Who’s Dr Bawa Ahmed Abimiku?

By Matthew Kuju

Until his death in the early hours of Tuesday 19th December 2023, Dr Bawa Ahmed Abimiku was a highly respected and distinguished Medical Doctor. He indeed would be remembered by people for his dedication to his professional calling and service to humanity. He was highly regarded among his professional colleagues for his depth of knowledge and exemplary commitment to work, which earned many awards over the years.

Dr Bawa Abimiku, until his demise, was a Consultant Pathologist Special Grade I (Chief Consultant pathologist), at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital a position he held from June 2011. He served as Honourable Commissioner of Health, Nasarawa State from March 2010 to May 2011. Earlier, precisely from May 2002 to March 2010, he was Medical Director/Chief Executive, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Born on Saturday, April 2, 1960, at Mada Station, Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area, Dr Bawa Abimiku attended LEA Primary School, Mada Station from June 1967 to June 1973, Government Secondary School, Kuru, Plateau State from September 1973 to June 1978, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria from 1979 to August 1985 and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria from 1989 to May 1991.

He obtained the following Professional Qualifications and Certificates: First School Leaving Certificate in June 1973, West African School Certificate (WASC) Division One in June 1978, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in August 1985, Fellowship of the Medical College in Pathology (FMCPath) in June 1994, and Fellow of the International College of Surgeons (FICS) in June 2004.

Some of the positions of responsibility he held earlier in life included: House Officer, at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri from August 1985 to July 1986), Medical Officer (NYSC), Comprehensive Health Centre, Abocho, Dekina Local Government Area, Kogi State from September 1986 to July 1987, Medical Officer, Plateau State Hospitals Management Board, Jos, Plateau State from September 1987 to July 1989, Registrar in Pathology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar from August 1989 to May 1992, Senior Registrar in Histopathology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar from June 1992 to June 1994).

From August 1994 to July 1995, Dr Abimiku was a Postgraduate Research Attaché in Histopathology, at Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom, and Lecturer/Consultant Pathologist, at the College of Medical Sciences/University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri from June 1994 to June 1998), Consultant Pathologist Sp Grade II, Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja from January 1999 to May 2002,

Dr Bawa Abimiku won the following academic honours: House Officer at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital based on meritorious performance at the MBBS Examinations (August 1985), Medical Superintendent in charge of Cottage Hospital, Toto, Plateau State (December 1988 – February 1989), Chief Resident, Pathology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar (May 1992 – May 1994), Visiting Lecturer/Consultant Pathologist, Medical School/Teaching Hospital of Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (November 1996 – December 2002), Chairman, HIV/AIDS Advisory Committee, Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital (February 2000 – May 2002), Honorary Consultant Pathologist, Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia (April 2000 – May 2002), Member, Medical Advisory Committee, Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital (May 2001 – May 2002), Head of Chemical Pathology and Medical Microbiology, Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja (May 2001 – May 2002), External Examiner, Pathology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri 2003 – 2006 sessions (March 2004). He was awarded Fellow of the International College of Surgeons, Nigeria National Section by the World Federation of General Surgeons and Surgical Specialists, Inc. USA (June 2004). He was also an Examiner in Pathology (Part I), at the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (September 2004 – until his demise) a member of, the Visitation Panel of the Faculty of Pathology of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to re-assess the residency training programme at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife (March 2005), Member, Accreditation Panel of Faculty of Pathology of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to approve Residency training programme at National Hospital Abuja (June 2006).

Other Awards and Honours he won were: Best Student Award in Mathematics, Government Secondary School, Kuru (June 1978); Distinction in Biochemistry at the Pre-clinical MBBS Examinations, University of Maiduguri (June 1982); Awarded the National Universities Commission of Nigeria Overseas training scholarship as part of World Bank Assisted Staff Development Programme for Universities (April 1994); Awarded Certificate of Meritorious Service in Recognition of selfless services to the people to the people of the Middle Belt and the Nation by the Middle Belt Youth Forum (June 2003); Awarded Certificate of Excellence in Health Care Delivery Services in Nigeria by the Nasarawa State Medical Laboratory Science Students’ Association (August 2003);

He was conferred with the Traditional Title of Makama Angbashu (Mada Station) by the District Head of Mada Station (August 2004) and also conferred with Durbin Eggon traditional title by Aren Eggon (October 23, 2008).

Dr Abimiku was inducted as a Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (September 2004); and elected Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria (December 2004). He was awarded the Certificate of Recognition for Consistent Leadership and Distinctive Role in the Achievement of Healthcare Delivery Services by the University of Maiduguri Alumni Association, Nasarawa State Chapter in July 2005; Awarded the transformational Merit certificate as an Achiever and Excellent Health Administrator by Network of Transformational Change in July 2006; awarded Certificate for promoting the welfare of Doctors by Nigeria Medical Association, Nasarawa State Branch in November 2006; Certificate of excellence in hospital Administration/Management by National Association of Public Administration Students, Nasarawa State University, Keffi Chapter in February 2007 and Certificate of Excellence and Commendable performance by Nigerian Students’ Health Club, Nasarawa State University, Keffi in March 2007.

Until his death, Dr Bawa Abimiku belonged to the following Professional Bodies and Associations: Member, Nigeria Medical Association; Member, Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria; Member, Association of Pathologists of Nigeria; Fellow, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria; Fellow, International College of Surgeons; Member, Pan African Association of Pathology; Member, African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer; Member, Nigerian Institute of Management; Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria; Member, Nigerian Cancer Society; Member, Diabetes Association of Nigeria; Member, Eggon Medical Forum; Member, Multipurpose Corporative Society, Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital.

He left behind a wife and children as well as his aged mother and siblings.