THE month of May has a lot of historical importance both internationally and at the national level. May 1, every year is recognised by the International Labour\ Organisation, ILO, as workers’ day – a day set aside to celebrate the unquantifiable contributions of workers to the economies of nations of the world.

Also, May 27, every year is recognised by the United Nations International Childrens’ Fund, UNICEF, as Childrens’ day – a day dedicated to celebrate children, the hope and future of the world.

Since the advent of the current political dispensation in 1999, May 29, every year has come to stay as democracy day – a day Nigerians commemorate the return to civil rule, after years of military stranglehold on the nation’s polity. Perhaps, it is no coincidence that May 18, 1956, heralded the birth of a man who would make invaluable contributions to the development of his country in particular and humanity in general.

When the parents of Charles Uzodimma Nwambueze Amanze, of Umuachalu, Uvuru, in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State gave birth to him, they did not deliberately choose May, rather they were mainly concerned with raising up a child, who would maintain the family integrity, as well as be a shining example to the society.

They therefore set out to lay a solid foundation on which their first son would accomplish their wishes. As professional teachers and foremost educationists of their time, they did not hesitate to introduce little Amanze to early education. It was no surprise that Amanze got enrolled into Christ the King Primary School, Lagwa, at a very tender age, ahead of his contemporaries. He did not disappoint.

With a manifest brilliance, he became the rallying point of his mates who always swarmed around to solve one subject or the other. His brilliance also earned him a place at the Mbaise Secondary School, Aboh, popularly known as MSS, a foremost college in the then Mbaise Division. For his advanced level studies, he went through Dennis Memorial Grammar School, DMGS, Onitsha and finished at the College of Immaculate Conception, CIC,

Enugu, two elite colleges which have produced prominent Nigerians in such diverse spheres as politics, engineering, medicine, law, journalism, architecture, academics, pharmacy, etc.

His sojourn into medicine at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was not by chance. He had long chosen to be an agent of positive change through selfless service to humanity and so saw medical practice as a veritable platform to render such services. Having completed the mandatory housemanship and youth service, Amanze secured job at Pamo Clinic and Hospitals Limited, Port Harcourt, where he rose to become the Clinical Director and Chief Medical Officer.

A self-effacing man, it is worthy to note that that he had at various time discreetly defrayed the medical bills of some less-privileged patients, who otherwise would have been refused admission ab-initio. In recognition of his sterling qualities in the medical field, he was appointed Chairman, Management Board of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, where he spearheaded the formulation of policies, rules and smooth operation of the UNTH in line with the Federal Government policy in the health sector and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, MDGs. Mention must be made that he championed the successful relocation and commissioning on April 19, 2007 of the UNTH, from its old and dilapidated site to the ultra-modern Ituku-Ozalla permanent site, 25 years after its completion and two failed attempts by previous management boards.

In appreciation of Amanze’s achievement as Chairman, Management Board of UNTH, the then President Olusegun Obasanjo commended him thus: ”I write to acknowledge the pro-active measures which the Management under your leadership has put in place for the regeneration of the teaching hospital. I commend your Board’s dedication to being part of the Federal Government’s efforts at ensuring the provision of adequate and accessible health care for the majority of our people. You can be assured of Government’s support for your efforts”.

That is not all. The Tamil Nadu Dr. M. G.R. Medical University Chennai, India also appointed Amanze, visiting Professor (International) of the university “in recognition of his meritorious services rendered to the medical profession.”

Among the numerous awards he garnered was conferment of the life patron and friend of the disabled award in recognition of his contributions towards the upliftment of the disabled in Imo State and Nigeria in general, by the disabled International, while the Rotaract Club (Rotaract District 914) of the University of Science and Technology conferred on him with “outstanding humanitarian service award.”

A staunch Catholic, Amanze holds the knighthood of the Catholic Church of the national traditional Order of Saint Mulumba and is a patron, Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria, Owerri Ecclesiastical Provision. He also holds the unique and prestigious traditional chieftaincy title of Ugochituwere (honour bestowed by God) of Uvuru, as well as Ikesinachi (Power comes from God) of Lorji, in Aboh Mbaise, Local Government Area.

At 58, Amanze could be said to have accomplished a lot. However, at a time when our dear country is going through tough socio-economic and political challenges, the citizenry still needs his enormous wealth of experience to stir us to the path of rectitude.

Amanze. This is your life. Humanity still needs more of your contributions in the quest for a decent, vibrant and fair society.

OBINNA OBASI, a social critic, wrote from Abuja.