The late long-serving senior medical officer (SMO) at the Mbabane Government Hospital, Dr. Austin Ezeogu will be laid to rest on Friday, January 15, 2020.
Dr. Augustine Ozoemenam Ezeogu who was known as Dr. Austin succumbed to COVID-19 in December 2020 while still receiving treatment at Lubombo Referral Hospital.
Dr. Austin originated from Nigeria and has been in Eswatini for so many years until he met his death.
The details about his funeral were confirmed by his daughter Joan Ezeogu, who said his father will be laid to rest at Mahwalala cemetery on the aforementioned date. She said due to the newly introduced regulations by the Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku, there will be no memorial service. She said, however, the short funeral service which will be held at 10 am on Friday will be live-streamed and will be strictly attended by 50 people as per the new COVID-19 regulations.
Joan described his father as the most dedicated man who touched a lot of people’s lives inside Eswatini and around the world. She said his father died while serving this country with dedication.
Chief Dr. Augustine Ozoemenam Oduah Ezeogu, fondly known as Dr Austen, was born on 5th August, 1958, at Port Harcourt, Rivers State ,Nigeria to the family of Mr Stephen Uzor Ezeogu and Mrs. Agnes Ezeogu, both of Ogbe Ukwu Aboh, Delta State of Nigeria.
He started his primary education at St. Jude primary school, Fegge, Onitsha in Anambra State, Nigeria. The Nigeria civil war broke out in 1966, and the educational system in eastern Nigeria was disrupted for two years.
In 1966-67, the family took refuge at Okonkwo’s family, in Atani, Anambra State of Nigeria, and later in 1968 the family went back home to Aboh in Delta State.
In his youth, during the war, Austen learnt other trades that helped him to support his family during the war like fishing. Family dinner was sometimes up with the proceeds from his efforts.
The year 1969 saw everybody back to school. Austen excelled in the first school leaving certificate examination, and proceeded to Mater Dei grammar school, Ashaka, Delta State, Nigeria, were he came out in division one, in flying colors. He took the academic excellence to the high school level at St. Gregory’s college, Lagos, for his A-levels, and there after The University of Jos’ Medical college, where he qualified as a medical Doctor.
