At a time of great national uncertainty and emergency in Nigeria, the levels of apprehension, mistrust, hatred, and wickedness is at an all-time high. For a land so endowed with vast human and natural resources, the current realities do not elicit joy. The question on the lips of many is how on earth did we get here? Regular News headlines of the killing or death of Nigerians in the West, North, East or South are now taken with a feeling of normality. Life just goes on as if nothing has happened. Our value and premium for the sanctity of human life has disappeared. Is human life in Nigeria now worthless?  

Nigeria is in dire need of gifted and exceptional talents to reel her out of the woods in critical sectors. Step in Douglas Emeka Okor, Consultant Neurosurgeon, a.k.a the CNS. He is the CEO AshantiGraham Medical Company Limited and founder AshantiGraham Health and Education Initiative Foundation, AGHEIF and a distinguished alumnus of the prestigious University of Benin (UNIBEN) Nigeria. At medical school, he was a `party goer` and what people called `noise maker` but with a brain on fire. He never had a resit in any course in medical school and was one of the organisers of the first UNIBEN medical students` carnival. This cerebral medical juggernaut was born at UBTH (University of Benin Teaching Hospital). Douglas started his intellectual sojourn at the UNIBEN Staff school, and then Adolo College (now Edo Boys High School) Benin City at a time when the spartan disciplinarian, Late Chief Ayela Uwangue was the at helm as Principal.

A consummate Deltan and an Edo son by conjugal affiliation (married to a prominent Edolite), Douglas hails from Emevor in Isoko North Local Government area of Delta State. His father is Professor Roland Sidney Okor, erudite Professor of Pharmaceutics whose scholarship transcended the citadel of learning from Obafemi Awolowo University Ife, Strathclyde University of Glasgow, Scotland, to University of Benin Department of Pharmacy. His mum, Madam Justina Okor is from the popular Rapu family, Asaba. Douglas has 5 siblings, and he is a proud father of two lovely children. The scholarly brilliance in his DNA, his love for drawing, and music was glaring from an early age. The young Douglas knew his mission – to save lives and in the most difficult of cases. As a young medical student, Douglas Okor once told his heartthrob, “I want to be a Neurosurgeon”. Her reply was, “Why not?”. “She looked him in the eyes and said, “Can you tell me why you want to specialise as a Neurosurgeon?”. His firm response was, “Do we have a Neurosurgeon now in this University of Benin Teaching Hospital? This South-South region of Nigeria has no Neurosurgeon now. Why should Nigerians die needlessly?” This was in the year 2000.  His decision to opt for the `Head and Neck` of Medical Science was deliberate, measured and calculated.  His specialist medical training in the United Kingdom saw him rotate through and spend time in 10 out of the 31 neurosurgical units in Great Britain. This polyglot has subspecialist competences in Skull Base/Endoscopic Pituitary, Neurovascular and Complex Spinal Surgeries. He leads a fantastic team that delivers complex Neurosurgical care in Nigeria.

He returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom in August 2016 and since then has been collaborating with other individuals and organisations to help push the boundaries and raise the standards of complex Neurosurgical care in Nigeria. That move in 2016 remains a mystery to many of his contemporaries. Swapping the allure and comfort of the United Kingdom, Douglas showed his humane disposition and compassion for the Nigerian patients. He put others before self and monetary gains. His mantra, The Nigerian Patients Are Worth It has brought succour, relief, hope and recovery for Nigerians of all strata. Using his deft knowledge, Douglas and his team continue to carry out numerous surgeries on complex and life threatening brain, spinal injuries, and related ailments. Many patients unable to access such treatments outside Nigeria have been operated on right there in Nigeria. Such a life saver!

As a people, majority of our conversations in Nigeria circulates around politics, politicians, and elections. Our societal gravitation is now all about a cyclical pendulum that oscillates every four years. We have left the substance of wholesome living and are chasing shadows. The celebration of men and women who do selfless, sacrificial service for humanity has been relegated to the background. Mediocrity, avarice and lack of value for human life now reigns supreme. Time has come for us to bulk this ugly trend.  The CNS Douglas Emeka Okor is a foremost Nigerian Health Sector Advocate and Disruptor, Entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker as well as Youth Empowerment Mentor. With his mantra #TheNigerianPatientsAreWorthIt, it is undisputed that he is proudly Nigerian and determined to promote team collaboration of healthcare providers to help turn around the Nigerian healthcare space.

Take a bow Dr Douglas Chukwuemeka Okor.

Tony Agbons is founder of the Institute of Good Governance