Chief Emi Membere-Otaji pays tribute to Prof Nimi Briggs, as burial rites begin

As burial rites for Professor Nimi Briggs begin, an industrialist and illustrious son of Kalabari Kingdom, Chief Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji has paid glowing tributes to the Emeritus Professor.

A copy of the tribute obtained by Africa Update reads: TRIBUTE TO EMERITUS PROFESSOR NIMI BRIGGS Like many others, I received with utter disbelief and shock, news of the death of Prof. Nimi Briggs. The day he died, Rivers State, the academic community and indeed Nigeria at large, lost an erudite scholar, administrator, a great physician, a researcher, orator per excellence and quintessential gentleman.

My first close contact with the then Dr. Nimi Briggs was in 1986 in Ikoyi, Lagos at the home of Mr. Lloyd Harry of Shell Nigeria, where he normally resides, at the time, when he visits Lagos. I was also staying with Uncle Lloyd as a young medical doctor in Lagos. On one of his trips early in 1987, he came around with my letter of employment as Registrar in his department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

I received the letter with confusion, because at the point I had finalized plans to travel to the United States of America, having obtained a fresh 5year American Visa for any available specialty training. Three months after that incident, I relocated to Port Harcourt to start work under Dr. Nimi Briggs’ tutelage, at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). An invitation that opened new vistas of opportunities for me, outside the practice of medicine.

By mid-1990, I told my then teacher and mentor, Dr. Nimi Briggs that I had discovered my passion outside the surgical theatre and antenatal clinics, but he will not hear of it. Proceeding on my annual leave same year, I dropped my resignation letter. Subsequently, we kept interacting in many fora and had home visits. However, late in 2022, he called that I visit him, at his home. Just the two of us.

We talked we talked about unity in Kalabari land and his days as a pioneer set of our school, the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. He then opened a bottle of wine and personally poured into two glasses for us to toast and drink, before finally telling me, the purpose of this special invitation. “Emi, I have watched, read and heard of your many achievements in life since 1990 and I want to say I am proud of you”. We both hugged.

Sadly, this was our last meeting. However, two months ago, as Vice Chairman, Organising Committee, I called and informed him that he had been chosen to play the center forward position for the Baptist High School Old Student Football team, to mark the school’s 75th year celebration, slated for later 2023. He gladly accepted the challenge. I mournfully now know, that won’t come to pass. This is, utterly devastating, to say the least.

My consolation is that in my own little way, I honoured him. As President of the University of Lagos Alumni Association, Old Rivers State Branch, I decorated him in 1995 with the “Distinguished Aluminus” Award. Prof. you came, you saw and you conquered and indeed left indelible marks on the sands of time. You will forever remain in our hearts. Sir, may your soul Rest in Peace. CHIEF DR EMI MEMBERE-OTAJI, OON, DSSRS, NPOM