Dr. Maryam Dija Ogebe is widely recognized as the first female medical doctor from northern Nigeria. She pursued her studies at the University of Lagos College of Medicine, graduating in 1971. Following specialized training in anesthesia, she served in numerous hospitals located in Plateau and Benue states. In 1983, she attained the role of chief consultant anesthetist at the General Hospital in Makurdi. From 1987 to 1991, she held a position in medical administration as the chief executive secretary of the Benue State Health Management Board, retiring from there. She has remained active as a consultant in various private and public hospitals, as well as charitable organizations, both in Nigeria and internationally. The day of this interview, January 21, 2026, coincided with her 82nd birthday.
You were among the pioneering women to become medical doctors in northern Nigeria; what obstacles did you encounter?
Looking back, it's easy to see the struggles and obstacles, but at that time, I had no concept of what my future would hold. All I was aware of was that my parents sent me to school, and I found pleasure in attending.
The obstacles were significant. Initially, there was no school—neither primary nor nursery—available in Tilden Fulani, the place where I was raised. There was no formal education, yet my father could read and write. He had recorded my birthdate, and as if he sensed that his time was limited, he urged my mother not to remarry but to remain and care for us, ensuring we received an education.
How many of you were present prior to his passing?
Three: me and two boys. One was six years younger than me, the other nine years younger. My mother had to provide for us, dress us, and send us to school. There was no school in the village, so we traveled 20 miles through the hills to Fubor.
We traversed the hills and descended into rocky regions within Jarawa territory twice each month. We carried our supplies, such as garin dawa (ground corn) and gishiri (salt), to facilitate cooking there. After two weeks, our parents sent us additional items; and after a month, we returned home to collect more provisions.
Was that during elementary school?
Yes. We were only seven, eight, or nine years old. That was challenging, but it was worthwhile because where there is determination, you can achieve anything.
You went to a famous school — Gindiri Girls' High School; was it challenging?
It was not widely recognized. I was in the second set, so it was just beginning. The situation was that after finishing junior primary school in Fubor, I had to attend a senior primary school, which included grades five, six, and seven. There was one in Dass, which involved another long journey.
They placed me with a family that had kids around my age. We attended school together, and I performed exceptionally well. At the end of my final year in primary school, they asked me to take an exam to enroll at Gindiri Secondary School; I took it. When I arrived there, the first group had already begun, so I joined the second group.
Was it on scholarship?
No. Anyone who felt sorry for the situation provided assistance. Naturally, my mother did the majority of it, but others also contributed. People from unknown backgrounds who didn't know me or my mother sensed there was a need—there was a child who was performing well and her father was absent, so they said, 'let's offer her a scholarship, cover her school expenses, and purchase her textbooks.'
Who awarded you the scholarship?
I wasn't familiar with many of them, but it was taking place. My first government scholarship came in 1966 when I was accepted into the College of Medicine in Lagos. That marked my initial encounter with a scholarship.
You attended Queen's College, Lagos, a girls' institution, for your Higher School Certificate since you performed well in Gindiri?
Yes. That's another thing that surprises me. When I was in Gindiri, I wasn't sure what I would study for a long time, until maybe in form three when one of my classmates said, "Since you're doing so well in math and science, why don't you go into medicine?" It just made sense and I said yes.
My father passed away in a preventable way. Therefore, I chose to explore how individuals can lead their lives.
Additionally, my Mathematics and English teacher, Shelley Palmer, who is an English woman, served as the principal. She showed interest and said, "But you can't pursue medicine without studying Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. Let me see what I can do."
When I arrived at Queens College, I took the three subjects—Physics, Chemistry, and Zoology—and successfully passed to enter the College of Medicine; in fact, any medical school. At that time, there were only two such institutions: Lagos and Ibadan. Lagos was also newly established. The first group was just completing their studies—they were in their fifth year, while we were starting our first year. For me, that was another significant miracle.
How difficult was it for you to relocate from Jos to Lagos as a student? Who provided assistance? Was there a scholarship, or did it come from private individuals?
My mother along with some of her family members covered the costs of my travels here and there. I took a train from Jos. The railway system was excellent during that period. The train route went from Jos via Kafanchan to Kaduna, and then continued southward through the South-West all the way to Lagos. I traveled alone. People were very friendly and attentive towards children, offering them assistance.
Didn't you feel scared or uncertain?
No. At that time, there was nothing to worry about, truly, because unless you had money or were extremely wealthy and people would target you. There were no human sacrifices or chasing after money like today.
The worst that could happen back then was simply running off with a girl and claiming they were going to get married. That was all.
After Gindiri, where you performed well, was there pressure to get married, remain, and teach instead of heading to Lagos?
There was no pressure involved. At times, when my mother asked for assistance, even from her own family members, she might mention that she needed a loan because this girl was attending school and required funds for various expenses.
They might say, "Why are you spending time on this girl? Take care of the two boys who will come after her. Conserve your energy for teaching her. This one will just marry someone and end up in another person's kitchen. She won't even assist you."
Then naturally, by the time I reached Gindiri, I received more significant assistance. Some of my classmates had come from affluent families, some from Zaria. You're familiar with the Kitchener family—their children were my schoolmates. One was my senior, another was my immediate junior; and we developed a strong friendship.
This was a family in which the children were not the first generation to attend school, but rather the second or even third. They observed some of us who had come from villages with extremely limited resources. Being poor meant there was no immediate money available. There was enough food to survive, but no cash to cover school expenses. As a result, some of them assisted us and arranged for their relatives to provide support.
Coming from this village, you were abruptly placed in Lagos; what was the experience like?
Once again, Helen Kitchener, one of the daughters, who was older than me, was very close to me. She was our first head girl. She was in the first group while I was in the second group. Additionally, she had family members in Lagos. Mrs. Margaret Olowu, who resided in Lagos, quickly became my guardian through the arrangement made by my friend, Helen. Steve Kitchener was also part of the first group at the College of Medicine. He completed his medical degree when I was in my second year. Moreover, there were some classmates of my husband who had transferred from Government College, Keffi to the College of Medicine for their studies. And naturally, a girl from the North coming to study medicine. Everyone was thrilled!
Therefore, all the male students from the north in the College of Medicine were prepared to assist me with their textbooks, dissection kits, and anything else I required.
There were (other) girls – 10 of us in the class, all hailing from the South-West, South-East, and Mid-west.
Nobody from the North?
None. In fact, thanks to Dr Sadiq Wali, the doctor who treated all the presidents in the country. He was part of that initial group. He was four years older. They all welcomed me, and after a few months, Sadiq contacted me and said, 'Maryamu, when you finish, you will be the first girl from the north to become a medical doctor.' I inquired if that was true, and he confirmed it.
He mentioned, "There's a girl from either Romania or Bulgaria—either of these Eastern countries—who was studying medicine, but she is a year behind you, so you will be the first." She was Dr. Fatima Balla. I had not met her, but I had heard about her and read about her. I believe she was around, in Kano or Abuja.
Therefore, it was Sadiq who kept me updated. He was also a former Keffi student. Thus, there were all those links with my husband's classmates.
Did you encounter your husband prior to traveling to Lagos for this medical trip?
I encountered him during my final years of secondary education. He had completed his Higher School Certificate (HSC) and came to the boys' school as a teacher. He pursued Law, whereas I chose to study Medicine.
Have you been married prior to entering the field of medicine?
Absolutely not. I got married during my own course because his course was shorter - he finished first. I married after completing three years in medical school, and during the remaining two years, I got married.
Did your time at Queens College encourage you to remain at the University of Lagos and study Medicine?
Yes. I thought that I had arrived in the South-West, where I couldn't understand the language, even though everyone spoke English. I didn't want to begin learning how to live in Ibadan; and I truly didn't have many connections there. It was Lagos that I was familiar with. I knew the Kitcheners and a few other individuals. I also wasn't aware of the bus routes. Therefore, to prevent stress, I chose to remain at the University of Lagos. I was admitted into both institutions.
I assume your movement had to align with your husband's because he was already a lawyer. Did you begin working in Jos as a clinician?
Yes. After I graduated, I came to Jos for my internship. I also had my first child there before I began searching for a specialization, which took me some time to complete. It was quite challenging to pursue the specialization, as I wasn't able to do it in Jos.
Jos was simply a general hospital that employed some Indian and Egyptian physicians. There was no medical school, so in order to undergo further training or pursue advanced studies, I would have to leave - either return to the South or go abroad.
Did you travel to England?
I traveled to England because I wanted to pursue the fellowship, but with a young family, I realized I needed to be at home with my children. I had my first and second child. The younger one was only 11 months old when I left home. And to make matters worse, one day when I called to check on them, I was told that Eni (my daughter) had been stung by a scorpion the night before. You can imagine how a mother would feel upon hearing that!
I went to my bed and wept, thinking that the next time they would claim a snake had devoured this girl. From there, I began working towards obtaining my diploma and returning home.
Did you stay in Ibadan, right?
Yes. I returned to Ibadan and they enrolled me for the diploma, and I brought the children with me. I had an apartment as a staff member pursuing postgraduate studies. It was more convenient and I could complete it in 10 months.
Did you intentionally choose to work exclusively in government hospitals?
Yes. At that time, there were no private hospitals that could employ a specialist; either you established your own hospital if you were already qualified or you remained with the government. For instance, for me to work in anesthesia, there had to be a surgeon. There were no local surgeons available. Setting up your own practice required funds, and there were thousands of people who needed such treatment. Therefore, we were essentially destined to work in government service.
Much of it took place in Benue since you needed to spend time with your husband?
When we got married, we were in Benue-Plateau State, and he was from Benue while I was from the Plateau. When the states were established and we had to relocate, everyone had to go where their husbands were from. I believe they even put us on contracts. I think all married women were considered contract officers; that sort of arrangement. It was a difficult situation that was changed later.
Did you experience its effect on your career, making it difficult to achieve your goals due to state-imposed limitations?
No. Actually, both states were on equal footing, so if I had remained at home, wherever I could have advanced in Benue State, I could have done the same in Plateau. The only issue was that I couldn't accept government political positions due to my distant location. I couldn't stay in Makurdi and handle such responsibilities in Jos, and I couldn't leave my family for a political role.
And to be fair, I was always provided with what was rightfully mine in Benue State, even more than what my husband would have received, as there was significantly more discrimination against him than against me.
You were appointed as the chief consultant at the general hospital and the head of the Health Management Board. I thought that was somewhat political?
It was a professional role. Initially, I served as the chief consultant overseeing a general hospital with 300 beds. That was a large and busy position. Later, I took on the role of chief medical director at the Health Services Management Board before becoming the executive secretary. All these positions are considered administrative. If I had been appointed as a health commissioner, it would have been a political position.
When you retired in 1991, was that not a bit premature? Did you believe that professionally you couldn't move beyond the position of executive on the Health Management Board?
It wasn't the bar that was the issue. I could have remained on the board for many years; there was nothing causing me discomfort. I could have been named commissioner for health, which would have been a political move. And I could have planned my departure from that position.
The motivation behind my early retirement was that my husband's name was submitted to the Military Council for appointment as a Justice of the Court of Appeal. He had spent many years in government service, and some of his younger colleagues had advanced beyond him. It was time for him to relocate, and I was getting ready to move with him, as he had consistently made it clear that he did not intend for our family to be separated—wherever he went, the family would follow.
So, since 1991, you had to go with him to Benin, Plateau, and those areas?
Yes; but not many from the Plateau. The movement began by going to Edo State, then Kaduna; from Kaduna to Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Abuja; then from Lagos to Enugu and Abuja.
I observed that from that point onward, your energy was directed more towards unpaid activities – such as charity work?
Yes. I was doing part-time jobs, which I jokingly referred to as "kabu-kabu doctor work." I took on positions with individuals who were established—those who had their own clinics and where I could work as a general practitioner or an anesthetist, depending on their needs.
Do you think the 'kabu-kabu doctor work' was fulfilling?
It was fulfilling in a sense because, although I had previously worked for the government after qualifying, this time I began working in the private sector. It was an unfamiliar environment that offered new learning opportunities, allowing me to interact with patients who were charged significant fees, and who would strongly request explanations about their treatment methods and reasons for receiving injections, as well as how they were examined.
So, I stepped into a type of medical marketplace, unlike before when the government was in charge, and patients had very little input. In fact, my first private practice was in Benin City, where after roughly three years, not only in hospital work but also through life experiences, I realized that if you lived in that city, you had to obtain a certificate you gave yourself, claiming to have gained much knowledge about life.
You resided in Lagos and overseas, but why was Benin unique? What specifically impressed you?
Benin was unique because, as we referred to it back then as Bendel - now known as Delta and Edo - people from the north were seen as quiet and gentle individuals who could be easily influenced - or they were so kind-hearted that they would assist you in any way possible. And there was a group of individuals who were truly wise. For instance, when I arrived at the hospital, they took me aside and said, "Doctor, we know where you're from; we are nurses and we understand your background. Please, now that you've come to this city, we advise you not to trust anyone, not even us."
It was thoughtful of them to inform me. They mentioned, "Listen, if someone arrives here with a smile, even if you know them slightly and they ask you to watch their bag, saying they're coming, don't agree because they might have concealed illegal drugs there and could frame you, leaving you in a difficult situation."
Besides Edo, I also performed medical 'kabu-kabu' in Kaduna - at the NNPC clinic. Some private doctors also hired me for anesthesia cases throughout the area. There weren't many, but I found them enjoyable, considering that the future of medicine in Nigeria should not rely on the government, but rather on the private sector. Even if the government provides subsidies, private initiatives tend to be more efficient and cost-effective.
But did you never feel the urge to open a private hospital?
I wasn't able to do that because of my family; I was planning to relocate frequently. And if you look at several of the judges in the Court of Appeal, they moved quite often. The longest he stayed was three and a half years at one location. How long would it take me to establish a hospital, and when the husband was moving, he would insist on moving with his wife. So what would I do with the hospital? It's not something you can easily sell to someone else.
Many situations involve individuals visiting the hospital, and due to negligence, an overdose may occur. Do you believe that, overall, there is an issue with anesthesia in our country?
I have been out of anesthesia for 20 years now, so I am no longer an expert. However, some areas are more prone to overdose and negligence than others. For instance, my husband had to undergo surgery to remove his prostate three or four years ago at a private hospital. I was present throughout the entire process. In fact, the surgeon was my junior when I was in charge of Makurdi General Hospital. He completed his internship there and later received training in the UK, which he successfully finished. He specialized in surgery and returned to Nigeria. Indeed, he is a very skilled professional.
We visited a private hospital since we had the financial means. The hospital provided us with their invoice, and he underwent the surgery successfully. Later, while in the ward, he started losing a significant amount of blood. We searched for additional blood and administered it, but he kept losing blood. The next bag of blood was prepared to be connected. The doctor attempted to connect the blood but faced difficulties. No matter where he punctured, the vein continued to bleed. It then occurred to me that the blood wasn't clotting. I suggested we get an emergency dose of vitamin K and administer it. We gave him vitamin K, and within 30 minutes, he was able to start the drip; the clotting process was normal.
We began investigating the reason, which turned out to be that he was undergoing treatment for high blood pressure, and in addition, it is necessary to take a low-dose aspirin to maintain blood thinning and prevent the formation of blood clots.
The small aspirin was not discontinued. It was meant to be stopped two weeks prior to the surgery. Additionally, his surgery was not urgent, so we had the opportunity to halt it. It slipped through the doctors' notice, and it also slipped my own mind.
I should have been aware, even if they overlooked it since I was responsible for his medications. Naturally, he could have easily died from blood loss or experienced issues from receiving a blood transfusion.
Mistakes are possible; they occur regularly, almost every day. Several of them could be prevented if you were fully alert and paying attention to what is taking place.
After studying medicine, you became involved in numerous Christian volunteer activities — a lengthy list — but I'd like you to share your thoughts on this. What drives you; are you still engaged in it?
Yes. I partially entered into conservative medicine or healthcare, along with Christian-related work. The conservative healthcare I got involved in was when I realized there were many aspects such as nutrition, exercise, rest, and stress reduction that are not taught at all in medical school. I mean, there is so much to study and learn in medical school that they view it as a waste of time to include nutrition and diet.
So this is the concept of lifestyle medicine?
Yes. However, we often ignore it, thinking we can read about it later. So, during my retirement, I decided: why not read and gain understanding. I can look at diaries and dictionaries; I can even use Google to discover these things. But I discovered companies that offer lectures and sell supplements tailored to individual needs—those with higher stress levels, those facing age-related issues, or those with specific dietary restrictions.
Some individuals limit their diets by avoiding vegetables, simply because they dislike them. Even when incorporated into dishes like egusi or okro soup, it needs to be hidden. Therefore, I chose to address this issue by delivering free talks to share this message.
There was a period when we joined forces and accomplished it, and it was highly fulfilling. For Court Justices whose duties consist of remaining seated from morning until night, they needed to learn how to rise and retrieve their own documents.
They were informed that, aside from using the restroom, messengers and personal assistants handled all other tasks for them; and they were pushing themselves to the limit. They needed to be capable of standing up, moving around, and performing various activities.
I also conducted talks on family health organization. There was an organization that supported individuals affected by leprosy, and they no longer wished for us to refer to them as lepers. Instead, they preferred the term "people affected by leprosy." Two non-governmental organizations provided care for these individuals, and I was invited to join the board of one of them, which I accepted enthusiastically.
I served two terms there and two terms on the international committee of that specific non-governmental organization, which is based in the UK. They conducted annual meetings in various countries, rotating each time.
As someone who loves traveling, I thoroughly enjoyed sitting in that seat for nine wonderful years. There's a country I visited twice—Sweden. I have been to Switzerland, Nepal, India, and Thailand for business meetings. Can you believe it?
Additionally, there is much to learn, even from conditions such as leprosy, and realizing that it still exists with new cases emerging each year. It is challenging to determine how it is transmitted. For some reason, 95 percent of people are immune, yet it remains unclear how to identify the 5 percent who are not. It is a complex situation.
What about the academic scholarship foundation?
Individuals assisted me despite not knowing me, which led me to seek out children who also didn't know me, whose parents might have been deceased and who weren't attending school. Someone was generous enough to provide them with shelter and food, so I would locate schools for them.
I discussed with my husband, who also came from a background comparable to mine; therefore, we decided to establish a foundation that supports children from primary and secondary education. We began this initiative when I was 75 years old. We launched it in 2019 and registered it with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). To be honest, it's truly rewarding. Many individuals are now benefiting from the assistance provided.
How much can you accomplish?
That's what once dimmed my enthusiasm when I was younger. I would think there were numerous issues, what could I possibly do? It felt as if I was incapable of making a difference, but with growing up, I now realize that the small actions I take; and my taking them might encourage someone else to do the same.
If they had declined to assist me due to the large number of children requiring support, I wouldn't have received the help, but they did assist. To be honest, at the moment, we have no more than 100 individuals on our platform, but everyone is content and we are all happy.
In reality, it provides me with a strong motivation to continue living and take care of what little I possess, while also disapproving of wasteful spending on myself, my home, or anything when others are in need.
Your biographer described you as an unsung heroine who hasn't received proper recognition. There isn't a street named in your honor. Do you feel somewhat overlooked by society?
Not in the least. Actually, when individuals complain and attempt to pressure me, I respond by saying, "don't worry, it doesn't matter, it doesn't contribute anything or take anything away from me."
In reality, this one you're currently celebrating—the first female doctor from the North—I remained quite quiet about it. It didn't bother me, but they kept mentioning it, and now I said, "Okay, thank you, I'll accept it." To me, it doesn't add anything, nor does it take anything away.
In summary, my duty to my creator is to listen to my heart and carry out the tasks that he has entrusted me with, selflessly and with the best efficiency I can achieve. What does efficiency mean? It means being able to ask others for help, to bring in people who can assist with this endeavor, while knowing that I won't take more than I need; I have sufficient food for myself. And I won't construct a house from it; I already have a home.
I'm doing this for those who have no one to turn to when they need to cry. For me, that's more meaningful than having my name listed repeatedly or receiving various awards that I would simply hang on the wall without any real impact.
What is life like after retiring? You and your partner are now retired; how do you spend your days?
We have established a solid routine. We've taken in much guidance regarding retirement. There's plenty of advice on the importance of staying active, listening to your body, and eating properly. It's suggested that certain foods should be avoided at this stage of life. You simply consume a small amount and feel content. Don't cut yourself off entirely, but make sure not to overdo it. And we are sticking to this approach.
We also discovered that helping others is highly fulfilling for someone who has retired. It is important to do good for other people.
We work out daily in the open air — we take walks. We also have some indoor exercise equipment, but we tend to go outside instead. My husband is an extrovert, so he has no issues with that, but I am more of an introvert and I wasn't fond of walking on the streets.
I am aware that people are observing me from their windows, curious about why this elderly woman is out and about. However, due to his nature, I had to suppress my own feelings; and we are enjoying it.
What about the children, including the one stung by a scorpion?
The children are faring well. The one who was stung by a scorpion was attending university. She was 21 and about to turn 22 when she was in a car accident and passed away. Thus, three children remain. Both boys are lawyers and married to other lawyers. The daughter is a medical doctor who is married to an engineer. The children are now settled.
They are faring well; and I'm grateful that they don't need to take care of us as well. We are retired, and retirement is taking care of us.
Do you still have the opportunity to engage in your passion - traveling?
Yes, we continue to travel. I really enjoy traveling. In fact, for my 80th birthday two years back, the family planned to host a party and invite everyone to celebrate me, but I said, 'you know what, what I've always wanted is to go to Australia, just give me a ticket to go there.' They replied, 'oh, you got it.' So they organized a ticket and both of us went to Australia for six weeks. I believe we had a wonderful time.
Any other hobbies?
Reading and gardening. I am involved in horticulture extensively. I maintain a variety of rare plants. I really enjoy plants and I look after them carefully. Yes, I read a great deal. However, these days, you know, most reading is done on phones, right at your fingertips. You can read anything and anywhere. But I still prefer reading books.
Provided by zaianews.com.