This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Elder James (Alias - Edet Udo) NRN, RMN, SRN, NAH., London, 72 years old, born on December 28, 1930, and passed away on February 18, 2003. We will remember him forever.
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE:
Elder James Samuel William George, fondly called "Edetudo" by his family members and friends, was born on 28th December. 1930 to Late Mr. Samuel William George and Late Mrs. Ella S. W. George (Nee: Ella Aye Eyo Okon), both of King Eyo Honesty Il Royal family of Creek Town, in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State. His grand father was late Rev. William George, a missionary, who served the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria from early youth for over fifty years. EdetUdo was of one the seven children of his father, four of whom pre-deceased him. He grew up with his parents in Creek town under strict discipline and astute Christian life. He loved his grand mother, and so when his parents relocated to Calabar, young Edetudo remained with his grandmother for sometime in Creek Town. When He finally joined his parents he never failed to spend his holidays with his grandmother to help her around particularly in spliting firewood, and for this, he was nicknamed "Enyin Nne" meaning " granny's right-hand man"
EDUCATION:
Late Elder George had his early primary education in Creek town, and continued his elementary education in that ancient fountain of knowledge, Hope Waddell Training Institution, Calabar in the early 1940's. After his elementary education, he gained admission into the secondary section of his Alma Mater and obtained the West African Schoois Certificate in 1948. He joined the medical service in 1950, trained at Enugu General Hospital and qualified in December, 1952 as Nigerian Registed Nurse (NRN).
He proceeded to England on Scholarship of the erst while Eastern Nigeria Government to further his Education. He studied Psychiatric Nursing at Warley Hill Hospital, Brentwood, England, and qualified as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RMN), in December, 1958. While still on the scholarship, and having distinguished himself by obtaining a first grade in his Psychiatric Nursing Examination, he was selected to do a post - registration course at the Glouceshire Royal Hospital, England and he qualified as State Registered Nurse (RN) in 1960. He returned to Nigeria in 1962 The quest for knowledge was still burning in him, and so he went back to England in 1970 to study Hospital Administration in the Royal College of Nursing, Cavendish Square London, and qualified as Nurse Hospital Administrator (NAH) in 1971.
CIVIL SERVICE CAREER:
Late Elder George was a Nursing officer and Tutor in St. Margaret Hospital (now University of Calabar Teaching Hospital), Calabar, from 1952 when he qualified as a Nurse, to 1958 when he left for England. While in England, he worked as a Psychiatric Nurse Officer in the Psychiatric Hospital, Brentwood, from 1959 - 1961
and was on Industrial Attachment at New Castle Upon - Tyne Hospital; Birmingham Royal Hospital, Birminghaim, and Ranford General Hospital Essex, from 1961 to 1962 When he returned to Nigeria in 1962, he continued in the Civil Service and made steady progress in his career as a nurse, and rose to the rank of Assistant Chief Nursing Officer and Nurse Administrator in-charge of the Psychiatric Hospital ( now Neuro - Psychiatric Hospital), Calabar from 1971 to 1985. While in service, he was an
'Administrator par excellence',
, a lover of dignity of man. He was an efficient worker
even in the face of discouraging situations posed by clients / patients, who imbued his profession with such panache and craftsmanship, and earned for himself, the name
"father of Nursing'. As a Nurse tutor and an Administrator, his experience, brought to bear on his students, affected the lives of many Nurses who, today, have occupied important posts of responsibility in the Nursing Profession. He was an examiner for the Nursing Council of Nigeria at many approved centres of the Examination. Late Elder George retired from Service in 1985.
POST SERVICE:
After his retirement from the pensionable civil service of the Cross River State in 1985, Late Elder George took up an appointment with the Mutanda Medical Ventures Ltd, Calabar, as the Nurse Administration Cum Company Secretary, from 1985 to 1987, there again, he proved his mettle to the admiration of both the staff and clients Realising his professional ingenuity, he was called back on contract by the Ministry of Health, Cross River State as the Principal Nursing Officer in the Neuro-psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, from 1988 to 1992. He was the pioneer Chairman of the Hospital Management Committee (HMC) of the General Hospital, Mary Slessor Avenue, Calabar, from February to September, 1998. He also served as a member in the subsequent H.M.C of the Hospital up to 2001. He was appointed a member of the 12th Governing Council of the Calabar Polytechnic (now CRUTECH), from 1997 to
1999. He was often invited as a resource person in various Nursing Seminars and Omentation Programmes in the State, His Contributions in the medical field and Nursing, in particular, even after his normal service, was tremendous, and he was held in high esteem.
CHRISTIAN LIFE:
EdetUdo was born into a Christian Home in the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria
(PCN). He was baptised in babyhood, in the P.C. N., Greek town and remained in the faith through out his life. He was an active member of the Men's Christian Association (MCA). On 29th May, 1983, he was elected an ordained a Ruling Elder in the P.C.N Duke Town Parish, and was a father Group | of the M.C.A. (Father of Abraham Family) in 2001.
Late Elder George was a devoted Christian, who was ever willing to participate in Church activities whenever called upon to do so. He served in various Church Committees (Standing and Ad-hoc), and ran several church errands in Duke Town Parish. He was the Assistant Session Clerk in Duke Town Parish, an office he held for six years and took a large share in shapping and guiding the business and deliberations of the Church. He chaired a few Church activities organized by the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish of Catholic Archdiocese of Calabar. Notably and most recent was the Sacred Heart Feast Day Celebration of 2002 which he chaired the occasion and played distinctive roles at the various stages of the Celebration He was a "Chip of the old Block" as far as Church service was concerned, for his grandfather, late Rev. William George, donated his parcel of land for the building of the Presbyterian Church at Ikot Omin, which Parish is named after him as "Rev William George Memorial" Parish, and he, late Elder George, contributed to the establishment of that Parish. Little wonder then that God called him a day after attending Church service in Duke Town, where he went to praise and lift up His name.
MARRIAGE:
While in England, Edet Udo met and married former Miss Jane Dubois and the marriage was blessed with four children. That marriage later broke up, and Jane returned to England where she re-married. In 1992, Edet Udo wedded former Miss Regina Ekanem, a senior Educationist with the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB), Calabar. This marriage was blessed with two children. They stayed together until his death
SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Late Elder J. S. W. George was a lover of humanity, and so he was one of the foundation members of the National Assembly of Creek Town Leagues, Calabar branch. Since in the early 1970's - a socio-cultural and non-political Association geared towards the development of the people and places in his father land. He also belonged to the 'Elders forum of Creek Town Leagues, Calabar Branch, He was a member of the erstwhile Calabar Municipal Council of Social Service; a Patron of Ito Welfare Association and Development Union (IWADU). and an Honourary active member of the Police Officers Mess, Calabar. He was also an executive member of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUPEN), and a friend of the ANCOPSS (All Nigerian Conference of Principal of Secondary Schools), C.R.S. Branch, through supporting his dear wife Regina. He was not left out in sports as he was an executive member of the Cross River State branch of Billiads and Snookers Association of Nigeria (BASAN)
Our, feelings glow with joy when we think of Edetudo's service to God through humanity, as a Nurse; an Administrator; an Elder; a Community leader, a Mentor; a Loving husband; a Caring father and grandfather; a brother, a cousin, and a true friend He did not hesitate to support in speech and action, any cause which he thought to be right. He was an eloquent speaker, a fine gentleman of a balanced personality, neat and was very English. He was nicknamed "Mbakara Obio Oko" (meaning - The 'English man' of Creek Town) by his manhood friends, due to his non-violent and non-aggressive nature, gentlemanliness, correct dressing and carriage, respect for human dignity, and for being at peace with himself.
THE LAST DAYS
EdetUdo celebrated the new year with his "children" and their spouses in Abraham family late in January, 2003. He went about his normal life functions up to 17th February,
2003. Even on Sunday, 16th February, he attended the Church Service in Duke Town where he shared pleasantries with his fellow Elders. In the early hours of Tuesday, 18th February, 2003, he was suddenly, called to rest by his creator, after a very brief illness.
We mourn our dearly beloved one. A rare gem is gone. May the joys of his memory last longer than the pains of his departure from the earth. May God, in His infinite mercy, grant his soul eternal rest, Amen.
