Exclusive: Dr Stella Ameyo Adadevoh, The Ebola Virus Disease (EBVD) Doctor Victim Is From Anambra State Relating To Right Hon Nnamdi Azikiwe’s And Herbert Macauley’s

 

Zik's son Owelle

 Exclusive Interview With Owelle of Onitsha , Chief Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe ,the First Son of Late Right Hon Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Zik of Africa . He narrates the life and times of  Dr Stella Ameyo Adadevoh, the Ebola Virus Disease EBVD doctor victim in this interview with Odogwuemekaodogwu.com tracing her root to Anambra state through the  Herbert Macauleys and the Azikiwes. Excerpts:

Good day Owelle. There are stories that Dr Stella Ameyo Adadevoh the Ebola Virus Disease EBVD doctor victim  who treated the Liberian, Sawyer, is related to  both the Azikiwe and Herbert Macaulay families.

They are correct.

How is she related to your family?

 Her mother, Mrs Deborah Adadevoh, nee MacIntosh, is my cousin. Deborah's grandmother, Okwuegbunam,nee  Azikiwe, is

the immediate senior sister, same father same mother, of Obed Azikiwe, Zik's father.

How well did you know or interact with late Dr Adedavoh?

Ameyo was both my relation and pal. She was a very kind, caring, and selfless person.

She also had discipline and steely determination. I am not surprised that her selfless compassion

and steely discipline will make her restrain Sawyer from leaving the hospital to probably spread

the Ebola virus to epidemic proportions. This she did at  risk to her life.

In spite of her upper class background, Ameyo was  very down to earth and  full of compassionate

empathy for the disadvantaged and poor.

Even when she was a medical student at  LUTH she use to tell me and my friends about the plight of some of her brilliant but very poor schoolmates. She was one of my favourites among the younger generation of our cousins.

What of her Herbert Macaulay side?

Ameyo's father,  late Professor Kwakwu Adedavoh, was the grandson of Herbert Macauley. Kwakwu's mother was Herbert Macauley's daughter. That made Ameyo Herbert Macauley's great  grand daughter.

Professor Adedavoh was a medical doctor who taught at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Lagos University, Vice Chancellor Lagos University and was Director-General Nigerian Institute for Medical Research, Yaba.

In other words their marriage united the Herbert Macauleys and the Azikiwes also in marriage in addition to Macauley's collaboration with Zik in politics, founding NCNC earlier!

That was of course the society talk  and chit  chat when Kwakwu and Deborah got married.

How is Doctors family?

I have reached the mother, Deborah, who is somewhat managing under this tragic circumstances. I spoke to Mrs Kate Aniadi, nee MacIntosh, Deborah's half sister  and Ameyo's aunt

who had not stopped wailing and screaming up to the time I offed the phone.I am in regular contact with Dr Andrew MacIntosh, Deborah's brother and Ameyo's uncle.

How will you like Dr Adedavoh remembered?

First,  imbibing and disseminating positive aspects of her character and life. Second she should be given the highest national honours possible for risking her life to save many. She paid the ultimate terrible price. Third, a permanent memorial should be established?