The Chairman of Yala local government, Dr Fred Okem on Tuesday received an award of excellence for his outstanding leadership qualities, commitment to promoting healthcare and ensuring access to quality healthcare services for all.
At an elaborate occasion organised by the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria (CHPRBN) in Abuja to honour some eminent personalities in community health, renown health expert and an accomplished practitioner, Dr Bashir Idris, RCHP, FIFHP, PFD presented the award to Dr Okem on behalf of the board.
Presenting the award, the Registrar/CEO of the board, Dr Bashir Idris said: “this award is in recognition of your commitment to promoting primary healthcare and ensuring access to quality healthcare services for all citizens which exemplifies the highest ideals of public service. Through your dedication and diligence, you have played a pivotal role in strengthening the foundation of our healthcare system and advancing the cause of communities”.
It would be recalled that the award of selected distinguished community healthcare experts across the country was part of the board’s 5th Induction Ceremony of Community Health Officers (CHOs).
Hon Okem in a remark, described the gesture as the Board’s show of appreciation for his untiring effort towards promoting access to quality healthcare services and welfare for all. He acknowledged his many developmental initiatives as a community health expert and by extension as Yala Council Chairman under the All Progressive Congress led administration in the State. He thanked the board for the honour bestowed on him and dedicated the award to his boss, His Excellency, Gov. Bassey Otu whom he said is providing the enabling environment for socio-political and economic development of the state.
CITATION OF HON. DR. FRED OKEM
Dr Fred Okem is a man of honour, visionary and indeed a dreamer with this inspiring quote from John Quiney A dams (the 6 President of America) “If your legacies inspires others to dream learn more do more and become more, you are then a leader”. This is what Hon. Dr. Fred Okem stands for which has taken him this far. He is a man that is destined, chosen, and ordained to serve humanity with special thanks to the Almighty God.
Birth:
Hon. Dr. Fred Okem, a man of virtues absolutely necessary to emulate was born on the 20″ of December, 1960 in Onyogbe – Lema, Wanihem in North Ukelle, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State to the family of Chief and Mrs. Egimi Okem lgbang.
Educational Background:
This rare gem with high passi on for education started his Primary School at St. Sylvester Primary School Wanihem, St. John Primary School Wanikade and St. Paul’s Primary School Wanokom, North Ukelle in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State where he obtained his elementary FSLC in 1973.
In his conviction for further education, Dr. Okem proceeded to the famous Mary Knoll College, Ogoja where he completed and obtained his WASC 1979. He further proceeded to College of Health Technology Mkar- Gboko in Benue State and obtained a Diploma, in community Health in 1982. Subsequently, in 1987, he got another Diploma in Community Health (Community Health Supervisor) – College of Health Technology, Calabar.
Also, in 1984, this intellectually endowed man got a Higher National Diploma (HND), Department of Community Medicine, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, and another Higher National Diploma (HND) in Primary Health Education from the Kaduna Polytechnic popularly known as Kadpoly in 2019. No wonder this great Association beamed her search light to fetch him for this Honour/Award.
Dr. Okem later engaged himself further and obtained the following Post Graduate Diploma in management (PGDM) University of Calabar and Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health (PGDPH) from Imo State University. The Man Hon. Dr. Fred Okem who has full knowledge of vocational and functional education as the cornerstone to self-fulfillment and a platform for service to humanity, this man of God turned politician, took another journey to Benue State University, Makurdi for his Master’s Degree in Health Management (MHM) in 2011 and gloriously crowned it with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) from Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt in 2023.
Business
Hon. Dr. Fred Okem, so versatile and curious for business, started his early entrepreneurship life with various Business Ventures including Hospitality, Pharmaceuticals and educational Institutions in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Service to Humanity / Work Experience
His professionalism qualifies him to serve in several capacities in his Medical field that fulfill his professional dexterity. In his determination to get rid of common DISEASES in his area, Hon. Dr. Fred published the “outbreak of MEASLES” in Tell magazine that attracted the then minister of Health, PROF. OLUKOYE RANSOME KUTI popularly KNOWN AS THE (FATHER OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE) who visited Ukelle in Yala LGA and was received by him Hon. Dr. Fred at Okolo River to undertake an on-the-spot assessment and severity of the measles outbreak, also identified Yala Local Government Area and Cross River State as ONCHOCERCIASIS (RIVER BLINDNESS) endemic state.
Dr. Okem who was Chairman and now Patron of Red Cross Society has led this famous Association to render Medical and Social Services to the needy. He used this platform to discover Guinea worm in South Ukelle, Wanokom, lzzi (Ebonyi State) and Itega Okpudu – Yala LGA where he reported the case to the appropriate authorities for prompt action.
Going further, Hon. Dr. Fred Okem led several Teams on advocacy, control and treatment of tuberculosis in various communities in Cross River State, therefore he was the lead voice on water and Sanitation programmes where portable water was provided to the Communities of Wanihem, Wanikade, Wanokom and other communities in Y al a LGA through UNICEF.
To cap it, Dr. Okem co-established the Lutheran College of Health Technology, lboko where he became the provost and also he established FESTHINEM College of Health Sciences and Technology, Wanihem, all in Yala Local
Government Area of Cross River State, where he is now the VISITOR.
Like every other person thriving for livelihood, this determined fellow worked in several Public and Private Medical establishment which include; Lutheran Clinic (ELAHEN), Comprehensive Health Centre Okpomą, Medical Missionary Practitioner, Ogoja Rural Health Programme, Comprehensive Health Centre, Echumofana Health facility ONCHO Coordinator -Y ala Local Government Area.
Recognition/Award
He is a recipient of several Awards and Honour, they are; Elder, Conferred on him by the Lutheran Church of Nigeria – distinguished Award of selfless services by Lutheran church of Nigeria for establishment of Lutheran College of Health Technol ogy for the Church.
– Institute of Health Services, Research and Administration of Nigeria in partnership with Courage University of Benin Republic.
RESEARCH FELLOW -Institute of Health Sciences and Administration of Nigeria.
Award of Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters British American Open University of California – 2024.
He owned a current licensed and registered member of National Community Health Practitioner Board of Nigeria.He is an examiner with the National Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria.
Nigeria Merit Gold A ward for Productivity – NIMGAP- 2013
Award of Honour as Special Marshal for accountability and service to humanity – Federal Road Safety Corps.
Board member, New National Cotton Association of Nigeria.
Award of recognition as a man with generous heart by the students Association of Lutheran College of Health Technology- Okpoma.
Other Awards of Honour were conferred on him by the Student Unions of Y ala (NAYLOGS) and Ukelle Students.
This man of honour and integrity is an Ambassador of Peace.
Workshop/Seminars
Like a golden fish, Dr. Okem is always spotted for workshops and seminars to further expand his knowledge, he therefore attended the following seminars
“Decentralization and Communal Self-Responsibility” Organized by Konrad Adenauer Foundation held in Obudu Ranch Resort, Cross River State, October 1 – 4, 2004.
Participant, Agriculture and Agricultural Development Agency in Collaboration with the Government of Cross River State on Castor Oil and Cashew Seed production and development in the Donald Duke-led administration 2004/2007.
The Imperatives of Security to the Tourism Industry, organized by the Cross River State Government held in Mini-Theatre Cultural Centre, Calabar
Security Workshop, organized by Konrad Organization Adenauer Foundation for Crime control and Prevention Health Development, Capacity Building on HIV/AIDs Reducing Infant and Mortality Rate in Nigeria, Etcetera in Primary Health Care.
Politics
The quest to further render more services to humanity endeared Dr. Fred Okem to politics. In this regard, he became the advocate of Option A4 in the state, the system that was considered the best method of voting in the history of Nigeria. Though, was short lived due to the annulment of June 12 Presidential election in 1993.
Dr. Fred, a member of different political parties amongst which were: NRC, active player during zero party election, PDP and now strong and committed member of APC, the platform in which he contested election as Chairman, House of Assembly etc. but was later by God’s grace became the vice chairman of Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State in 2004-2007 where he displayed his political and administrative sagacity.
This display of capacity is what convinced the good people of Yala LGA. to give him the ticket to run another election under the platform of APC, an election he overwhelmingly won as Chairman, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State in 2024.
