NMA elects Prof Bala Audu new president

Bala Audu, a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, has been elected as the president of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).

Audu, a 1988 medical graduate from University of Maiduguri, was elected at the annual delegates meeting held in Calabar, Cross Rivers state.

He obtained a masters degree from the University of London in 1994 and became a fellow in obstetrics and gynecology in 1997.

He also obtained a certificate in hospital administration and health services from National Institute of Public Health, Japan in 2008.

Audu worked at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital until his appointment in 2017 as the provost of the College of Medical Sciences at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.

He was later appointed the vice-chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, in Bauchi state.

Audu was said to have trained many young doctors in obstetrics and has conducted numerous research works on cancer prevention, early diagnosis and treatment.

Other leaders elected at the meeting include Benjamin Olowojebutu as vice president; Usha Anenga as vice president 2; Ben Egbo as secretary general; Wale Lasisi as the assistant secretary general; Celestine Ugwoke as treasurer; Harrison Omokhua as financial secretary, and Manir Bature as the national publicity secretary.

According to NMA, the new leaders were drawn from its branches in the country and will lead the association’s activities from 2024 to 2026, after which another cycle of leadership will emerge.