There are defining moments in one’s interaction with Emeritus Professor Nimi Briggs over nearly forty years. Who in the graduating class of 1989 (matriculating at least seven years earlier) would ever forget the first day of O&G posting?
NDB breezed into the lecture hall at Old UPTH wearing trademark short-sleeved immaculate white shirt, dark blue trousers, ox-blood red tie and polished black shoes. If you dared go close enough, you would probably see your reflection on the shoes. NDB looked every inch a dashing, confident and no-nonsense academic and teacher. Things had to be done his way or tongue-lashing quickly followed…
“Noooo!!! You cannot flip through the booklet. I said turn to Page 2. If you don’t listen, you will fail and fail very well!”
If he had his way, he would have opened our brains and stuffed them with knowledge. He did try. First by asking, “Is there anything you have seen, read or heard about that you did not understand? Ask now or forever maintain your peace.”
He poured himself out to us, in lectures, bedside teaching, clinics, grand rounds and in theatre. He was always there for his students. God help you if you got his questions wrong or asked silly questions. Once he asked, what is the commonest complication of abortion. Someone said, “Asherman’s Syndrome.” There was a moment’s silence and he replied, “See your head like Asherman’s Syndrome!”
“Mortality (failure) rate” was high in O&G exams and at some point, we called a boycott of classes but NDB was up for a fight. The matter went all the way to the University Senate. He had wished us luck and told me, “If a doctor from Ibadan messes up, people will abuse him. If a doctor from Uniport messes up, because we are a young medical school, they will abuse the school. That’s why we must produce sound doctors.”
It was a six-month posting for the lucky ones but Emeritus Prof Briggs’s impact has been lifelong for every one of us. You cannot interact with him and leave without a flood of emotions – love, fear, respect, admiration… I dare say no other teacher, great as they all were, has left such an indelible mark in our hearts.
NDB built and left an institution. The O&G Department shone like a thousand stars under his watch. He had a Midas touch and it showed up in every human and administrative interaction. He transformed lives and places. Where ever his former students are in the world, we were forever willing to catch up with him when he travelled and literally fall over ourselves time and time again to show our appreciation for the fine tutelage under his stern, watchful eyes!
So Emeritus Prof Nimi Briggs is not gone, never will because he lives in all of us where he has deposited a spark of immortal fire – to do the right thing. We hear his clarion call, to ‘go and do likewise’.
The Final Journey of a Level 5 Leader
If I take a cue from John Maxwell’s five Levels of Leadership, I can say and you will agree with me that Emeritus Professor Nimisoere Dimkpa Briggs is a Level 5 (Pinnacle) Leader, the level of Respect – followed by all because of who he was and what he represented.
I can literally speak or write about him for a whole day because I was privileged to be an adopted son since our paths formally crossed in 1985 but memorably thirty-five years ago, one on-call Sunday afternoon in the Labour Ward at the old University of Port Harcourt teaching Hospital, Nigeria in 1988.
Let me focus on his health in his last few days on Mother Earth (for a reason).
- He was looked after by a team of doctors in Port Harcourt, led by an Alumna of the medical school of University of Port Harcourt, Professor of Haematology, Kaladada Korubo
- Prior to his arrival in U.K., Mediport Alumni including Kaladada, Professor Ibi Erekosima (Nephrologist & Medical Educator), Dr Amonia Gasper (nee Wokoma) – GP in London, UK and Dr Maureen Achebe (nee Okam) – Hematologist in USA were involved in discussing further care.
- Dr Amonia Gasper cleared every obstacle in the way to prepare for his arrival in UK.
- On arrival at Standsted Airport, a pioneer graduate of our medical school, Dr Barasua Kingsley Pepple, a Consultant Anaesthetist at Basildon University Teaching Hospital heard the clarion call at ultrashort notice, made himself available and took over his critical care.
- NDB arrested at the airport and plans were changed following his resuscitation. He was taken to the nearest A&E rather than the planned Hospital which was further away. On arrival in A&E, the head of the Crash team was no other than an Alumnus of our medical school and former PUMSA President (1986), Dr Joel Nwosu.
So Emeritus Prof Nimi Briggs started his final journey on Good Friday. It was aborted and he was finally airlifted on Easter Sunday. His soul left his body on Resurrection Monday and he transcended from mortality to immortality on that remarkable day when our Lord and Saviour rose from the dead.
NDB was a Teacher’s Teacher. He taught us well and when it mattered most, we stood shoulder to shoulder and looked after our Medical Elder until his last breath. Dearest colleagues, on behalf of the family of our late teacher, I salute you all!
God gave and He has taken away. NDB is gone from our presence today but his memories will remain evergreen.
- Channels TV Funeral coverage:
- https://youtu.be/kYnfyD1lKBw
- Candlelight Procession
- https://youtu.be/jUz3Z-zXPR4
- Kalabari TV coverage
A tribute by Abiye Hector-Goma. ‘Dallas’ (U82/2865). Graduating Class of 1989, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.