Dr. Njide Okonjo-Udochi, younger sister to the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been honoured as the Physician of the Year in the United States of America.
The award, bestowed by the Maryland Academy of Family Physicians, makes Okonjo-Udochi the first black woman to emerge as Physician of the Year in the US.
This award is coming just 18 days after her elder sister, Ngozi, was appointed as the first woman and the first Black to head the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Njide schooled at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus from where she bagged an MBBS in 1988, did her residency at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in 1998. She holds board certification from the American Board of Family Medicine (1998).
According to her profile on Linkedin, Okonjo-Udochi is an experienced Medical Director with a demonstrated history of working in the medical practice industry. She is skilled in Medical Education, Epidemiology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Emergency Medicine.
Like her elder sibling, Dr. Njide Okonjo-Udochi, who founded Millennial Family Care in 2003, is new to such awards. She emerged as the Baltimore Magazine Top Doctor in 2019. She is recognized as a top primary care doctor in Maryland and beyond and is featured as a medical expert on doctors’ interviews on CNN, FOX News, CNBC, and more.
Since the honour was bestowed on Njide, messages of congratulations have been pouring in from across the world.
Her elder sister, Ngozi had this to say on Twitter:
Congratulations Dr Njideka Udochi, Maryland’s Family Physician Of The Year. Thank you for your care of COVID-19 patients and for saving so many lives. Proud of you my sister.
— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) February 27, 2021
According to Linda Ikeji’s Blog, another Okonjo family member, who is the founder and CEO of Giant Beverages, Onyema Okonjo also congratulated Dr Udochi, writing:
“Congratulations to both of my older sisters (Ngozi Okonjo Iweala & Njide Udochi). And congratulations to my parents. My eldest sister for her success with the WTO and my second sister for being selected as the best family practice doctor in Maryland, USA.
“My parents set the stage with their strong support for women. My mother has been a very passionate women’s rights advocate and even as a retired Professor of Sociology in her 90’s, she still cares about women’s rights, equal rights, and equal access for women. May God bless both of you and may both of you continue to reach greater heights.”
Also reacting, another Twitter user with the handle, @AfamDeluxo said;
“We have not finished celebrating Dr. Ngọzi Okonjo-Iweala WTO appointment and her sister, Dr. Njide Okonjo-Udochi, just scored another screamer for Nigerian women by becoming Physician of the Year by the Maryland Association of Family Physicians.”
In his reaction, Martin Beck Nworah wrote on Facebook said “Such an amazing inspiration to young girls all over the world”.
Nigerdeltaconnect wishes her the very best in her career.
