A TRIBUTE TO LATE DR. UMORU J.D
Doctor Umoru J.D is the affectionate name, I have called you for 38 years of our close friendship and relationship before your untimely demise.
The name was one that have brought me Joy, Peace, Hope, Comfort, Confidence, Encouragement, Spiritual and Social upliftment. In life, you were a great philanthropist of no mean description in addition to being God fearing, firm and focused, brotherly and friendly to me and all who associated with you. Not only were you also of peace, understanding, a lover to the core who lived in peace with all in all circumstances and situations.
In heaven, if there are souls to win laurels for good behavior, kindness and selfless service to humanity, I know Jesus would give you the price. But know that, in heaven there is “rest” which you merit and deserve as a hero in both medical, secular and spiritual responsibilities while you were here on earth not counting your selfless services to your immediate Okengwe “EHI” community, Fulani community, Koton-Karfe District, Ebira nation and to almighty God.
Dr. J.D Umoru, majority adjudged you as an epitome of diligence, harwok, honesty and unassuming medical practitioner. You established a viable hospital known as Ideal Hospital at Koton-Karfe which is beneficial to many in Kogi state and beyond. He was a great and compassionate friend of the people and was loved by his hospital staff and customers as well as his professional colleagues on account of his heartfelt concern for their progress and welfare.
A golden fish they say has no hiding place and because of these sterling leadership qualities and humanitarian services you rendered, HRM. Alh. (Dr.) Shuaibu Mamman Lafia OON, MON, the late Ohimege-Igu of Koton-Karfe kingdom of (blessed memory) conferred a chieftaincy title of Madaki – KOTON-KARFE on you as a mark of honour, respect and appreciation.
He attended, St. Paul’s Anglican Primary School Okengwe from 1967 – 1974 and Government College Kaduna from 1976 – 1980 after completing form one class in the year 1975 at Oro-Ago Secondary School, Kwara State. He then proceeded to School of Basic Studies, Kwara State College of Technology, Ilorin for his Advance Level Studies in 1981 academic session.
He was admitted into University of Ibadan where he studied Medicine and did his housemanship Programme at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin from 1982 – 1989 academic sessions and qualified as a Medical Doctor to practice.
After completing 1 year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in 1980, he was employed by Kwara State Government and served as Medical Officer at New Bussa and Koton-Karfe General Hospitals respectively for six years duration before he retired voluntarily to set up Ideal Hospital Privately, at Koton-Karfe in the year 1995.
This hospital established by Late Dr. Umaru J.D privately, has helped and served both young and old, travellers and accident victims through Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). It was also the hospital that Late Senator A.T Ahmed’s corpse was first taken to when he was involved in a fatal accident on the 6th June 2006 at Okpaku village near Koton-Karfe before he was finally taken to Okene for burial.
Surprisingly, Dr. Umaru J.D refused to receive any payment for the medical services rendered by his hospital as a result of this ghastly motor accident, His sense of commitment and responsibility to issues of his siblings also knows no bound.
Dr. Umaru’s death is a tragedy that has continued to evoke tears of sorrow from me, his family, friends and professional colleagues. Indeed, many are still shocked at his unexpected passage. His death is a great loss to medical profession, the entire Kogi state and Ebira nation.
You have worked on earth faithfully and selflessly. Rest on in heaven. Your foot print lives on. I still feel as if this is a bad dream and not a fact that, my dearest Dr. Umoru Dada James is no more on this earth.
He was much respected by everyone not as so much for his age but for his humility, uniqueness and pragmatism.
As a person, he was humbled, humane and generous.
As a family, he succeeded in marriage and survived by a wife and six children. All his children are both medical undergraduates and engineering graduate of Nigerian universities, except his last born daughter who is still in secondary school. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
May the most high God take care of his beloved wife, children and provide for their needs, Amen!
While urging the bereaved wife and children to take solace for the fact that, Dr. Umoru lived a fulfilled life, I also urge the entire family, friends and especially his professional colleagues to be consoled for a purposeful, worthy and rewarding life he lived. We all love him but God loves him most. Hence, we cannot query almighty God for his sudden death.
May his gentle soul rest on in perfect peace from a life well spent in Christian charity, community development and services, and in the medical profession.
TARU, TARU-OZI IDU
ADIJOO!! OZI-IDU OBAYIN.
Engr. Stephen Raji. J.P.
(Daudu, the AMETUO OF EBIRA KINGDOM)