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Help, save a soul Arts writers seek solace for ailing member
(The Sun)

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By SEGUN AJAYI
It was a rude shock to journalists on the arts and culture beat and the entire arts community when they suddenly lost one of their own, Rachael Eghagha, last December.

While her friends and colleagues were still brooding over her death, information filtered round that another arts journalist, Mr McPhilips Nwachukwu, Arts Editor, Vanguard newspapers was struck by renal function impairment. Gripped by fear of another visit by the agent of death, Nwachukwu’s friends rallied support for him by crying out to well-meaning Nigerians to save the journalist from the debilitating illness.

According to his medical report signed by Dr. J.O. Awobusuyi of the Dialysis Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, the journalist’s clinical deterioration became noticeable two months prior to the presentation of his case on November 18, 2004. By then, the report further revealed, there were palpable evidences of abdominal and scrotal swelling with little response to duretic therapy. When his case was brought before the surgeon, his serial electrolyte and urea had worsened progressively. Immediately, he was asked to commence haemodialysis with ultrafilteration in addition to the management of his diabetes and hypertension.

Presently, on conservative management of his renal failure while he awaits clinical surgery, the growing worry among friends and colleagues is how to raise the money that would enable Nwachukwu seek medical treatment in the U.S., which is currently in the range of N5 million. Although, some of Nwachukwu‘s friends and corporate bodies have been responding to this distress call, but like Oliver Twist, the media practitioner deserves more.

A lover of poetry, early in life, Nwachukwu became a restless collector and a connoisseur of poetry. Thus, it was not a surprise that he went on to study English at the university. Going by accounts of his contemporaries at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nwachukwu was a leading student and won the department’s poetry prize named after the famous Christopher Okigbo. He also edited The Muse, the UNN English students’ literary journal. On graduating from Nsukka, he joined the Vanguard in the 1990s as a reporter on the arts and literature beat. Apparently due to his love of poetry, his journalistic focus was literally shaped by that passion for the literature of the verse. Nwachukwu, worked closely with Obi Nwakanma, a writer and former Deputy Editor, Vanguard Newspaper.
It was not a surprise that Nwachukwu was inclined towards Literature and books in the early days of his career.

Commenting on his works, the former Literary Editor, who had since relocated to the US, eulogised his former colleague, saying, "Mac Phillip’ idealism and his commitment to writing, his discovery of the freshest impulses, the newest writers and painters and dancers and his love for the book were evident. A close follower of the Vanguard arts pages on Thursdays and Sundays observe the journalist’s dedication to discovering and promoting new Nigerian writings and Nigerian artists of every genre.
Then came a time when Nwakanma was to seek greener pastures abroad, and had to hand over the arts pages to the safe hands of Nwachukwu and Caine Prose Prize laureate, Helon Habila. In his assessment, Nwakanma noted, "the duo more than justified this trust of journalism, especially the literature, inclined type".

Following Habila’s exit from active journalism after winning the Caine prize in 2001, Nwachukwu rose to the challenge of sustaining the legacy in spite of its limited pecuniary potentials.
Commenting further on Nwachukwu’s works, Nwakanma pointed out: "Mac’s contribution is to be seen in the way he has helped to consistently further the argument on the new and emergent writings of the fourth generation" which many people argue is being denied adequate attention.

It is against this background that it is incumbent on lovers of creativity and other well-meaning Nigerians not to allow this talent to waste. All those who wish to donate towards Mc Phillips’medical expenses can write a cheque in an account named Ikechukwu Oguine, Diamond Bank, Victoria Island, Lagos. The account number is 2000002685.

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