WHO IS DR. CHRISTOPHER GBELOKOTO OKOJIE?

WHO IS DR. CHRISTOPHER GBELOKOTO OKOJIE?

By Williams Patrick Praise

WHO IS DR. CHRISTOPHER GBELOKOTO OKOJIE?

By Williams Patrick Praise

Dr. Christopher Gbelokoto Okojie (1920–2006) was a distinguished Nigerian physician, politician, historian, and philanthropist. Often referred to as "Xto," he is best remembered for his pioneering medical work in rural Nigeria and his monumental documentation of the history and customs of the Esan (Ishan) people.

Early Life and Education

Born on April 9, 1920, in Ugboha, in present-day Esanland, Edo State, Okojie was a dual prince of the Ugboha and Irrua kingdoms. His educational journey took him through some of Nigeria’s most prestigious institutions:

Primary Education: Roman Catholic Mission School, Ugboha, and Government School, Ekpoma.
Secondary Education: Government College, Ibadan (1936–1940).
Medical Training: He attended Yaba Higher College before entering the Medical School on a government scholarship in 1942. He qualified as a medical doctor in 1947.

Medical Career and Zuma Memorial Hospital
In an era when many doctors sought careers in major cities or abroad, Dr. Okojie chose to serve his community. In 1950, he founded the Zuma Memorial Hospital in Irrua.

Mission: It was the first private medical centre in Esanland, established specifically to provide affordable, high-quality healthcare to impoverished rural populations.
Philanthropy: He also established an orphanage and staff housing within the hospital estate, serving as the facility's Medical Director for over 50 years.
Professional Leadership: He served as the National President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) from 1974 to 1975 and was a Fellow of the International College of Surgeons.

Public Service and Politics

Dr. Okojie held significant positions at both regional and national levels:

Ministerial Roles: He served as the Minister of Works and Transport for the Midwest Region and later as the Secretary (Minister) of Health and Social Services for the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1992–1993.
Healthcare Reform: During his tenure as Health Minister, he was a key advocate for the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Academic Leadership: He served as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council at the University of Ibadan.

Literary and Cultural Contributions
Beyond medicine, Okojie was a dedicated historian and lexicographer. He feared that the oral traditions of his people were being lost and spent years interviewing elders to document them.

Esan Native Laws and Customs (1960): His most famous work, this book remains the definitive ethnographic study of the Esan people.

Linguistics: In 2005, shortly before his death, he published a comprehensive Esan Dictionary. He also translated several church hymns into the Esan language to preserve the dialect.

Honours and Awards
For his lifelong dedication to medicine and the preservation of culture, he received numerous accolades:

National Honour: Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 1964.
International Recognition: The first Nigerian to receive the Distinguished Community Service Award from the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO).
Personal Life and Death
Dr. Okojie was married to Olayemi Phillips (married in 1951), and together they had seven children. He continued to attend to patients well into his 80s before passing away on October 7, 2006, at the age of 86.

"Dr. Okojie was an intellectual giant who applied his energy to medicine, history, and the service of the poor."

Dr. Christopher Okojie was truly a polymath—a man who balanced the rigours of medicine with the meticulous research of a historian. Here is a deeper look into his literary legacy and his leadership within the Nigerian medical community.

Historical and Literary Contributions
Dr. Okojie is often credited with "saving" Esan history from the fragility of oral tradition. His work was born out of a fear that as the elders died, the identity of the Esan people would vanish.

Esan Native Laws and Customs (1960)
This is considered his magnum opus. It was not just a history book but a comprehensive ethnographic study.

Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science (honoris causa) from Ambrose Alli University.

The Benin Connection: Okojie was a strong proponent of the "Benin Origin" theory. He argued that the various Esan kingdoms were formed by groups migrating from the Benin Empire, particularly during the reign of Oba Ewuare in the 15th century.
Legal Documentation: He documented the complex laws of inheritance, marriage, and land ownership across the 35 distinct kingdoms of Esanland. This served as a vital reference for the Nigerian judiciary when settling customary disputes.

Sociological Insight: The book detailed the "Egbonughele" (age-grade) systems and the role of the "Onojie" (king) in governance, providing a bridge between ancient tradition and modern administration.

Linguistic Preservation
In his later years, he focused on the survival of the Esan language:

The First Esan Dictionary (2005): Launched just a year before his death, this was the first comprehensive lexicographical work for the Esan language.
Orthography: He co-edited Esan Orthography (1986) to standardise the writing of the tonal language.

Preserving the Sacred: He translated numerous English and Latin hymns into Esan, ensuring that the local dialect remained the "language of the soul" in community worship.

Leadership in the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA)
Dr. Okojie’s tenure as National President (1974–1975) came at a pivotal time for the medical profession in post-civil war Nigeria.

Advocacy and Professionalism
Standards of Care: He was a vocal advocate for medical ethics and the standardisation of clinical practice. During his presidency, he pushed for the NMA to be more than just a union; he wanted it to be a watchdog for professional excellence.

Rural Medicine Pioneer: He used his platform to advocate for the "decentralisation" of healthcare. Having built Zuma Memorial Hospital in a rural area, he challenged his colleagues to leave the comfort of Lagos and Ibadan to serve the millions in the hinterlands.

Legacy as a Mentor
Dr. Okojie was known within the NMA as a "pacifist" and a "stabilising force." He often mediated between the government and younger, more radical doctors who were prone to striking. His later appointment as the Federal Secretary of Health (1992–1993) was seen as a culmination of his NMA leadership, where he famously laid the groundwork for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The "Zuma Memorial" Philosophy
It is worth noting that his hospital was not just a building; it was a holistic community. Within the Zuma Memorial estate, he integrated:

Medicine: The primary hospital.

Social Welfare: An orphanage for children whose mothers died during childbirth (a common tragedy in those days).
Education: A nursing school to train locals, ensuring the hospital had a sustainable workforce.

"He treated the poor for free and the rich for a fee, but he treated everyone with the same dignity." — Common local tribute to Dr. Okojie.

As the Secretary (Minister) for Health and Social Services in the Transitional Council of 1992–1993, Dr. Christopher Okojie was tasked with modernising Nigeria's healthcare infrastructure. His tenure was marked by a shift from curative medicine to a focus on preventative and sustainable health financing.

The Foundation of the NHIS

While the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was officially launched in 2005, its modern legislative and policy framework was largely built during Okojie's tenure in the early 1990s.
Financial Sustainability: Okojie argued that the government could no longer bear the total cost of healthcare alone. He pushed for a contributory system where the burden would be shared between the government, employers, and employees.
The 1992 Blueprints: Under his leadership, the Ministry developed the technical blueprints for what would eventually become the NHIS Act. He sought to create a "social safety net" specifically to ensure that the rural poor (whom he had served for decades at Zuma Memorial) would not be bankrupt by medical emergencies.
The HMO Concept: He was one of the early proponents of involving private Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) to manage the efficiency of healthcare delivery, a model that is still central to Nigerian health insurance today.

Public Health Reforms

Beyond insurance, Okojie used his brief but impactful ministerial term to address core infrastructure and primary care:

Primary Healthcare (PHC) Strengthening: He championed the idea that the "base of the pyramid"—rural health centres—needed more funding than tertiary teaching hospitals. He believed that solving malaria, diarrhea, and maternal mortality at the village level would de-congest city hospitals.
Rural Development: Leveraging his position, he ensured that health was tied to infrastructure. During his time, he successfully lobbied for the provision of borehole water and improved road access in various rural parts of the Midwest (now Edo State), arguing that "clean water is as important as any medicine."
Professional Discipline: Drawing from his experience as a former NMA President, he implemented stricter regulations on the licensing of private hospitals to prevent the growth of "quack" clinics, ensuring that the private sector met the same standards he had set at his own hospital.

Philosophy: "Service Before Self"
Okojie’s policies were deeply influenced by his 40 years of running a rural hospital. He famously criticised the "brain drain" of Nigerian doctors to the West, calling it a desertion of the people who needed them most. His goal as Minister was to create a system that made it viable for young doctors to stay and practice in Nigeria.

Key Legacy Achievement: He was the first to successfully bridge the gap between the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Federal Ministry of Health, using his unique position as a former president of the one and current head of the other to foster cooperation instead of conflict.

FG Steps Up Drive for Universal Health Coverage This video discusses Nigeria's ongoing journey toward Universal Health Coverage and the reform policies that continue the legacy of early advocates like Dr. Christopher Okojie.

Dr. Christopher Okojie’s vision for the Zuma Memorial Hospital was unique because it functioned not just as a medical facility, but as a self-sustaining social ecosystem. At its heart were two institutions that defined his legacy: the Orphanage and the School of Midwifery.

The Zuma Memorial Orphanage
The orphanage was born out of a specific, tragic reality of 1950s rural Nigeria: maternal mortality.

The Catalyst: In the early days of his practice, Dr. Okojie often witnessed women dying during childbirth due to complications that were brought to him too late. This left behind "motherless babies" who, in some traditional settings of that era, were viewed with superstition or simply lacked the resources for survival.
A Sanctuary: Rather than seeing these children as a social burden, Okojie integrated them into his estate. He established the orphanage within the hospital grounds so the children could receive immediate medical attention, proper nutrition, and—most importantly—education.
Lifelong Support: Many of the children raised in the Zuma Memorial Orphanage were sponsored by Okojie through primary and secondary school. Some even went on to work within the hospital as adults, creating a cycle of communal care.

The School of Midwifery
Dr. Okojie recognised that he could not lower the maternal death rate alone. He needed a "trained army" of women who could manage births in the villages.

Establishment: He founded the School of Midwifery at Zuma Memorial to formalise the training of nurses and midwives. It eventually became an internationally recognised institution.
The "Grade 1" Standard: The school was famous for producing Grade 1 Midwives. By the time of his death, the school had graduated over 1,100 midwives.
The Training Philosophy: Unlike urban nursing schools, Okojie’s students were trained specifically for rural medical practice. They were taught how to handle emergencies in low-resource settings, making them invaluable to the entire Midwestern region of Nigeria.
Experience for Doctors: The hospital also became a rotation site for medical students from various Nigerian universities. It was often their first exposure to "frontier medicine," where they learned to perform surgeries and deliveries without the high-tech equipment of city teaching hospitals.

Current Status of the Legacy
In recent years, the physical infrastructure of Zuma Memorial has faced significant challenges.

Relocation: As recently as 2023, the Edo State Government had to intervene and relocate children from the Zuma Memorial Orphanage due to the dilapidated state of the aging buildings.

The Need for Preservation: While the buildings have aged, the institutional impact remains; the school helped set the standard for private medical education in Nigeria and proved that high-quality specialist care could exist outside of Lagos or Ibadan.

Summary of Impact

Feature	Impact
Orphanage	Saved hundreds of "motherless babies" and provided them with education and a career path.
Midwifery School	Deployed 1,100+ skilled birth attendants into rural communities, directly lowering maternal mortality.
Rural Training	Served as a practical laboratory for generations of Nigerian doctors to learn community-based healthcare.

While specific "celebrity" names from the orphanage are often kept private to protect the dignity and privacy of the individuals, the legacy of Dr. Okojie’s training programs is woven into the fabric of the Nigerian healthcare system.

Many who passed through Zuma Memorial Hospital did not just become staff; they became pioneers in their own right.

The Legacy of "Zuma Alumni"

1. The Midwifery Vanguard

The over 1,100 midwives trained at Zuma Memorial became the backbone of maternal health in the old Midwestern Region (now Edo and Delta States).

The "Zuma Standard": In the 1960s and 70s, a midwife trained at Zuma was considered a "Specialist Rural Midwife." They were known for their ability to perform manual removals of placentas and manage postpartum hemorrhages in remote villages where a doctor might be days away.
Community Leaders: Many of these women went on to head government maternity centres and primary health care departments across Nigeria, implementing the "community-first" approach they learned from Dr. Okojie.

2. The Medical Residents

Before the explosion of teaching hospitals in Nigeria, Zuma Memorial served as an unofficial "residency" for many young doctors.

Notable Impact: Many senior consultants in Nigeria today recount stories of their "Irrua days." They were mentored by Dr. Okojie not just in surgery, but in the humanity of medicine—learning how to treat patients who had no money but brought yams or goats as payment.
Influence on National Policy: Several doctors who rotated through Zuma later joined the Federal Ministry of Health, carrying Okojie's passion for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) into the legislative halls of Abuja.

The "Children of Zuma" (The Orphanage)
The orphanage produced a generation of professionals who often stayed within the medical and academic fields:

Internal Succession: Several children raised in the orphanage grew up to become nurses, administrative staff, and laboratory technicians within the hospital itself. They formed a "family" that kept the hospital running during the difficult economic years of the 1980s and 90s.
The "Zuma" Surname: It was not uncommon for children who were abandoned or whose families could not be traced to be given a fresh start with the support of the Okojie family, with some even adopting the name or variations of it as they moved into successful careers in teaching and civil service.

A Centre of Global Learning
The hospital’s reputation was so high that it attracted international attention:

The FIGO Connection: Because of the hospital's success in lowering maternal mortality, Dr. Okojie became a frequent collaborator with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO).

Reflecting on the Vision
The most "notable" result of Zuma Memorial wasn't a single famous person, but the stabilisation of the Esan population. Before Dr. Okojie, infant and maternal mortality were so high that many families were decimated. By training midwives and housing orphans, he literally ensured that the next generation of Esan people survived to build the Edo State we know today.

Dr. Christopher Okojie’s literary work and the medical culture he fostered in Irrua are two sides of the same coin: both were dedicated to the preservation and elevation of the Esan people.

Bibliography: The Works of Dr. Christopher Okojie

Dr. Okojie was a meticulous researcher who used his clinical travels to remote villages as opportunities to conduct ethnographic interviews.
International Volunteers: Throughout the 70s and 80s, European and American doctors travelled to Irrua to learn "Tropical Medicine" and "Community Obstetrics" at Zuma Memorial, making it a global hub for cross-cultural medical exchange.

"Ishan Native Laws and Customs" (1960): His most influential work. It provided the first written structure for Esan history, detailing the origins of the 35 clans and their legal systems.
"What is in a Name?" (1984): A fascinating sociological study exploring the deep meanings, ancestral roots, and "destiny-naming" traditions within Esan culture.
"Esan Orthography" (1986): Co-edited to provide a standardized system for writing the Esan language, which was crucial for its inclusion in school curricula.
"Esan Dictionary" (2005): A monumental lexicographical project completed shortly before his death, containing thousands of words, many of which were becoming obsolete in modern speech.
Hymn Translations: He translated dozens of Catholic and Anglican hymns into Esan, ensuring that the local language remained a "sacred" medium for the community.

The Connection to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH)
A common question is whether the modern Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) is the same as Okojie’s Zuma Memorial. While they are distinct entities, they are deeply linked by history and geography.

The "Zuma" Foundation
For over 40 years (1950–1990), Zuma Memorial was the only major medical centre in the region. Dr. Okojie proved that Irrua could support a world-class medical facility. His success essentially "put Irrua on the medical map."

The Birth of ISTH

In 1993, during Dr. Okojie's tenure as the Federal Secretary of Health, the Federal Government established the Otibhor Okhae Teaching Hospital (later renamed Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital) via Decree 92.
Collaboration, Not Competition: Rather than competing, the two hospitals complemented each other. ISTH provided high-end tertiary research (becoming the world leader in Lassa Fever research), while Zuma Memorial continued its mission of grass roots maternal care and social welfare.
A Culture of Excellence: The presence of Zuma Memorial had already created a local population that trusted modern medicine, providing the perfect environment for a federal teaching hospital to thrive.

Summary of Dr. Okojie’s Multi-Faceted Legacy

Primary Achievement:

Historian: Documented the oral history of 35 Esan kingdoms before they were lost.
Linguist: Produced the first comprehensive Esan Dictionary and standardised its writing.
Minister: Produced the first comprehensive Esan Dictionary and standardised its writing.
Philanthropist: Raised and educated hundreds of orphans at his own expense.
Physician: Pioneered rural medicine and trained over 1,100 midwives to fight maternal mortality.

"He did not just treat the sick; he healed the identity of a people."

Dr. Christopher Okojie’s "Benin Origin" theory is the bedrock of modern Esan historiography, though it has sparked significant academic debate. He famously argued that "all Esan people came directly and indirectly from Benin," a stance he supported through meticulous linguistic, cultural, and political comparisons.

The Core Theory: "Esan-fua"
Okojie popularised the etymological theory that the word Esan is derived from the Bini phrase "E san fia" (meaning "they have fled" or "they jumped away").

The "Big Bang" of Esan History (1460 AD)
Okojie pinpointed the most significant wave of migration to the reign of Oba Ewuare the Great of Benin.

The Draconian Laws: According to Okojie, after the mysterious and sudden death of his two sons, Oba Ewuare enacted extreme mourning laws: no bathing, no drumming, and—crucially—no sexual intercourse for three years.
The Exodus: Many citizens found these laws unbearable and fled northeast into the jungle. Okojie argued that these "refugees" became the founding fathers of modern Esan kingdoms.
The Reconciliation: Later, the Oba realised he could not bring them back by force. He invited the leaders of these breakaway communities to Benin, where he "invested" them with the title of Onojie (King), effectively turning independent rebels into recognised vassals.

Okojie’s Evidence for the Theory

To prove the "Benin-ness" of the Esan people, Okojie focused on three pillars:

Linguistic Links: He argued that the Esan language is a dialect of Benin (Edo), modified by time and isolation but sharing a common "Kwa" family root.

Political Architecture: He noted that the titles and court structures in Esanland (like the Iwebo, Ibiwe, and Iwoghene societies) mirrored the hierarchy of the Oba’s palace in Benin.

The Modern Academic Debate
While Okojie’s work is the most cited, modern historians (often using archeology and more complex oral traditions) have challenged the "mono-causal" (single-cause) Benin theory.

The "Aborigine" Argument
Critics argue that Okojie’s theory ignores the people who were already in the forests before the 15th-century migrations.

The "Onojie" Institution: He maintained that no Esan king was considered "legitimate" in the old days unless his title was confirmed by the Oba of Benin, proving a subordinate but ancestral link.

Pre-1460 Evidence: Some historians suggest that "proto-Esan" groups lived in the area as far back as 1000 BC. They argue that the Benin migrants didn't create the Esan people but rather conquered or absorbed an existing population.
The Pejorative Term: Some modern Esan scholars reject the "E san fia" (those who fled) etymology, viewing it as a "Benin-centric" or derogatory way to describe their ancestors as mere runaways rather than pioneers.

Waves of Migration
More recent studies suggest a "multi-wave" model:

Early Wave: Hunter-gatherers from the north.
Middle Wave: Political dissidents from the Igodomigodo (pre-Oba) era of Benin.
Okojie’s Wave: The massive 15th-century flight from Oba Ewuare’s laws.

Okojie’s Legacy in History

Despite the debates, Dr. Okojie is credited with creating a unifying identity. Before his book, Esanland was a collection of 35 fragmented kingdoms that often fought one another. By giving them a common origin story and a written history, he transformed a group of "petty chiefdoms" into a proud, singular Esan Nation.

"Okojie's work was the bridge between the oral myths of our fathers and the written records of our children."

Dr. Christopher Okojie’s connection to the Ugboha Kingdom was not just a matter of birth, but a core part of his identity that fuelled his passion for history. As a dual Prince of Ugboha and Irrua, he occupied a unique position in the Esan royal hierarchy.

The Prince of Two Kingdoms
Dr. Okojie was the son of Onojie Okojie of Ugboha and Princess Zuma of Irrua. This lineage made him a bridge between two of the most significant clans in Esanland:

Ugboha (His Paternal Home): According to the histories he documented, Ugboha is one of the oldest settlements in Esanland. He wrote about the legendary brotherhood between the founders of Uromi and Ugboha, noting that the senior brother settled in Uromi while the junior brother moved further to find water, founding Ugboha.
Irrua (His Maternal Home): His mother, Princess Zuma (after whom his hospital was named), was the daughter of the legendary Onojie Eromosele of Irrua. By founding his hospital in Irrua, Dr. Okojie was honouring his mother's lineage while serving the broader Esan community.

His Work in the Nigerian School Curriculum
Dr. Okojie’s book, Esan Native Laws and Customs, has long been the "gold standard" for anyone studying the region.

Higher Education: In Nigerian universities, particularly at Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, and the University of Benin, Okojie’s works are essential texts for students of History, Sociology, and Customary Law. His documentation of inheritance and succession is frequently cited in legal papers regarding Edo State customary law.
Primary and Secondary Schools: While there isn't a single "Esan History" subject in the federal curriculum, his research heavily informs the Social Studies and History modules taught in schools across Edo State. His efforts in standardising Esan Orthography also allowed the language to be taught as a subject in local primary schools.
Modern Challenges: Today, some scholars use his work as a "thesis" to argue against. Modern students are often taught to compare Okojie’s "Benin Origin" theory with newer archaeological evidence that suggests the Esan people may have lived in the region even earlier than the 15th-century migrations he described.

Mapping the "Okojie Lineage" and Esan Hierarchy

Concept	Okojie's Interpretation	Modern Scholarly View
Origin	Fled from Oba Ewuare (1460 AD).	Mixed: Some fled, others were autochthonous (indigenous).
Etymology	Esan fua ("They have fled").	Esan may be a more ancient, independent name.
Political Link	All Enijie (Kings) must be confirmed by the Oba.	A later political arrangement, not necessarily an ancestral one.

The "Zuma" Legacy Today

The name "Zuma" remains iconic in Edo State. While the original hospital buildings have aged, the spirit of the institution lives on in the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH). In fact, ISTH is now a world-renowned center for Lassa Fever research—a fitting evolution of Dr. Okojie’s dream of bringing world-class medicine to a rural village.

Dr. Okojie’s biography is ultimately the story of a man who refused to let his culture be forgotten or his people be underserved. He used his royal privilege to become a servant, and his medical training to become a historian.

@WPPraise
Editor-In-Chief/Publisher
esanland.org
wpp@mycomforter.org