Celebrating the First CNO in Nigeria

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Kunle Emmanuel
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Celebrating the First CNO in Nigeria

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

THE FIRST CHIEF NURSING OFFICER(CNO) IN NIGERIA
Chief Kofoworola Abeni Pratt Hon. FRCN (1910–1992)

Was a Nigerian-born nurse who is regarded as the first black nurse to work in Britain's National Health Service. She subsequently became vice-president of the International Council of Nurses and the first black Chief Nursing Officer of Nigeria, working in the Federal Ministry of Health.

Pratt, who was born to a prominent Nigerian family, studied to be a teacher at the United Missionary College in Ibadan, after her father discouraged her from her wish to be a nurse. From 1936 to 1940 she taught at a Church Missionary Society girls' school in Nigeria.

She subsequently married to an Englishman, Dr. E. S. O. Pratt, and, after moving to England in 1946, studied nursing at the Nightingale School at St Thomas' Hospital, in London, qualifying as a State Registered Nurse in 1950. It was unusual for a married woman to be allowed to take up nursing at that time.

During her time in London, she was active in the West African Students' Union, an association of students from various West African countries who were studying in the United Kingdom, and which, in 1942, had called for the independence of Britain's West African colonies.

Pratt returned to Nigeria in 1954. She was appointed Matron of the University College Hospital in Ibadan within ten years, being the first Nigerian to hold that position. She was Commissioner of Health for Lagos in the 1970s.
In 1973 she was awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal by the International Committee of the
She was described by Prof.Justus Akinsaya as The Africa Florence Nightingale
Red Cross. The citation described her as a:
State Registered Nurse and Midwife. Certificate in Tropical Nursing. Teachers Diploma. Hospital Nursing Administration Certificate. Chief Nursing Officer, Federal Ministry of Health, Lagos.

The award was presented to her by the President of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, on 21 December 1973.

In 1979 she was made an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Nursing.

She died on 18 June 1992.
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Re: Celebrating the First CNO in Nigeria

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

Pratt led in the Nigerian of nursing , that is, the appointment of Nigerians to replace (mainly) British appointees after Nigeria became independent (in 1960). In 1964 she became the first Nigerian matron of University College Hospital, Ibadan, and in 1965 became the first Nigerian to be appointed chief nursing officer for Nigeria.

Other key posts she held are:
- Commissioner for health, Lagos state.
- Co-founder of the Professional ---Association of Trained Nurses of Nigeria
- Leader of the first Nigerian delegation to the International Council of Nurses Congress
- Vice-president of the International Council of Nurses (first African in that post)
- President of the Professional Association of Trained Nurses of Nigeria
- First chair, Nursing Council of Nigeria
- President of the National Council of Women Societies of Nigeria
- Co-founder of the Nigerian Nurse (a professional journal)
- Nursing adviser to the Nigerian Red Cross.
- She was made a fellow of the Royal College of Nursing (in 1979) and awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Ife (1981).


Source : Mary seacole information
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