Dr Francis Onoja: Portrait of A Dependable Physician

Dr Francis Onoja is one of the few Nigerians who have made bold marks in medicine. He contributed in no small measure to the shaping of the health sector while he worked as a public servant in three different states namely Kwara, Benue and Kogi. He retired from the civil service in 1993 to join a private practice. Today, he is the Chief Consultant Surgeon and Medical Director of City Hospital, Makurdi, Benue State.

Francis Onoja was born at Odolu, Kogi State on June 20, 1941. He is Igala and hails from Kogi State, Nigeria. He attended St. Charles’ Primary School, Ugwaka/Ollah from 1949 to 1951 and St. Peter Claver’s Primary School, Akpanya between 1952 and 1954. He proceeded to St. Michael’s Secondary School, Aliade in 1955 and obtained the WASC in 1960. Thereafter, he was admitted into the Federal Science School, Lagos in 1961 and obtained GCE ‘A’ Level in 1963.

In search of the golden fleece, he went ahead to the University of Liege, Belgium in 1964 to study Medicine. He obtained B.Sc Medical Sciences in Liege in 1969. He was elected Clinical Assistant in Medical Microbiology, a part-time post he held during his clinical years (1970-1972). He did his internship in oto-rhino-laryngology, dermatology, urology and psychiatry at the Liege University Teaching Hospital at Baviere from April to July, 1972.

He did his Housemanship at the University of Liege Teaching Hospital, from 1972 to 1973 and graduated M.D. Liege (Kingdom of Belgium) in 1973. He also did his Postgraduate training in Tropical Medicine, Antwerp in 1974. He served as Casualty Officer at St. Joseph’s Clinic, Liege (March-April 1974). He holds a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. He returned home in 1974 and served as Medical Officer, Surgical Unit, General Hospital Ilorin up till 1976. He was Medical Officer, Government House, Ilorin from 1975 to 1976 and Medical Officer in-charge, General Hospital, Idah (1976-1978).

Afterwards, he returned to the United Kingdom and Ireland for his Postgraduate training. His initial training was at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of London from 1978 to 1979. He was Senior House Officer, Casualty at Birkenhead General Hospital, Liverpool in 1979. He also served as S.H.O. at the Accident Surgery and Orthopaedics, Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital, Coventry in 1981. He was Registrar in General Surgery with Urology at Queen Mary’s Hospital for the East End, London (1981-1982).

Dr Onoja did his final FRCS revision course (Intensive) at St. Thomas Hospital Postgraduate Medical Centre, Westminster, London (September-October 1982). He served as Locum Surgical Registrar, Newham Hospital, Plaistow, London (1983). He served as Locum Registrar, Casualty Unit, St. Andrew’s Hospital, Bow in 1983 and Locum Senior Registrar, Department of Surgery, Newham Hospital, Plaistow in 1984. He earned Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons (Ireland) in July 1985. He bagged Fellow, West African College of Surgeons in 1989.

He returned home in 1985 and picked up an appointment with the Benue State Government’s Ministry of Health as a Consultant Surgeon at General Hospital, Makurdi. He became Senior Consultant Surgeon in April 1986. He was appointed Medical Superintendent-In-Charge, General Hospital, Makurdi from October 1987 to 1989. Dr Onoja was promoted Chief Consultant Surgeon in 1987. He moved up the professional ladder in 1989, when he was promoted Director of Hospital and Clinical Services, Ministry of Health, Benue State. With the creation of Kogi State, he moved to the new State as Director of Medical Services and Training, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in 1991. He retired from the public service in December 1993.

Dr Francis Onoja retired into private practice as Chief Consultant Surgeon of Judita Hospital, Makurdi, Benue State, where he served from 1994 to 2000. He set up his own private medical practice namely City Hospital, Makurdi in 2000. He also serves as Part-time Consultant Surgeon at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi since 1996. This eminent surgeon has undertaken several research projects. Between 1970 and 1972, he assisted Professor P Fredericq in his research on “Microbial Resistance to Antibiotics with Special Reference to Plasmids,” (Department of Microbiology, University of Liege). He also conducted a clinical investigation on the “Efficacy of Deamethasone in Head Injury Patients” at Idah (1977-1978). Dr Onoja participated in a Multicentre Survey of the Efficacy of Oxpentifylin (Trental) in Peripheral Vascular Research (In Collaboration with Mr. D.A.K. Woodward, FRCS at Walsgrove Hospital, Coventry, U.K.) in 1980.

Dr Francis Onoja has attended a number of courses and seminars. He attended the Professional Officers Induction Course, Development Centre, Makurdi in 1987. He also attended a workshop in Research Methodology in Biomedical Sciences at the Postgraduate Institute for Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan in 1988.

This brilliant health administrator has received several awards and honours. In 2002, his City Hospital received a Distinguished Merit Award for Excellence from the Institute of Industrialists and Corporate Administrators of Nigeria. He was elected a member of the Institute in 2003. Dr Onoja received a Medal for Excellence in Hospital Management in July 2006. He received a Distinguished Merit Award as a “Most Performing Medical Service” from that august organization in 2006. In 2009, he was conferred with the Development in Nigeria Merit Award by PSR Magazine. In 2010, he received the PSR Grand Award for Productivity in Africa.

Dr Francis Onoja is a Member of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria. He is also a Member of the Nigerian Medical Association. He is a widower with four children (three sons and a daughter). He speaks English, French, Igala and Igbo. He enjoys reading and listening to music mainly jazz and blues.