The Chief Medical Director of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi,Anambra State was conferred with the traditional title of Ochinanwata Nnewi (A young leader in Nnewi)by the Igwe of Nnewi HRH Igwe Dr Kenneth Orizu 111 during the 2023 Ofala festival at the Igwe’s palace.
The festival attracted dignitaries within and outside the diaspora.
In attendance were the members of Igwe’ s cabinet in their colourful regalia,Obis,Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi former Governor of Enugu State, Dr George Moghalu,TC chairman, Engr.Chris Obiorah and many illustrious sons and daughters of Nnewi community.
The colourful ceremony was to mark Igwe of Nnewi 60th year on the throne which made him the longest reigning Monarch and to celebrate his 98 birthday.
With this recognition given to Prof Joseph Odirichukwu Ugboaja Ochinanwata Nnewi, he is now a member of the prestigious body of titled chiefs of Nnewi.
According to HRH Igwe Dr Kenneth Orizu, Prof Ugboaja was conferred the Ochinanwata title in recognition of his numerous contributions to the development of NAUTH especially transition to permanent site.
Reacting to this great honour , the Chief Medical Director of NAUTH said in a statement that
“My title investiture demands more work which I will not relent to do”
Prof Ugboaja expressed his gratitude to Igwe of Nnewi which he called father and his entire cabinet members for this honour and promised not to disappoint them.
“The Chief Medical Director of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi,Anambra State had engineered a phenomenal infrastructural and human capital development of the hospital,rare in kind scope and complexity using a combination of transformational,visionary and didactic leadership skills”
“He is the son of the soil of Ufuma in Orumba North Local Government Area in Anambra State”
“Prof Ugboaja is a Gynaecologist and Obstetrician and Administrator per excellence”
“The CMD’s trajectory in hospital administration started in 2013 when he was appointed the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital”
“Being a man who never allows any opportunity to contribute to the growth of the system slip off his hands,he was able to give a good account of himself such that in the year 2017,he was duly elected seemingly as a reward for a previous job well done and subsequently appointed the chairman,Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital, which he was reappointed in 2019 for a final term of two years”
“His contributions to the hospital while he was the CMAC earned him the Acting Chief Medical Director”
“Having discharged his duties creditably as the Ag.CMD,excelled at the interview for the assessment of would be CMDs,Prof.Joseph Odirichukwu Ugboaja was subsequently appointed as the substantive CMD of the hospital”
“As the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof Ugboaja defined a new vision for the hospital which is “To rank among the top 5 hospitals in Nigeria and ultimately become the best in Nigeria”
“The giant and bold strides of the CMD in developing the permanent site led to the commissioning of the permanent site on 19th July 2023 by the then President and Commander in Chief of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari who subsequently decorated him with the National honour of Officer of Order of Niger (OON) in recognition of his sterling contributions to Nigerian Health Sector and National development in general”
“In recognition of Prof Ugboaja’s visionary and transformational leadership style which has greatly transformed NAUTH and the Healthcare delivery system in Anambra State,he was given numerous awards by many organizations”
“These included NMA Anambra State Merit Award,AMLSN Anambra State merit award of excellence in leadership, MDCAN NAUTH Award for visionary leadership, NANN and M Anambra State Human resource award, Sweet home award for transformational leadership, Quality Leadership award by Advocates for good governance in Nigeria among others just to mention a few”
“Today, Prof Ugboaja was honoured by Igwe of Nnewi and his cabinet members with a title; Ochinanwata Nnewi”.
