Hero; DR. STELLA AMEYO ADADEVOH (1956 – 2014)
Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh was the lead physician and endocrinologist at a family clinic in Lagos, Nigeria. She had never seen Ebola before but was able to properly diagnose, contain, and resist pressure to release Nigeria's index Ebola patient in July 2014. However, because the Nigerian health system was not prepared for an outbreak at the time, she contracted Ebola and died on 19 August 2014. Her heroic efforts prevented a major outbreak in the most populous African country and served as the catalyst for government action. As a result of her keen perception, courage, and steadfastness, all 20 Ebola cases in Nigeria can be traced to a single path of transmission originating with the index patient. This is what differentiated the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria from the major outbreaks in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Due to her actions, Nigeria was able to contain the virus and the World Health Organization declared Nigeria Ebola-free on 20 October 2014.
Dr. Adadevoh was truly dedicated to serving humanity and this passion reflected throughout her life and times. She was a selfless and compassionate individual who went above and beyond the call of duty for her patients and loved ones. Giving and caring were simply part of her nature. Dr. Adadevoh was a provider in every sense of the word and she thrived on fulfilling her true calling – to be a healer of both the body and soul – every day.
A year after her death, on 19th August 2014, Dr Adadevoh's sacrifice cannot be forgotten. Her only child, Bankole, tells about his mum’s heroic efforts in the country’s fight against Ebola
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Bankole Cardoso. I am the son of Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh. I am an entrepreneur. I was born and raised in Nigeria. I went to Boston College in the US for my undergraduate degree, where I studied Business Management and Accounting. I worked with PriceWaterHouse Coopers in New York. After that, I worked in a private equity firm called the Carlyle Group, in the US. I’ve been back in Nigeria for about two years now and I launched a company called Easy Taxi in Nigeria.
How was growing up?
It was wonderful. My mum was a very loving person. I was her only son and with me, it was even more. She showered me with love and gave me everything. There was nothing that she wouldn’t do for me. She taught me many things. She taught me to be faithful and strong. She was such a strong person. The only reason why I could still be on my feet after going through this, is because of what she taught me. She was always there, but she still made me stand on my own. She was the perfect mother because of her love and care.
Can you tell us about your mother’s profession?
My mum, Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, worked at First Consultants for 21 years, the same hospital I was born in. She was synonymous with First Consultants. Also, many of my best friends and my whole family were born there. She treated generations of different families; parents, grandparents, great grandparents, children and grandchildren. That was the case in my whole family as well. She treated everybody. I have met many patients of hers who have said that she was such an exceptional doctor because she really cared for them. She followed up on them all the time and prayed for them. Medicine was definitely her calling. She was educated at the University of Lagos, and then she went to the University of London to continue her career. Later, she decided to move back to Nigeria to continue her career because she didn’t want to stay in England. She always said that she wanted to be here to make an impact on the health care system. She was selfless and extremely dedicated to her profession. She was there seven days in a week. She would even do house chores for her patients and go on house calls for free. Even those who couldn’t afford to pay for the health care, she had a tab at the hospital, she would give free medical care or tell them to put it on her bill and she would pay for it.
Your mum was said to have also discovered swine flu in Nigeria…
When swine flu came to Nigeria, she was the first doctor to diagnose that, just the same way with Ebola.
Everyone sees your mum as a heroine for the role she played in stopping the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the country. Do you also see her as such?
She was indeed extremely special and what she did was heroic. Despite the pressure and stress she was under, she was just concerned for Nigeria at the time. She kept saying, ‘I hope this doesn’t stigmatise Nigeria, I hope this doesn’t give us a problem.’ To me, she is a heroine, 100 per cent.
Can you recollect her encounter with the late Liberian diplomat, Patrick Sawyer, who brought Ebola into Nigeria?
The actual story was that when this man (Sawyer) flew into Nigeria from Liberia to attend a conference, he fell ill on his arrival and was taken to First Consultants because the general hospitals were on strike. When he got there, he was first treated for malaria on a Sunday. That weekend was my dad’s 60th birthday and my mum wasn’t in the hospital. We were all at home celebrating. On that Monday, she went to the hospital and saw him. Immediately, these were her own words to me, she said she was very disturbed, because it looked as if blood was seeping through his skin. She said she knew it was not malaria. When she asked him where he had been and he said Liberia, she immediately suspected it could be Ebola. Interestingly, three months or so before, we were just watching the news when she said, “Nigeria is not prepared for Ebola.” Back then, she immediately did her research on Ebola, noting that Nigeria needed to be prepared if there was an outbreak. She printed those papers long ago. So, when this man came, she immediately suspected; although at the time, she didn’t have any positive result that it was Ebola. The Liberian officials there were very furious and said she must release him, claiming that she was holding him against his will; and she had kidnapped him. But she said she could not let him leave the hospital for the public good, and he must stay there because she suspected he had a haemorrhagic disease which was infectious.
How was that period for you and your family?
It was incredibly stressful. I hardly saw her at the time because she was always busy at the hospital, with government officials and the World Health Organisation officials, and also having to care for this sick patient. She got home at 3am every day, and was up by 7am. I couldn’t see her for about three days and with the Ebola disease, one couldn’t predict the outcome. My dad and I went to the centre at Yaba every day, but we were not allowed to come close to her. At first, we could come close to the window to see her, but eventually, we were not even allowed near the window. I didn’t see her for about 10 days while she was in there.
When last did you see her and what were her last words to you?
The last time I saw her face-to-face was the day I went to the centre to give her her footwear and her iPad. She was physically very weak. This was someone I had never seen fall sick in my life. But then, she was physically very weak. I took all the stuff to her and put it through the door, she had to go and collect it because I couldn’t go into the room. We spoke through the window, I was crying. But she was adamant, she said, “Don’t worry, son. This thing is not going to kill me, but I am very proud of you.” Those were the last words she told me. This was about 10 days before she died. The WHO doctor, Dr. David, told us that it was only a matter of time (before she died), that we should expect the call the next day or in the next week. We were waiting for the call. But he kept telling us that it was a matter of time — it was worse than receiving the actual call.
Did she influence your career path?
She has always been involved in everything I have done. She always gave me advice. Last year April, I was supposed to give a TED X talk in Abuja, and I was going to talk about patriotism in Nigeria. I told her about it, we were supposed to go together. But it was cancelled because of some issues at the time. Before then, she did research, and sent me an email on her thoughts. I still have it. She basically wrote the speech for me. Five months later at the event; after she had passed on, most of the words I used were from her. I made her the centre of the speech, that she was a patriot.
You are a scion of two powerful dynasties; your mum was the great grand-daughter of Herbert Macaulay and the great great grand-daughter of Ajayi Crowther. Do you think your mum’s part in stopping the Ebola outbreak in the country was a stroke of fate?
These things are funny. I can’t answer that but a lot of people say that. Luckily, she was prepared. That’s what I can say. We had a Nigerian that was prepared. Maybe it’s her lineage, I don’t know, that’s what people say. I wished it wasn’t her, but I am thankful for what she did (for the country). Till today, I still get telephone calls from her patients, because they had a special bond with her. She was great in what she did. She didn’t need this to stand out or stamp her greatness.
A health trust has been named after your mum, what is it about?
The Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh Health Trust is strictly a non-profit organisation. After going through this very difficult time, my family and I decided to set up this trust. We have done a lot of research and we have met with the World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and other big international organisations; and we have decided to focus on training and ethics, because my mother believed in these. She used to quiz her doctors all the time, and gave them homework; things to read and she asked them questions. She recognised the challenges in our health care system.
Was your family stigmatised in any way at the time?
We were not stigmatised outrightly but we did our best to keep away from people. People wanted to visit us at home then but we said no, they had to stay away. We needed to be responsible. My father and I were placed under quarantine for 21 days. I didn’t know at that time that I would be alive today. But people were very kind to us and showed their support for us.
Were you scared of dying?
I was scared of falling ill, but I was never scared of dying because I didn’t think I would die.
What are some of the values you have learnt from your mother?
I wrote down the five main lessons I learnt from her — how to be a good person, because she cared for everybody. There is a disabled man on our street who came around every Sunday. She bought him a wheelchair, and she always gave him money and showed him care. She also taught me how to be incredibly strong, and how to get things done. If she wanted to do something today, she got it done. She taught me how to enjoy life, she loved enjoying life, and she enjoyed it to the fullest. Also, she taught me the importance of faith because faith is the bedrock of life.
How did she create time for the family?
As a busy doctor, till today, I don’t know how she did it. I don’t know how we shared her with many people. She had a huge heart and had time for everybody.
Where did she usually take you out to?
We went out visiting family or some came around to visit us. When I lived in the U.S., whenever she came around, we would go to see Broadway shows. Also, she loved shopping. We would go out shopping together. We would take walks in the park, and go to the museum; those were the kind of things she enjoyed — museums, arts, history and theatre.
What kind of reaction do you get when people realise that you are Dr. Stella Adadevoh’s son?
They say, “Oh, I’m so sorry, she was an amazing woman, she was this and that.” I’m used to it now. Initially, when the episode was still very fresh, I didn’t want to hear that. Now, I’m happy to hear it.
Would you say your mum’s name has opened doors for you?
While she was here, she opened all the doors for me, with everything I did in life. When I started my own company here, she wrote down a list of about 50 people I should visit. She would hand every patient of hers my company’s flyer. It’s amazing that she continues to open doors for me after her death. Her name is still opening doors for me.
Was she a disciplinarian?
She wasn’t a disciplinarian, but she was thorough, strict, but was fair.
How social was she?
She was incredibly social. She had weddings to attend every weekend with her geles and aso ebis. She and her close friends travelled everywhere and did everything together. Her close friends include Mrs. Violet Hecksher and Mrs. Maiden Ibru. Mum was just fun to be with.
How did she discipline you whenever you erred?
I was a naughty and playful child while growing up. She would just shout at me, she never really spanked me. Honestly, she used to pamper me.
How did she react whenever she was angry?
Whenever she was angry, the funny thing about her was that she would definitely show it. But the next day, she would be the one to approach the person and say, ‘that upset me, but I know why you did what you did.’ She always analysed everything and then she never remembered it again. She was a peacemaker.
What were her likes and dislikes?
She liked drinking tea. She loved going out to weddings, parties and meeting people. She loved travelling, even last year, she travelled to many places and she just wanted to see the world. Church and her faith were big things for her. She was very prayerful.
What was her daily routine like?
When she woke up, she would go downstairs by about 7.00am to watch television, and drink her tea. Then, she would leave for the hospital and get to work at 8am. She would do her ward round and see all her patients. She would be at the hospital till around maybe 3pm and go home. Sometimes, she had to go back to the hospital in the evening. But most times, we would just relax and have dinner at home together.
What were her hobbies?
She was always up to date with the news, she enjoyed reading the papers. She also had a library; she loved reading books, and always had current books in her collections. I have collected a lot of books that I got from her. She loved reading and acquiring new knowledge. She loved Nigerian authors, including Chimamanda Adichie. She also loved reading the Bible. She was also a big movie person. She liked romantic movies, action and comedies. She loved her iPad. She also loved cooking. She knew how to cook Nigerian soups and dishes. When she was younger, she participated in sports such as hockey.
Did she have a favourite meal?
Mine is jollof rice and she cooked it a lot. Hers was definitely one of the soup delicacies, like ogbono.
Did she have a favourite drink?
Coke was her favourite drink.
Are you still angry with Sawyer, the man that brought Ebola to Nigeria?
I have overcome the anger. I don’t think anybody would ever know his real motive of coming to Nigeria. But I think his actions were completely irresponsible. That’s how I would leave it.
How long were you angry with him?
I was angry at him, I was angry at God, I was angry at many things. But one had to channel it into something positive like the health trust. And that’s what I’m dedicated to and focused on now, full time. Like we would always say, if my mother was here now, she would have forgiven him (Sawyer). I can never forget what happened, it’s going to be a part of my life forever, but I forgive him. My dad also feels the same way.
How do you think she should be remembered?
She was the person that bonded our family together. She was incredibly dedicated to family and everybody understood that and appreciated that about her. She was just the most loving person you could think about. That’s how I remember her. Beyond that, Nigerians recognise that if it wasn’t for her correct diagnosis, we would not have had elections; we would not be where we are today. I think that is a legacy. She prevented us from going backwards. Our way of immortalising her is by continuing what she would have done, making that same impact on people’s lives and on the medical profession, subsequently, the whole country. That’s why we have set up the health trust in her name. Government and other people can do what they think is right to immortalise her. I think the way government could immortalise her is by revamping the health sector, and improving on health care in the country. There should be a change, for such not to happen in Nigeria again.
How have you and your family coped since her death?
To lose a parent, especially in that way, is incredibly painful. The first three or four months were just hard. But, luckily, there was a lot of family support, everybody pulled very close together, and I drew on my faith as well. It’s something one cannot explain. Yes, people fall ill, and they have maybe one or two years for a chance to say goodbye; but in this case, it was so quick. There was no chance (for us) to say goodbye to her, properly.
What do you miss most about her?
The love. It was like she used to bug me and I miss that. I miss her phone calls every day, three or four times a day, and I would say, ‘mum, I’m busy’, and she would call me again. I’m happy that we always used to express our love for each other. She knew I loved her, I still do.
Can you recollect some memorable moments with her?
There are so many. Whenever I remember her, it’s just happy memories. Till today, we would just laugh when we think about her because she was always in a good mood, she was always happy. She brought the family together. People were always coming to our house. She loved to go out to parties and dance. She loved dancing. She was just a very happy, spirited person, and she was very faithful. She was 57 years old, but she was very playful, sometimes like a little girl. She was so innocent, so selfless.
What kind of music or artiste did she like?
I know Whitney Houston was one of her favourites.
Do you have fond memories of her when you hear any song by Whitney Houston?
Yes.
Which particular one?
“I will always love you.”
Dr. Adadevoh was truly dedicated to serving humanity and this passion reflected throughout her life and times. She was a selfless and compassionate individual who went above and beyond the call of duty for her patients and loved ones. Giving and caring were simply part of her nature. Dr. Adadevoh was a provider in every sense of the word and she thrived on fulfilling her true calling – to be a healer of both the body and soul – every day.
A year after her death, on 19th August 2014, Dr Adadevoh's sacrifice cannot be forgotten. Her only child, Bankole, tells about his mum’s heroic efforts in the country’s fight against Ebola
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Bankole Cardoso. I am the son of Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh. I am an entrepreneur. I was born and raised in Nigeria. I went to Boston College in the US for my undergraduate degree, where I studied Business Management and Accounting. I worked with PriceWaterHouse Coopers in New York. After that, I worked in a private equity firm called the Carlyle Group, in the US. I’ve been back in Nigeria for about two years now and I launched a company called Easy Taxi in Nigeria.
How was growing up?
It was wonderful. My mum was a very loving person. I was her only son and with me, it was even more. She showered me with love and gave me everything. There was nothing that she wouldn’t do for me. She taught me many things. She taught me to be faithful and strong. She was such a strong person. The only reason why I could still be on my feet after going through this, is because of what she taught me. She was always there, but she still made me stand on my own. She was the perfect mother because of her love and care.
Can you tell us about your mother’s profession?
My mum, Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, worked at First Consultants for 21 years, the same hospital I was born in. She was synonymous with First Consultants. Also, many of my best friends and my whole family were born there. She treated generations of different families; parents, grandparents, great grandparents, children and grandchildren. That was the case in my whole family as well. She treated everybody. I have met many patients of hers who have said that she was such an exceptional doctor because she really cared for them. She followed up on them all the time and prayed for them. Medicine was definitely her calling. She was educated at the University of Lagos, and then she went to the University of London to continue her career. Later, she decided to move back to Nigeria to continue her career because she didn’t want to stay in England. She always said that she wanted to be here to make an impact on the health care system. She was selfless and extremely dedicated to her profession. She was there seven days in a week. She would even do house chores for her patients and go on house calls for free. Even those who couldn’t afford to pay for the health care, she had a tab at the hospital, she would give free medical care or tell them to put it on her bill and she would pay for it.
Your mum was said to have also discovered swine flu in Nigeria…
When swine flu came to Nigeria, she was the first doctor to diagnose that, just the same way with Ebola.
Everyone sees your mum as a heroine for the role she played in stopping the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the country. Do you also see her as such?
She was indeed extremely special and what she did was heroic. Despite the pressure and stress she was under, she was just concerned for Nigeria at the time. She kept saying, ‘I hope this doesn’t stigmatise Nigeria, I hope this doesn’t give us a problem.’ To me, she is a heroine, 100 per cent.
Can you recollect her encounter with the late Liberian diplomat, Patrick Sawyer, who brought Ebola into Nigeria?
The actual story was that when this man (Sawyer) flew into Nigeria from Liberia to attend a conference, he fell ill on his arrival and was taken to First Consultants because the general hospitals were on strike. When he got there, he was first treated for malaria on a Sunday. That weekend was my dad’s 60th birthday and my mum wasn’t in the hospital. We were all at home celebrating. On that Monday, she went to the hospital and saw him. Immediately, these were her own words to me, she said she was very disturbed, because it looked as if blood was seeping through his skin. She said she knew it was not malaria. When she asked him where he had been and he said Liberia, she immediately suspected it could be Ebola. Interestingly, three months or so before, we were just watching the news when she said, “Nigeria is not prepared for Ebola.” Back then, she immediately did her research on Ebola, noting that Nigeria needed to be prepared if there was an outbreak. She printed those papers long ago. So, when this man came, she immediately suspected; although at the time, she didn’t have any positive result that it was Ebola. The Liberian officials there were very furious and said she must release him, claiming that she was holding him against his will; and she had kidnapped him. But she said she could not let him leave the hospital for the public good, and he must stay there because she suspected he had a haemorrhagic disease which was infectious.
How was that period for you and your family?
It was incredibly stressful. I hardly saw her at the time because she was always busy at the hospital, with government officials and the World Health Organisation officials, and also having to care for this sick patient. She got home at 3am every day, and was up by 7am. I couldn’t see her for about three days and with the Ebola disease, one couldn’t predict the outcome. My dad and I went to the centre at Yaba every day, but we were not allowed to come close to her. At first, we could come close to the window to see her, but eventually, we were not even allowed near the window. I didn’t see her for about 10 days while she was in there.
When last did you see her and what were her last words to you?
The last time I saw her face-to-face was the day I went to the centre to give her her footwear and her iPad. She was physically very weak. This was someone I had never seen fall sick in my life. But then, she was physically very weak. I took all the stuff to her and put it through the door, she had to go and collect it because I couldn’t go into the room. We spoke through the window, I was crying. But she was adamant, she said, “Don’t worry, son. This thing is not going to kill me, but I am very proud of you.” Those were the last words she told me. This was about 10 days before she died. The WHO doctor, Dr. David, told us that it was only a matter of time (before she died), that we should expect the call the next day or in the next week. We were waiting for the call. But he kept telling us that it was a matter of time — it was worse than receiving the actual call.
Did she influence your career path?
She has always been involved in everything I have done. She always gave me advice. Last year April, I was supposed to give a TED X talk in Abuja, and I was going to talk about patriotism in Nigeria. I told her about it, we were supposed to go together. But it was cancelled because of some issues at the time. Before then, she did research, and sent me an email on her thoughts. I still have it. She basically wrote the speech for me. Five months later at the event; after she had passed on, most of the words I used were from her. I made her the centre of the speech, that she was a patriot.
You are a scion of two powerful dynasties; your mum was the great grand-daughter of Herbert Macaulay and the great great grand-daughter of Ajayi Crowther. Do you think your mum’s part in stopping the Ebola outbreak in the country was a stroke of fate?
These things are funny. I can’t answer that but a lot of people say that. Luckily, she was prepared. That’s what I can say. We had a Nigerian that was prepared. Maybe it’s her lineage, I don’t know, that’s what people say. I wished it wasn’t her, but I am thankful for what she did (for the country). Till today, I still get telephone calls from her patients, because they had a special bond with her. She was great in what she did. She didn’t need this to stand out or stamp her greatness.
A health trust has been named after your mum, what is it about?
The Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh Health Trust is strictly a non-profit organisation. After going through this very difficult time, my family and I decided to set up this trust. We have done a lot of research and we have met with the World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and other big international organisations; and we have decided to focus on training and ethics, because my mother believed in these. She used to quiz her doctors all the time, and gave them homework; things to read and she asked them questions. She recognised the challenges in our health care system.
Was your family stigmatised in any way at the time?
We were not stigmatised outrightly but we did our best to keep away from people. People wanted to visit us at home then but we said no, they had to stay away. We needed to be responsible. My father and I were placed under quarantine for 21 days. I didn’t know at that time that I would be alive today. But people were very kind to us and showed their support for us.
Were you scared of dying?
I was scared of falling ill, but I was never scared of dying because I didn’t think I would die.
What are some of the values you have learnt from your mother?
I wrote down the five main lessons I learnt from her — how to be a good person, because she cared for everybody. There is a disabled man on our street who came around every Sunday. She bought him a wheelchair, and she always gave him money and showed him care. She also taught me how to be incredibly strong, and how to get things done. If she wanted to do something today, she got it done. She taught me how to enjoy life, she loved enjoying life, and she enjoyed it to the fullest. Also, she taught me the importance of faith because faith is the bedrock of life.
How did she create time for the family?
As a busy doctor, till today, I don’t know how she did it. I don’t know how we shared her with many people. She had a huge heart and had time for everybody.
Where did she usually take you out to?
We went out visiting family or some came around to visit us. When I lived in the U.S., whenever she came around, we would go to see Broadway shows. Also, she loved shopping. We would go out shopping together. We would take walks in the park, and go to the museum; those were the kind of things she enjoyed — museums, arts, history and theatre.
What kind of reaction do you get when people realise that you are Dr. Stella Adadevoh’s son?
They say, “Oh, I’m so sorry, she was an amazing woman, she was this and that.” I’m used to it now. Initially, when the episode was still very fresh, I didn’t want to hear that. Now, I’m happy to hear it.
Would you say your mum’s name has opened doors for you?
While she was here, she opened all the doors for me, with everything I did in life. When I started my own company here, she wrote down a list of about 50 people I should visit. She would hand every patient of hers my company’s flyer. It’s amazing that she continues to open doors for me after her death. Her name is still opening doors for me.
Was she a disciplinarian?
She wasn’t a disciplinarian, but she was thorough, strict, but was fair.
How social was she?
She was incredibly social. She had weddings to attend every weekend with her geles and aso ebis. She and her close friends travelled everywhere and did everything together. Her close friends include Mrs. Violet Hecksher and Mrs. Maiden Ibru. Mum was just fun to be with.
I was a naughty and playful child while growing up. She would just shout at me, she never really spanked me. Honestly, she used to pamper me.
How did she react whenever she was angry?
Whenever she was angry, the funny thing about her was that she would definitely show it. But the next day, she would be the one to approach the person and say, ‘that upset me, but I know why you did what you did.’ She always analysed everything and then she never remembered it again. She was a peacemaker.
What were her likes and dislikes?
She liked drinking tea. She loved going out to weddings, parties and meeting people. She loved travelling, even last year, she travelled to many places and she just wanted to see the world. Church and her faith were big things for her. She was very prayerful.
What was her daily routine like?
When she woke up, she would go downstairs by about 7.00am to watch television, and drink her tea. Then, she would leave for the hospital and get to work at 8am. She would do her ward round and see all her patients. She would be at the hospital till around maybe 3pm and go home. Sometimes, she had to go back to the hospital in the evening. But most times, we would just relax and have dinner at home together.
What were her hobbies?
She was always up to date with the news, she enjoyed reading the papers. She also had a library; she loved reading books, and always had current books in her collections. I have collected a lot of books that I got from her. She loved reading and acquiring new knowledge. She loved Nigerian authors, including Chimamanda Adichie. She also loved reading the Bible. She was also a big movie person. She liked romantic movies, action and comedies. She loved her iPad. She also loved cooking. She knew how to cook Nigerian soups and dishes. When she was younger, she participated in sports such as hockey.
Did she have a favourite meal?
Mine is jollof rice and she cooked it a lot. Hers was definitely one of the soup delicacies, like ogbono.
Did she have a favourite drink?
Coke was her favourite drink.
Are you still angry with Sawyer, the man that brought Ebola to Nigeria?
I have overcome the anger. I don’t think anybody would ever know his real motive of coming to Nigeria. But I think his actions were completely irresponsible. That’s how I would leave it.
How long were you angry with him?
I was angry at him, I was angry at God, I was angry at many things. But one had to channel it into something positive like the health trust. And that’s what I’m dedicated to and focused on now, full time. Like we would always say, if my mother was here now, she would have forgiven him (Sawyer). I can never forget what happened, it’s going to be a part of my life forever, but I forgive him. My dad also feels the same way.
How do you think she should be remembered?
She was the person that bonded our family together. She was incredibly dedicated to family and everybody understood that and appreciated that about her. She was just the most loving person you could think about. That’s how I remember her. Beyond that, Nigerians recognise that if it wasn’t for her correct diagnosis, we would not have had elections; we would not be where we are today. I think that is a legacy. She prevented us from going backwards. Our way of immortalising her is by continuing what she would have done, making that same impact on people’s lives and on the medical profession, subsequently, the whole country. That’s why we have set up the health trust in her name. Government and other people can do what they think is right to immortalise her. I think the way government could immortalise her is by revamping the health sector, and improving on health care in the country. There should be a change, for such not to happen in Nigeria again.
How have you and your family coped since her death?
To lose a parent, especially in that way, is incredibly painful. The first three or four months were just hard. But, luckily, there was a lot of family support, everybody pulled very close together, and I drew on my faith as well. It’s something one cannot explain. Yes, people fall ill, and they have maybe one or two years for a chance to say goodbye; but in this case, it was so quick. There was no chance (for us) to say goodbye to her, properly.
What do you miss most about her?
The love. It was like she used to bug me and I miss that. I miss her phone calls every day, three or four times a day, and I would say, ‘mum, I’m busy’, and she would call me again. I’m happy that we always used to express our love for each other. She knew I loved her, I still do.
Can you recollect some memorable moments with her?
There are so many. Whenever I remember her, it’s just happy memories. Till today, we would just laugh when we think about her because she was always in a good mood, she was always happy. She brought the family together. People were always coming to our house. She loved to go out to parties and dance. She loved dancing. She was just a very happy, spirited person, and she was very faithful. She was 57 years old, but she was very playful, sometimes like a little girl. She was so innocent, so selfless.
What kind of music or artiste did she like?
I know Whitney Houston was one of her favourites.
Do you have fond memories of her when you hear any song by Whitney Houston?
Yes.
Which particular one?
“I will always love you.”
Culled. Credits: Punch, drasatrust.org, Google images
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