Dr. Abali Chuku is a medical missionary who never really left Nigeria, his native country. Born in Nigeria in 1962, Dr. Chuku attended primary and secondary schools in London, England. Upon completing his secondary education in the UK, Dr. Chuku returned to Nigeria where he graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukku with his medical degree.
Dr. Chuku continued his medical training with a fellowship at West African College of Surgeons and postgraduate education at the Medical College of Nigeria. Following his internship, Dr. Chuku embarked on an extensive residency in ophthalmology at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu, where he served as chief resident.
After serving in various high level capacities at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Umuahia, Dr. Chuku was appointed Head of Ophthalmology in 1996, and Medical Director in 2011. As medical director, Dr. Chuku made it his goal to transform FMC into a center of excellence. His accomplishments drew the attention of the Nigerian Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, who commended Dr. Chuku and his operational management during a recent visit to the Centre for a "good job done well." The Minister went on to say "A visionary always strives to achieve the best. He is very innovative. He also works hard to be ahead in any competition." Perhaps it is these attributes that prompted Professor Chukwu to declare in an interview that he was very proud of Dr. Chuku's accomplishments, noting: "The medical director is one of our best, his staff here are cooperating with him, you know when you are doing the right thing, people will naturally follow you." He went on to say that "FMC hospital will remain a lasting testimonial to the good work of a man with a sagacious mind and penetrating vision."
Dr. Glenn Geelhoed, an early honoree of the Medical Mission Hall of Fame, stated "Dr. Chuku is an excellent role model for those who are privileged to walk in his footsteps, and he epitomizes what the Medical Mission Hall of Fame is all about. He has devoted his entire life to improving the availability of medical services to the underserved people in our world."
The Medical Mission Hall of Fame is honored to recognize the good work of Dr. Chuku, a missionary devoted to the people of Nigeria, his native land.