By Chiekezie Emmanuel

Prof. Ikenna Ndu, a renowned Pediatrician, has pledged to partner with ESUT Monitor Newspaper to sensitize the public and advocate for children’s rights and welfare.

In an exclusive interview, Prof. Ndu stated that his commitment to giving back to society stems from his Igbo philosophy of selfless service in promoting common good. 

Having reached the pinnacle of his academic career, Prof. Ndu expressed his desire to focus on advocating for children’s rights, leveraging media platforms like ESUT Monitor Newspaper to influence thousands. He emphasized that his 47th Inaugural Lecture themed “From Cradle to Crisis, advancing Paediatric survival in Challenged Health Care Landscape,” was aimed to convey a simple yet crucial message that children deserve better care.

Prof. Ndu urged parents to promptly seek medical attention for their children, stressing that many child fatalities are preventable and treatable if addressed early. Through this partnership, he aims to save thousands of lives by disseminating vital health information to a wider audience.

“There’s a Latin phrase. Deo ante dedi” , meaning God has given me. So I will give. I am already a professor of pediatrics, I have reached the zenith of my academic career. There’s no other promotion or recognition that can be given by my tears.

What I do is to give back to the system, give back to the country that has made me what I am today. That is why the rest of my life, I will focus on advocating for the child and the need to protect its rights and ensure the welfre.

If I see one child in a clinic and treat the child, that is one child, but if I carry out programs on a public scale like :ESUT Monitor Newspaper who I have pledge and sort for collaboration and other media channels that will be used to influence thousands of people, I will be happy

If I can use this medium to influence and teach doctors automatically, I have saved thousands and thousands of children as against taking care of one sitting down in a clinic.

On his part, the Head of Department of Mass Communication, Dr Chidiebere Ezinwa commended the erudite scholar for engaging with ESUT Monitor to promote child rights and welfare in the country and expressed the commitment of the paper to work collaboratively in carrying out campaign to that effect.

“Prof Ndu is no doubt a lover of the child. This is beyond his profession and when he approached the department to partner with our newspaper, we were glad because any message we push out their will not just create awareness but help to save lives. While the advocacy on child rights and welfare is critical at this point is that they are the most vulnerable and dependent in our society.

“When you give birth to a child, you are bound to take decisions for him/her until the child becomes of age. Therefore we are happy to identify with Professor Ndu in this regard and we will work collaboratively to ensure that his advocacy reached every nook and crannies of the society” he said.