By steve anyebe.
On June 23rd, 2023, a Friday, the very cosy grounds of popular Victoria Island, Lagos, Eko Hotel and Suites played host to over eight hundred guests who graced the 2023 edition of the Nigerian Health Care Excellence Awards(NHEA 2023).
The Awards, an annual fiesta since 2014, was instituted to fish out, recognise, and celebrate the best individuals and Organisations for unequalled contributions to health care. Over two hundred Awards have so far been given since its inception. This year(2023), one of the rare individuals who was celebrated is the Benue born *Dr Matthew Ame IDOKO*, owner of Madonna Hospital, Makurdi.
Anyone who knows Dr Ame Idoko well can easily testify to his humility, chaste virtues and homeliness. A few weeks ago, yours sincerely had the special privilege of making acquaintance with the great mind in the premises of his Hospital, where hospitality has been taken to a new level. In company of Hon Matthew Obagwu, who also comes from Aidogodo Community as Dr Idoko, I had a very enlightened discussion. Thereafter, he insisted on seeing us off to the car park, brushing Obagwu’s protests aside. The interesting thing was the long time it took for us to cover the hundred meters. Dr Ame Idoko stopped and chatted with each child we met on our way. And they were quite a number that afternoon, some strapped on their mothers’ backs. One could notice the love and bond between him and the children. It was easy to conclude that he could not have belonged to any other profession.
An earlier letter from the Chairman Board of Trustees of NHEA, Dr Anthony A. Omolola, indicated that Dr Matthew Ame Idoko was to receive the *LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD* in the Special Awards Category, for having a consistent history of contributions over and above the call of duty in the area of Health Care Delivery Services. It added that his career and his Organisation’s history, impact, inputs and investments have led to the development of the health sector. How apt!
The Nigerian Health Care Excellence Awards is an initiative of Global Health Projects and Resources(GHPR) in collaboration with USA based Anadach Group LLC. While GHPR is a leading West African Consultancy Company involved in Health Care Management, Anadach Group is a health care strategic consulting firm providing innovative advice and services to clients and partners interested in transforming health care systems in emerging markets.
Dr Matthew Ame Idoko, first University graduate and first Medical Doctor to come out of Aidogodo Community in Okpokwu LGA of Benue State, is the Proprietor of Madonna Hospital, Makurdi.
A few words from Professor Innocent AO Ujah,OON, mni, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo:
*”We grew up to know that Ame Idoko was a model of a man, as he was the foremost scholar from Aidogodo and among the very first in Okpoga. Dr Idoko is the second living medical Doctor of Idoma ethnic origin ( Dr Ede in Canada, being the oldest). He is indeed a living legend. Dr Ame Idoko is a devout Christian of Roman Catholic Denomination, a homely man who is clearly a dedicated and devoted Paediatrician. He practices medicine with absolute observance of medical ethics. At his over 80 years of age, Dr Ame Idoko still goes to his hospital, Madonna Hospital Makurdi, to consult and treat his patients, the children who are leaders of tomorrow. He has mentored a huge number of young people, both Medical and non-Medical Doctors. He is a very well dedicated Medical elder who commands respect from his colleagues and also the younger ones. He is also a committed community leader whose humility and integrity are worthy of emulation. He is soft- spoken, but firm and fair to all, particularly that he is a father Rotarian in Nigeria. He is God fearing and has brought up his children in the way of Christianity with the touch of Idoma culture and custom. He certainly is a gift to Aidogodo, Okpoga, Idoma, Benue and Nigeria as a whole. May God continue to bless Dr Ame Idoko, MFR.”*
