HRH Etubom (Dr) Esu Öyö Ita

Dr. Esu Oyo Ita FRCS ED was born on 5th October 1949 in Lagos. His father was the late Engineer Asuquo Esu Oyo Ita of Duke Town, Calabar. His mother was the late Princess Maria Rewena Adam Ephraim, daughter of Prince Louis Ene Ekpo Adam Ephraim of Etim Effiom House, Calabar. His paternal grandmother was the late Princess Ukpong Adam Ephraim of Nka-kad Effiong Essien in Akpabuyo L.G.A., daughter of Obong Ededem Efe-Effiong (Obong Adam Ephraim - Duke X, Obong of Calabar 1908-1950).

Dr. Esu Oyo Ita started his schooling in 1955 at Duke Town School, Calabar, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1962. He enrolled for his secondary school education at Government Secondary School, Ikom in 1963 but left in 1966 due to the Nigerian civil war. He continued his secondary education at Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, from 1966 to 1970, where he obtained the WASC, HSC and A-Level certificates. He gained direct admission into University of Nigeria, Nsukka, under government scholarship, to study Medicine in 1971. After the successful completion of the course, he was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery of University of Nigeria in 1976. He then did his year-long internship at the famous St. Luke’s Hospital, Uyo; following which he did his NYSC service at General Hospital Otta in Ogun State for one year, after which he returned to the service of the Cross River State government and was appointed Medical Officer 1.

In September 1979, Dr. Esu was given admission by the University of Edinburgh for his post-graduate studies in General Surgery. As part of the requirements of his training, he attended many courses and workshops in Surgery. He also worked in various sub-specialties of surgery in the following hospitals in the United Kingdom, viz:

  1. General Orthopedics – Burnley General Hospital, Burnley UK
  2. A and E – Victoria Hospital Workshop UK
  3. General Surgery – Victoria Hospital Workshop UK
  4. General Surgery/Urology – Lodge Moore Hospital, Red Mires, Sheffield UK
  5. Leith Hospital, Edinburgh UK, amongst others.

In September 1985, he was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, having satisfied all requirements of the College and immediately returned to the Cross River State Ministry of Health, Calabar, and was posted as Senior Registrar to the famous St. Luke’s Hospital, Anua, Uyo. For his Fellowship in Surgery, he also enjoyed government scholarship.

In 1988, he was promoted to the rank of Consultant General Surgeon and posted to serve as the Medical Superintendent of Ikom Joint Hospital, Ikom.

Between 1992 and 1997 he served as the Medical Superintendent of the new Calabar General Hospital, Calabar and on the first of January 1995, he was promoted to the rank of Chief Consultant Surgeon, Special Grade 1.

He was Director of Medical Services, Cross River State from 1997 to 2005 when he retired. He has attended many courses and workshops, including:

  • Emergency Medical Care
  • Essential Medicine List and Drugs Revolving Fund
  • Leadership Training in Health care
  • Blood Transfusion

He was a member, Cross River State Advisory Council for the Prerogative of Mercy 1992 to 1994; member, Cross River State Donor Conference and Uyanga Community Development Initiative, 2000-2001; and Chairman Cross River State Clinical Guideline Writing Group M.O.H, 2002 -2005.

He was made a chief in Oyo Royal House in 1993 and capped as Etubom of Oyo Ita Royal House on 18th January, 2011 by the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu (V)

He organized and sponsored a free medical outreach programme in 2014 for the people of Okoroba Oyo-Ita and nearby Villages where 400 persons were treated as part of the remembrance of Etinyin Oyo Ita, our progenitor.

He was Associate Lecturer and external examiner in Family Medicine, University of Calabar, 2002–2005, and Senior Lecturer/Senior Consultant in the same department (i.e Family Medicine) on contract between 2006-2014.

Currently, Dr. Esu Oyo Ita is Chief Consultant in Family Medicine on contract with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, and Medical Consultant to the Archdiocese of the Christ African Cathedral Church, Calabar.

Dr. Esu Oyo Ita is married with four children.