User:Sitelom/Dr Samuel Benedict Sodienye Afiesimama

Dr Samuel Benedict Sodienye Afiesimama was born on the 14th of August, 1934 into the family of Reverend Simon Itelima Afiesimama, who was the first ordained minister of the Wakirike (Okrika people) and Mrs Victoria Kiriba Afiesimama (nee Kemmer) of Kemmer Town in Brass LGA of present-day Bayelsa State, Nigeria. He was educated at the University of Heidelberg and at London's University College (UCL) where he specialised in Tropical Medicine in preparation for his return to his country to help improve the health and well-being of his country men and women.

Dr Afiesimama has worked at the famous Royal Free Hospital, London, the Ministry of Health in Rivers State and at the University of Port Harcourt as its first Director of Health Services. He is also on the Board of Trustees of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria and member, Nigerian Medical Association, the American Medical Society of Vienna amongst many other professional bodies.

He was also the first principal of the School of Health Technology, Port Harcourt and was responsible for the siting of many health centres in Rivers State including the Ogoloma Health Centre. He was also an Honorary Consultant and Head of Community Medicine at the University of Port Harcourt where he also served as Chairman of the Church Management Committee from 1983-1987.

In 1972, he got married to Dr Abigail Funlayo Afiesimama (nee Alagoa), whose father - Mr W.E. Alagoa MBE - was one of the very few Africans at the time who owned an automobile. Her maternal grandfather was the Egaibu of Siluko in Benin, and a senior administrator and Courtier to the Oba of Benin.