“Dr. Moses was a Permanent Secretary in the defunct Bendel State and retired in 1975. After a distinguished and acclaimed career of exceptional honesty and integrity, he was the same year appointed Chairman of the public service Commission of the Bendel state civil Service where he served from 1976 to 1979. He was referred to as ‘father of public health’ because of his personal sense of Commitment to public health and patriotic zeal to duty”
By Mark Orgu, July 7, 2023, News/Comments
LAGOS-Dr. Moses Mowoe was considered a fine and uncommon gentleman, but his humility, simplicity, and forthrightness, was adjudged legendary. On the strength of his uncommon sense of duty and commitment to public health he received a national award of the “Officer of the Order of the Niger, (OON) from the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1982.
Indeed, it is to the credit of those of us who still are alive that we pay tribute to those whose lives were exemplified by extraordinary service to humanity and to God, and the late Dr. Moses Emonena Mowoe, was undoubtedly one such person. The late Dr Moses Emonena Mowoe was the son of the late chief Mukoro Mowoe; one of the greatest leaders of the Urhobo people.
Dr Moses Emonena Mowoe in rendering meritorious service to Nigeria was considered a medical icon in his time. Thus, today’s posthumous award represents our acknowledgement of Moses Mowoe’s good work while he was with us.
He was as he was fondly referred to have attended the CMS School and the Government School Warri up till 1935. He then proceeded to Kings College, Lagos where he finished in 1940. He spent a spell of two years up until 1943 in Achemota College in the Old Gold Coast now Ghana. He proceeded thereafter to the University of Glasgow. He graduated in Medicine in 1950.
L-R, Mark Orgu, Editor, Afrikanwatch, Barr. Pastor. John Mowoe with his late father’s award, and Dr. Abayomi who presented the award
Other qualifications inclusive of his MB CHB qualifications from the University of Glasgow he obtained, from the University of London, (DTPH, FRCPH), as well as fellowships of medical colleges. He was a life member of Nigeria Medical Association and a Member of the disciplinary committee of the Nigerian medical Council. Dr. Mowoe had an extensive medical career with a two year spell in the United Kingdom as well as across-The eastern Nigeria region and the Midwest region.
He was a senior Medical officer at various times in hospitals in the Eastern region specifically in Enugu, Port Harcourt, Obubra. Onitsha, Opobo, Abakaliki, Degema and Owerri his last posting before he was called to the newly created Midwest region in 1964.
The late patriarch was remembered with a posthumous African Gold Merit award (AGMA), received by his son, Barr. John Mowoe, a successful lawyer and Pastor, who came all the way from South Africa to receive his late father’s honour, held in Lagos on June 24, two weeks ago.
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