owner’s policy or he would lose his job. So, I stayed in a different town, while he came only during the weekends.

    Another critical time was after I lost my first child and remained childless for another three years. He was losing patience. There was pressure from all sides but I kept faith and continued to pray. I think it was one of the most trying periods of my life. Naturally, in every marriage, a woman gains security when she bears children and it is always a fight if she is not able to. It is not quite common to see families that accommodate such. It is always a battle and for me, it was a tug of war. Opposition came from everywhere and I nearly lost the marriage.

    However, after three years, I had a baby girl. And you know that in those days, teachers were not well paid, unlike nowadays. We had to contend with irregular salaries and the burden of raising children under that circumstance. But I had always been busy too, supporting him. Raising a large family is a heavy task and it couldn’t be left for him alone. But we got by and, thank God, we are still together.

    How did you survive these hurdles?

    It was simply by the grace of the Almighty. My late elder sister was my wonderful confidant. She was so optimistic that the storm would be over. And I also had a few women friends who were older than me whom I confided in. So, whenever I had difficulties, I would go to them and they would advise me on various issues. Their wise counsel was of immense value throughout those turbulent periods. And because they were older and more experienced, they had ready nuggets to give on how best to deal with issues.

    Again, my late mother -in-law and her sister were always there for me. They never took sides. They were very objective and always ready to assist us. They would always tell me that without patience and tolerance, no marriage survives. I took to their advice and today, I am very grateful and have lived happily for these decades with him.

    Was there any time you thought of leaving him because of some difficulties?

    No, I never thought so. Times were difficult, but then, it was not quite common to see women separating from their husbands as it happens now except in extreme cases, which were very few indeed. In our days, our parents would always plead with you to stay and that things would be alright. A woman who runs away from her husband’s house because she couldn’t endure or for whatever reason, was seen as bringing disgrace and shame to her parents.

    At that time, any woman who ran away from her husband was considered as having been ill-advised and stupid. In any case, where would you run to? Don’t forget that then, not many women were economically empowered. We were taught to endure and be patient because tough times do not last but tough people do. Again, for me, since I had born children, I never thought of leaving them because it would be sheer stupidity leaving my children in circumstances I felt were unbearable. If I couldn’t take it, how would my children survive it without me? In spite of all the challenges, I knew that my children held the passport to a good future for us.

    Why is it that in your tradition, when the wife passes on, her corpse is taken back to her family?

    It is an integral part of our tradition. It is mandatory that a woman should be taken back to her kindred when she passes on. And based on this, when she is being given away in marriage on that day, this aspect of our tradition is clearly spelt out to her husband’s family. They would tell you as the husband that on no account would they want to see their daughter coming back except on the last day.

    So, what does this mean?

    It means a lot. It is our cultural heritage. The connotation of this is that the woman’s family prays that there will be no divorce. It is a fervent prayer that the couple will live long together and that it is only in the event of passage that your wife would be separated from you and be brought back to them because on the last day, her family must ask for their daughter.

    Even if her husband had passed on before her?

    Yes. It is the duty of the children to return her. We have a saying in my place that succinctly captures it: ‘We gave you the flesh of the woman and not the bones,’ which means that when you are done with her flesh, you endeavour to bring back her bones.

    Is this practice still on?

    Sure, why not? The law is sacrosanct and people still adhere to it. It is a crucial aspect of the marriage rites, irrespective of your religious or socio-economic status. No matter how wealthy the children may be, the woman must be taken back to her people in the event of death.

    What was the advice your father gave you as you set out of the home?

    My father’s wise counsel has also helped me a lot. In the first place, he made me to understand that no marriage was easy, so I should be ready to tolerate and bear whatever came my way. He also told me to remember whose daughter I am so that I would avoid getting involved in anything that would bring disgrace to him because he, too, was strict. He was a man of few words, but a great disciplinarian.

    What would you say is the panacea for a successful marriage?

    The first thing is to hold on to God. He is the builder and sustainer of all unions. Couples must learn to clean off their grievances as soon as possible; otherwise it would snowball into bigger crisis. Most importantly, a woman who craves happiness must learn to close one eye to some of the man’s excesses because men will always be men. We are Africans and as such, our cultural values are different from those of the Western world. You must be tolerant and accommodating. You must confide in people who would give you good advice.

    We also get to hear that couples should not involve a third party. What’s your take on that?

    Yes, it is alright not to involve a third party, but is it not better if you seek good advice and useful hints from a close confidant than bottling issues up until they eat you up or go beyond redemption?

    Divorce rate is high now. What do you think is responsible?

    Divorce is an age-long thing but I think the cases have become higher now because women have become more empowered and more educated than before. They have options and can take care of themselves financially these days. In our days, divorce was not fashionable, but now the reverse is the case. Then, the watch word was, ‘we can make it together’. Today, it is a sad tale of ‘I need to take a walk,’ all thanks to financial independence.

    Again, married women gravitate towards their age mates, unlike then when younger married women moved closer to older and more experienced ones from whom they tapped knowledge.

    Marriage is a different institution. You may be a professor but fail in marriage. So, you need wisdom and constant tips from those who have had experiences.

    What is your advice to young couples?

    When you are getting married, you should know that there is no such thing as Mr. Right or Miss Perfect. No one is 100 per cent good. But if you are able to get someone who has 75 to 80 per cent of what you want, you can begin to build on that as you grow.

    Again, you must take into cognisance that both of you are from different backgrounds and as such, should build a base of friendship. It is always easier to resolve issues when you are friends. Tolerance and endurance are the key elements to successful marriage.

    So simply said, what would you say you found in your husband that has kept you with him all these years?

    Sixty years after, hmm, I still see love in his eyes. I see beautiful things that have come out of our union, and that has kept me with him.

  • It’s strange but corpses actually talk to us

    It’s strange but corpses actually talk to us

    Taiwo Ogunsola and Sons (TOS) Funerals is a family business, established in 2003 to provide affordable funeral services. Its Managing Director, Mrs Taiwo Ogunsola, was the one who handled the bodies of the late Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Agagu, and those of the January 25, 2002 Ikeja Cantonment blast victims recovered from Oke-Afa canal. She received an award from the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Associciation Inc, South Africa, for handling bodies recovered from the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) building collapse last year. She tells OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA some of the problems of the profession.

    What does your work entail?

    I do embalm and resuscitate. I also do a lot of restoration. On a daily basis, I try as much as possible to embalm at least one case a day.

    What do you mean by embalmment and resuscitation?

    Embalmment means trying to preserve the body from decomposing very fast. We change the left over b)lood in the system. Then, we use a chemical to preserve the corpses, to let them look like they are still alive. Resuscitation means the reconstruction of the body to resuscitate it to how it was. It is hard work but it can be achieved.

    How long is the embalmment process?

    It is 45 minutes with the machine.

    Do the relatives of the body decide how you embalm?

    Yes, they do. When I was in the United Kingdom (UK), I found out that they do dry embalmment in Nigeria for up to two weeks. I cannot understand that. What we do is arterial embalmment. We embalm through the arteries and we do aspirate. We remove the left over fluids and replace them with chemical which fixes the abdominal organ. The body can be kept outside for up to one year. Most people are fixing the surface and not really the inner part.

    What drives your passion in this sector?

    I would say God. I was actually inspired by God through a dream in 1997. It is a call for me.

    What is the link between the abbreviation, TOS, and your profession?

    The name is Taiwo Ogunsola and Sons Funeral Home. TOS is just for easy pronounciation.

    How come your services are run mostly from government-owned facilities?

    When I came to Nigeria, I met with the state government to discuss how we can manage the mortuary in terms of employing and engaging professionals. Unfortunately, they could not understand what I mean by that, because they have never employed a professional. I had my professional certificate from the UK and another one as a certified funeral practitioner from United States (US). I came in during the bomb blast of Ikeja Cantonment of 2002, which led many people to drown inside the Oke-Afa canal. Many bodies were fished out of the canal at Oke-Afa in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area of the state. And that was when I did my first trial job for Lagos State. They engaged  public-private partnership (PPP).  The state government was impressed with the outcome of the job done and later, I was called to come on board. I have my private outfit as well.

    We were the first to do PPP with the government. Honestly, I would still give it to Dr. Lekan Pitan and Dr. Jide Idris because they really gave us the chance to prove our worth. We have been trying, it is not too bad but it could be stressful.

    Is your trade financially rewarding?

    Mortuary business is a long-term capital-intensive business. It is not as if you start today and start getting money from it. You must have a lot of passion, perseverance and patience. The money would come but not so fast. I stress that it is a capital-intensive business.

    Why is it that you are the one running the business and not employed staff? What is responsible for that?

    It is a family business because all over the world, funeral business is often generational. It is a call for me. My children are the second generation; they are all working with me and we are trying to put the third generation in place. But that does not mean we don’t employ hands as staff. But it remains a family business.

    What is your relationship with other people in the profession? Do they see you as a rival, rather than partner?

    I am tired. When I came into the country, I thought we were going to have a very cordial relationship. But I noticed people take it as a do-or-die affair in Nigeria. And most of them are over night pack your bag morticians.

    What do you mean by ‘pack your bag’ morticians?

    I do not think they know anything. Maybe they work inside the mortuaries as attendants; they then consider themselves as morticians. Mortuary attendants do not fall into being morticians. Let me explain this; unless you work for a funeral home, or unless you have an obsession about death and dying practices, you may wonder if there is a difference between a funeral director and a mortician or a mortician and an undertaker. For all intents and purposes today, there is no difference  especially if the funeral home is a small family operation. But, in larger funeral home operations, you might see a slight difference in what each job traditionally entails. The ‘Undertaker’ is a traditional European term that describes the person who would transport the body, prepare it for burial and interact with the survivors on funeral preparations. When the colonies were formed in the New World and burial services were needed, often church and family members would take over the job of the undertaker.

    During the Civil War, when embalming practices became popular among the growing funeral profession, the title of the person handling the affairs became the “Mortician” over the last decades of the 19th century.

    Can you differentiate between morticians and funeral practitioners?

    Morticians are people that work in the mortuary. You might actually train to be a mortician. Scientists go to school to study sciences. It is a bit hard to differentiate, but to me, we are all morticians. Being a funeral practitioner, you can do everything from arranging the funeral to attending the funerals. You sell the casket as a funeral director and you attend the funeral. On a larger scale, I will say the roles of a mortician and an embalmer are different. A mortician is a person who arranges for the final disposition of the body. An embalmer is someone who has been trained in the art and science of embalming and may not have any contact with the family, although many people fill both roles. Embalming training commonly involves a formal study in anatomy, thanatology, chemistry and specific embalming theory, to widely varying levels depending on the region of the world one lives in, combined with practical instruction in a mortuary with a resultant formal qualification granted after the passing of a final practical examination and acceptance into a recognised society of professional embalmer, while the funeral director arranges the details and handles the logistics of funerals.

    They interview the family to learn their wishes about the funeral, the clergy or other people who will officiate, and the final disposition of the remains. Sometimes, the deceased leaves detailed instructions for his or her own funeral. Together with the family, funeral directors establish the location, dates, and times of wakes, memorial services, and burials. They arrange for a hearse to carry the body to the funeral home or mortuary. They also comfort the family and friends of the deceased. Funeral directors prepare obituary notices and have them placed in newspapers, arrange for pallbearers and clergy, schedule the opening and closing of a grave with a representative of the cemetery, decorate and prepare the sites of all services, and provide transportation for the deceased, mourners, and flowers between sites. They also direct preparation and shipment of the body for out-of-state burial.

    Can you share your experience during the plane crash involving the late former Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Agagu, and what transpired between you and others in your profession?

    The crashed plane belonged to Associated Airlines. A plane carrying about 20 people and the body of former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Agagu, that crashed shortly after take-off from the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. The chartered Embraer 120 marked 5NBJY, belonged to Associated Airlines Limited, was heading for Akure, the Ondo State capital, for the final leg of the funeral rites for the ex-governor. Agagu died in Lagos on September 13. A lot of undercurrent took place but let us respect the dead, the living and colleagues. But the truth is that I have not been lucky with colleagues in Nigeria. It pains me from my bone marrow. We can actually work together. They believe I want to snatch their business because I met them in the business. They see me as a black sheep in this industry. So, I have decided to remain solo, keep to myself, and do my business. It gladdens my heart to tell you that I am  the district governor of morticians and funeral directors in Nigeria. I cannot even work because my colleagues do not want to join the train. My ascending the position was inaugurated in South Africa. I wish I could work with the support of my colleagues, especially the Lagos-based ones. Some people are encouraging me and they are from Ibadan. I am licensed but most of them in Lagos are not.

    Who licensed you?

    I am a professional. I have my licence from the UK. In Nigeria, we do not have a regulating body. I want a regulatory body but it has been difficult. The Health Ministry handles the regulation but they do not have a professional who is a mortuary scientist or a licensed mortician to help them set the standards. Being the District Governor now, I have been trying to call in people together by organising seminars, conferences to let them know what we are losing by not coming together.

    What is your experience like working on the bodies recovered from the Synagogue of All Nations (SOAN) church building collapse?

    When I was called upon to work on Associated Airline and I saw Tunji, it was the saddest day for me on this job. He was a nice and honest man but died for what he loved doing. However, during the South Africa mishap at the Synagogue, we got the bodies in bad forms. So, we had to try our best to present the bodies to them (South Africa government). I got an Excellence Award some weeks ago from the effort. My job was really appreciated. It was so stressful, but thank God we came out victorious.

    Do bodies talk to you?

    I would say strange but true. There are signs I notice that motivate me to do the work. I tailor my embalment to the needs of the bodies on my table. Because the body will actually tell me what he or she needs. If they died with typhoid, you cannot embalm someone that died of typhoid with someone that died of motor accident. They are two different types of embalment and that is why TOS Funeral is different from others. This aspect of talking is strange but true.

    In that case, have you come across some bodies that told you who killed them and how you can help them track the killers?

    No. It is not like that. It is something better experienced than told. They do not talk like I want to eat or drink. But will indicate how they want to be handled etc. It is strange but true. They do not talk of their killers. I do not know of such. It is a bloody lie that a mortician can track killers through dialogue with a body. We are not Necromancers. We are professionals. If someone (a body) comes to my table, there must be an autopsy. So, it isthrough the autopsy that they would know the cause of the person’s death. Tracking killers is not one of our strange but true stories.

    What are your disappointments?

    Let me just say it could be better. If I go on, I would not stop because I could step on toes. TOS would be everywhere because one cannot stop learning. I do courses at least twice or thrice a year. I need my continued education unit to stay on the register as a licensed person. If not for my age I can pack my bag and go back. But if I am not on date on the register, I would not be able to work. I have to update myself professionally. We have only five mortuary scientists in Nigeria. Four licensed from the UK and one from the US. Two of these five are from TOS.

    What is your suggestion to the Federal Government concerning your profession in this clime of change?

    I am trying to organise educational session in Nigeria. We would embark on this as soon as we are ready for them in Nigeria. I am going to have my first board meeting with them in the US in August. I want to thank the National Association of Funeral Directors and Morticians from South Africa for appreciating what we did during the church building collapse. Also, I thank the funeral directors from the US for appreciating me and making me the first governor of District 11. I also thank the Lagos State government for giving us the opportunity to serve them.

    All these are indicators that TOS knows and sets standards. TOS Funerals is a recognised member of both the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association (NFDMA), and the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) in the United States. As such, our practices are bound by the regulations of these professional associations. Furthermore, as the MD/CEO of TOS Funerals, I am a recognised member of the 100 Black Women of Funeral Service in the United States. We hypodermic the body, both the organ and the tissue. Embalment means trying to preserve the body from decomposing very fast.

  • Grace Egbagbe regains her groove

    Grace Egbagbe regains her groove

    After a long absence from the social scene for reasons best known to her, ebullient socialite, Grace Egbagbe, is back on the scene bigger and better. And rather than make her return a quiet affair, she did it with a bang.

    After experiencing some hiccups here and there, Grace has dumped the negative events that trailed her past in the dustbin of history.

    Graceful Grace, as she is fondly called by friends, has been spotted lately at high-octane events, including the presidential inauguration in Abuja where the former NTA top shot dressed to the nines.