Dr. Omoigui was my chief resident when I trained at Cook County Hospital. I regret not contacting him after we completed our training. I think of him when I encounter someone from or hear a story of Nigeria and sadly, came across his memorial .

Nowa's enormous breath of knowledge, ability to lead with humor, dedication, kindness, and deep concern for his patients, always served as an example to me of what a physician was meant to me.  He was able to see the larger picture and analyze complex situations to determine how to best help patients when resources were limited; he was always respectful of those he supervised,   tried to teach us some of his skills and was always generous with his knowledge and time. He would have tea in the evening with myself and other residents in the cafeteria, providing an uplifting break, always making us laugh, before we returned to a long night of calls and patient rounds though-out the hospital. 

I am grateful to have known him, may he rest in peace and his family receive some comfort from the memories and experiences they will always retain. 

Rest in peace Nowa,

Dr. Cocchiarella

 

Nowamagbe Austin Omoigui (1959 – 2021)
MD, MPH, FACC.

THE TRAILBLAZER.

By Abraham Ariyo, M.D.

Nowa Omoigui shattered the glass ceiling in Cardiology by being the first Nigerian immigrant to serve as Chief of Cardiology of a major University Medical School in the United States – The University of South Carolina, Columbia. His achievements ushered in a new era of possibilities. He inspired new generations of young Africans and African Americans in Cardiology worldwide. He chartered a new course, allowing us to redefine our future. By his example, we know that there are no limits in pursuing our dreams in the field of Cardiology. We celebrate his life this week.

Nowamagbe Omoigui was born on March 28, 1959 and passed on April 18th, 2021. He was a precocious talent who set records everywhere he went. He graduated from high school at age 15, from Federal Government College, Warri in Nigeria. He graduated with distinction and set a record as the first in the history of the school (and one of the first in West African History) to obtain a Grade A1 in Fine Arts. In 1975, after a year of pre-Med at King’s College in Lagos, he gained admission to study Medicine at the Nigeria’s premier Medical School, The College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. In 1981, he graduated at the top of his Medical School Class with distinction and delivered the valedictory speech. After Internship, he spent a mandatory year of service at the Brigade of Guards where he set new records by coordinating an air, sea and land Military disaster drill, and received a National Award from the Nigerian President Shehu Shagari in 1983.

In the U.S., he did Medicine Residency at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, NY and served as Chief Resident at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. He obtained a Masters degree in Public Health from the University of Illinois. He trained in Cardiology at Stanford University and in Interventional Cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic (America’s best heart center). Nowa continued his tradition of collecting awards and setting records in the U.S. He was awarded the Timothy Beckett (1992) and Hewlett Packard (1993) Awards, and Awards for excellence as a post-doctoral fellow in Cardiovascular Disease. He set the all-time record among clinical fellows at the Cleveland Clinic for the highest number of abstracts submitted and presented (as first author) at a single National meeting (American Heart Association 1994). Importantly, he set a new record when he became the first Nigerian (African) immigrant to be Chief of Cardiology at a US University Medical School in December 1994 at the age of 35. Perhaps the youngest to do so.

At the 1995 American College of Cardiology Conference, while I was presenting as a young Cardiology Fellow from Boston and my compatriot, Dr. Akinboboye was presenting as a young Instructor from Columbia University, we were both delighted to see Nowa on the podium as a Guest Faculty of the American College of Cardiology. It definitely opened our horizons. If Nowa could be up there, we too could. This trend has continued till today with young immigrants and young African Americans in leadership positions in every aspect of Cardiology in the United States.

In 1996, when I visited him at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, he was the Chief of Cardiology, the Program Director of Cardiology Fellowship, Director at the VAMC, and the Chairman of the Governing Board of Regents. The night of my visit, during the war of the Desert Storm, Nowa logged into the high-level, War-Room that was full of Military Generals, discussing Tactics and Strategies of military warfare. On Saturdays, he would email me his weekly political write-up for me to proofread, which I would send back to him on Sundays. That opinion would be published in his weekly column in the popular Nigerian newspaper, The Guardian.

Before the advent of internet, Nowa would give you facts and figures about events. By the time you checked, he would be correct about the date, time, place and everything else. His brain was like a walking encyclopedia. He was a preeminent cardiologist, an academic researcher, a prolific writer, a masterful orator, a Military and Nigerian historian, and a genius. Despite his record-setting achievements and his intellectual prowess, he was always humble, easily approachable, always ready to help the younger physicians. When he got comfortable with you, he would crack jokes upon jokes, and you would think he was a comedian. I miss his laugh.

While on this earth, Nowa ensured that his name was engraved in record books for the ages, we pray that God engraves his name among His greatest servants and grant him glory and eternal life in Heaven.

Nowa, we celebrate you today. Rest in Peace.

Abraham A. Ariyo, MD, MPH, FACC.
Director, HeartMasters Cardiology
Interventional Cardiologist,
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, Texas.

My dear brother, you are gone too soon. Like a supernova, you lit up the galaxy for one brief shining moment, and then exited in a blaze of glory.

As the next sibling to you, separated by just fifteen months, you led the way for me. I was part of your journey as we grew up together. From inauspicious beginnings, your talents and gifts were revealed every passing year as you progressed through our nursery school, Corona Cretch, Ikoyi, primary school of St Saviour’s, Ikoyi and then St Mary’s School, Lagos and then your secondary school, Federal Government College, Warri as I went to Kings, College Lagos. You came to join me in Kings College for your lower six and then got admission to the University of Ibadan. I later came to join you there and then years later followed you to Cook County Hospital, Chicago, where our paths diverged from there.

Your encyclopedic memory was the foundation of your accomplishments in Medicine, Interventional Cardiology, Political and Military History and Strategy, including Nigerian, African and European history. Your genius is the stuff of legends and will be heralded to the end of time.

Nowa, people like you come once in a million years. I am glad that we shared the earth for most of your journey here. Earth’s loss is indeed heaven’s gain.

As we mourn your loss here on earth, I am comforted by the fact that you are receiving a hero’s welcome by our late mother Grace Onaiwu Omoigui, our aunts Iye-Ogbe and Iye-Nohuwa, our uncles Egbon and Tommy Asemota, our grandfather, Pa Aiyanyo Omoigui and Pa Elekhuoba Asemota, our grandmothers, Sarah Aiyowieren Omoigui and Izevbokun Asemota, and our great grandmother Iyeye Ogbewe Asemota on the other side. Your good friends in the Nigerian Army who passed before you including Lt. Col Mike Iyorshe, Major Alaiyemola, General Azazi among many others are welcoming and prayerfully worshipping with you at the throne of God.

Nowa, you now belong to the ages. You were a good and generous man to your friends, family and strangers. You were your brother’s keeper. Go forth to your heavenly father and exchange your cross for a crown.



Dr Sota Omoigui

condolence message

"I shall respond to your comment in good faith and ignore the possibility that it was motivated by less than high-minded emotions. You seem to be preoccupied with the nuances of imprecise descriptive language (i.e. early seventies versus mid seventies versus late seventies). Ordinarily I would have dismissed your comment as an attempt at splitting nomenclatural hairs. But you have also subtly cast aspersions on the basic validity of my life history. For that you must be brought to order.

When I saw the email message Frank had sent out (culled from the Nigerian Scholars Website: Editor Prof Peter Ekeh) I was embarrassed because I generally shy away from publicity about personal matters. I prayed it would just go away quietly. But of course man proposes and God disposes. So you will get a public response to your very public question.  

I was born March 28, 1959. I attended Corona Cretch Ikoyi, St. Saviours, Ikoyi and St. Mary's, Lagos (where I first met Father (now ArchBishop) Okojie. My Principal at St. Saviours on then Alexander Avenue (where it meets then Milverton Rd.) was one Mrs. Robson. I was over 6 and slightly less than seven (7) during the Jan 1966 coup. I entered FGC Warri (under P.H. Davis) in January 1969 at age 10 (at that time the school year began in January).  For that reason, feeling I was too young, although promoted to Class 2, my father made me repeat Class one (1) in 1970. I graduated (WASCE "O" level) at age 15 from FGC Warri in June 1974, Grade One (1) with distinction (Aggregate 10). [House: Independence, first on the left coming from the main gate in front of Shell BP] Cross-markers: I was the first in the history of
that school (and one of the first in West African History) to get Grade A1 \in Fine Art. After a year in Lower Six (6) at King's College Lagos (Paynes House), across from Race Course, I entered University of Ibadan preliminary medicine (by concessional direct entry) in 1975 at the age of 16. (I was admitted in early 1975, but resumed in October) [Registrar: SJ Okudu; VC: Tail-End of Oritsejolomi Thomas, early Tekena Tamuno].

I was a Mellanbite, across from Trenchard, behind the Bookstore (room mates, P. Ekeh (Education), Abel Afighi (Medicine), later Akin Ogundipe (Medicine), Emil Mondoa (Medicine) at Alexander Brown Hall, and rather well known member of the Students Representative Council (SRC) (cross check Damlong Wulma (of the NOA Abuja), Senator Jonathan Zwingina). No need to provide more details of other activities but you can always ask G.G. Darah, Chairman of the Guardian Editorial Board.  

I graduated MBBS (with distinction) in 1981 and delivered the valedictory speech (special guests Akanu Ibiam, Beko Kuti; Provost: Akande). UI Student Identification number 15799 (feel free to check).

Regarding my performance at the Brigade of Guards cross check with retired Brigadier Khaliel (now a Federal Minister), retired Brigadier Hebron Tuti (then CO, 6 Bn), or then Major Inyang of Garrison HQ, Dodan Barracks, retired Col. Sabo Aliyu (of then 123 Bn Ikeja) or recently retired Colonel Mohammed Mana (of Gds Bde, Abuja) who was then a Lt./Captain at the S&T Co, next to Federal Palace Hotel. (Others like then Major Alaiyemola of Ojo Barracks, then Major (later Lt. Col.) Mike Iyorshe are dead). Retired Air Commodore? Mbaka can give you the AirForce perspective (He was in charge of helicopters). If you want to go international check with retired Col. Mike Pearce, then British Defence Attache.

Regarding my National Award in December 1983 by then President Shagari it took place at the National Arts Theater, Iganmu not long before he was overthrown. It was widely reported in newspapers. I have the signed certificate and photographs. Check with PK Obasa. (rtd). He was the NYSC Director.

Throughout my career I have either been the youngest or among the youngest two or three in every class. I was the youngest when awarded the Timothy Beckett (1992) and Hewlett Packard (1993) Awards for excellence as a post-doctoral fellow in Cardiovascular Disease at Stanford [My Boss then was Victor Dzau, now Chief of Medicine at Harvard). I scored above the 90th percentile in the American Cardiology Speciality Boards (1993). I was the youngest
when I set the all-time record among clinical fellows at the Cleveland Clinic for the highest number of abstracts submitted and presented (as first author) at a single National meeting (American Heart Association 1994). [Check with Eric Topol, Chief of Cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic]. I became a Chief of Cardiology in a University in the USA in December 1994 at the age of 35. (Perhaps the youngest to do this too)

I noticed that you are at the UN. After getting this message please stop by the office of the permanent representative, Dr. Ibrahim Gambari, and ask him if he knows one Dr. Nowa Omoigui.  It's been a while since I last saw him. If in Geneva check with Chiedu Osakwe at the WTO.  

If you need other more specific addresses of contacts for your personal clarification I shall provide them. But it is important that you not mix wheat with chaff. To mention Salisu Buhari and Bola Tinubu in the same paragraph with me is a disservice to good taste and to all the fine people who made me what I have become. But faced with so many charlatans in public life, I can see how some Nigerians have no concept of the fact that there is a genuine core of highly qualified and distinguished Nigerians tucked quietly away from public view. My biodata is no big deal compared to many Nigerians I know.  

In a private message I sent to the Edo Community earlier I stated thus:

"Dear Colleagues,

Thank for all the accolades. As we say in Africa, it takes a village to raise a child. Without the guiding light of my parents, the support of my family, the positive moulding effect
of all my teachers and schoolmates, the moral pillar of my church, all anchored on the cultural milieu, historic authenticity and depth of character of the Edo people, I am nothing."

Warm regards,

NAO"

Nowa was a great friend and colleague. We shared our school years in FGC Warri in the same house and went to the same medical school University College Hospital Ibadan. He was a year my senior in both institutions. We lived in Surulere and visited each other during the holidays. I recall his distinct laugh with the twinkle in his eyes. He read widely and was an authority in many fields outside his main focus of study. Long before the internet or Google search, Nowa could provide you with accurate information on almost anything that one was looking for at the time. His history of the Nigerian Army remains in my view unsurpassed even today. Political events and personalities of the 50's - 60's and how they impacted on Nigeria's trajectory were some of his passions. Today on receiving the news of his passing, I am not sad. I am happy to have counted him as a friend. His good deeds and ever curious nature will open up for him bountiful experiences in his further journeying. He will have a lot to do joyfully! I wish him all the guidance and help as he continues on his path of experiencing in the wonderful creation of The Almighty Creator.