Tribute to a Mentor and Father
February 10, 2020
by Nkata Chuku
Dr Ben as he was fondly called by most of us, was a colossus with a kind heart. A visionary with a fervent love and loyalty for Nigeria, propelled by a selfless belief that we have what it takes to fix the challenges of the country and its health system.
I met Dr Ben in 2006 in Kaduna, while working as Member of the Ministerial Committee tasked with developing a Health Financing Policy for Nigeria. He took an interest in me after sitting through a session where I made inputs. In his characteristic generosity and believe in grooming younger talents, he went out of his way to engage with me and introduce me the leadership of the DFID Partnership for Transforming Health Systems (PATH) that he worked for then. I became his mentee from that day and by the time we came back to Abuja after a week in Kaduna, I had an engagement with PATHS as a consultant, to support some of their health financing and policy work.
Dr Ben worked harder than members of his team, despite his age. If you send him an email by 1am, be sure you will get a response before daybreak. I had to learn that if I wanted to sleep, I will wait until morning before sending him any work for review. His house always had a spare room or rooms for his team members and friends for the nights we had to work late. I still remember the many nights in his Wuse 2 and later Asokoro apartment, with him and some others, staying up, brainstorming, developing draft health documents and then napping for short intervals, to wake up and finalise in the morning. He will say to me, “… Chuku, the minister needs it early and we cannot fail to deliver, you are young and energetic so I know we can finish it”. If we got hungry, we warmed food from his fridge and ate, when the work is done, he will offer wine and loads of praise. His leadership approach and generosity made it impossible to say no when he asked that we work longer hours or away from home. How do you say no when you hear the passion in his voice, realise the level of sacrifice he is making for a better Nigerian health, especially given his age and numerous achievements after which most people would have retired? It felt good and positive working with him, so the hours didn’t seem to matter.
Besides his official work, Dr Ben extended his “doing good always” mantra to all the communities he belonged to. He got me to work with him to develop a concept for community development for his church in Abuja, a strategic plan for the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), a business case for local vaccine production in Nigeria and many other pro-bono endeavours. You will find him on almost any non-paying committee that is setup to advance health and development for Nigerians. He lived to serve and never gave up despite the obstacles. I recall severally expressing to him my frustration with the lack of sincere implementation of many strategies and policies we worked on together. He stayed positive and encouraged me not to give up, even though I can imagine that he felt the frustration more, having been much longer at supporting health sector reforms than me. He visibly channeled any disappointments and frustration he felt with the system, into more work, advocacy and constructive activism. He not only spoke truth to power, but offered himself selflessly, to lead in providing solutions.
Dr Ben provided all of us his mentees and anybody who was fortunate to come across him, the leverage to learn and grow. He reached out without prompting anytime he identified an opportunity that he feels is fit for you. He provided advice, references, mentorship and encouragement. Speaking with him a few weeks before he passed, he still poured out his usual wisdom and sent me a reference letter by 2am. Dr Ben took an interest in not just my work, but my well being as a person. He saw me beyond my technical abilities and was more of a father than a mentor and senior colleague. He was a leader with a heart of gold.
The health sector and Nigeria have lost a treasure, a giant and one of the sincerest believers in Nigeria, that I have ever met. Nigeria have lost a man who was the rallying point of the health sector reform struggle for over 2 decades. His footsteps in the sands of time are indelible. I am consoled by the fact that I had the opportunity of meeting with him, working with him and hearing him introduce me as one of his sons. It is indeed an honour.
Dr Ben lived his life fully according to his favourite bible quote “let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up - Galatians 6:9” He never wearied in doing good and never gave up. We, his health sector reform family, now owe it to him to ensure that his efforts at reforming the Nigerian health sector are not in vain. His transition to a better life should spur us to work harder to achieve a health sector where all Nigerians have access to quality health care, irrespective of their geography and socio-economic status.
I pray that God comforts his family and gives them strength and understanding. I and Health Systems Consult Ltd (HSCL), join the Health Sector Reform Coalition (HSRC) to stand with them at this time of pain.
May the Soul of Dr (Sir) Benjamin Nnamdi Chukwudum Anyene Rest in Perfect Peace, in the Bosom of the Lord.
Dr Nkata Nwani Chuku
Founding Partner, HSCL
I met Dr Ben in 2006 in Kaduna, while working as Member of the Ministerial Committee tasked with developing a Health Financing Policy for Nigeria. He took an interest in me after sitting through a session where I made inputs. In his characteristic generosity and believe in grooming younger talents, he went out of his way to engage with me and introduce me the leadership of the DFID Partnership for Transforming Health Systems (PATH) that he worked for then. I became his mentee from that day and by the time we came back to Abuja after a week in Kaduna, I had an engagement with PATHS as a consultant, to support some of their health financing and policy work.
Dr Ben worked harder than members of his team, despite his age. If you send him an email by 1am, be sure you will get a response before daybreak. I had to learn that if I wanted to sleep, I will wait until morning before sending him any work for review. His house always had a spare room or rooms for his team members and friends for the nights we had to work late. I still remember the many nights in his Wuse 2 and later Asokoro apartment, with him and some others, staying up, brainstorming, developing draft health documents and then napping for short intervals, to wake up and finalise in the morning. He will say to me, “… Chuku, the minister needs it early and we cannot fail to deliver, you are young and energetic so I know we can finish it”. If we got hungry, we warmed food from his fridge and ate, when the work is done, he will offer wine and loads of praise. His leadership approach and generosity made it impossible to say no when he asked that we work longer hours or away from home. How do you say no when you hear the passion in his voice, realise the level of sacrifice he is making for a better Nigerian health, especially given his age and numerous achievements after which most people would have retired? It felt good and positive working with him, so the hours didn’t seem to matter.
Besides his official work, Dr Ben extended his “doing good always” mantra to all the communities he belonged to. He got me to work with him to develop a concept for community development for his church in Abuja, a strategic plan for the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), a business case for local vaccine production in Nigeria and many other pro-bono endeavours. You will find him on almost any non-paying committee that is setup to advance health and development for Nigerians. He lived to serve and never gave up despite the obstacles. I recall severally expressing to him my frustration with the lack of sincere implementation of many strategies and policies we worked on together. He stayed positive and encouraged me not to give up, even though I can imagine that he felt the frustration more, having been much longer at supporting health sector reforms than me. He visibly channeled any disappointments and frustration he felt with the system, into more work, advocacy and constructive activism. He not only spoke truth to power, but offered himself selflessly, to lead in providing solutions.
Dr Ben provided all of us his mentees and anybody who was fortunate to come across him, the leverage to learn and grow. He reached out without prompting anytime he identified an opportunity that he feels is fit for you. He provided advice, references, mentorship and encouragement. Speaking with him a few weeks before he passed, he still poured out his usual wisdom and sent me a reference letter by 2am. Dr Ben took an interest in not just my work, but my well being as a person. He saw me beyond my technical abilities and was more of a father than a mentor and senior colleague. He was a leader with a heart of gold.
The health sector and Nigeria have lost a treasure, a giant and one of the sincerest believers in Nigeria, that I have ever met. Nigeria have lost a man who was the rallying point of the health sector reform struggle for over 2 decades. His footsteps in the sands of time are indelible. I am consoled by the fact that I had the opportunity of meeting with him, working with him and hearing him introduce me as one of his sons. It is indeed an honour.
Dr Ben lived his life fully according to his favourite bible quote “let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up - Galatians 6:9” He never wearied in doing good and never gave up. We, his health sector reform family, now owe it to him to ensure that his efforts at reforming the Nigerian health sector are not in vain. His transition to a better life should spur us to work harder to achieve a health sector where all Nigerians have access to quality health care, irrespective of their geography and socio-economic status.
I pray that God comforts his family and gives them strength and understanding. I and Health Systems Consult Ltd (HSCL), join the Health Sector Reform Coalition (HSRC) to stand with them at this time of pain.
May the Soul of Dr (Sir) Benjamin Nnamdi Chukwudum Anyene Rest in Perfect Peace, in the Bosom of the Lord.
Dr Nkata Nwani Chuku
Founding Partner, HSCL