Chikwe Ihekweauzu (with Vivian Ihekweazu) (2024), An Imperfect Storm: A Pandemic and the Coming of Age of a Nigerian Institution. Lagos: Masobe Books and Logistics Limited.
There are many attractions to Imperfect Storm. One of them is the co-ownership of the narrative by Nigerians from different walks of life. The story is one that many Nigerians identify with.
I flew a kite on Facebook in advance of this review. Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan of the Nigerian Communications Commission noticed immediately. He wrote: “It is well written and very clear. Complex issues are “broken down” into a simple context. I am particularly pleased that the book was written. So many efforts by ordinary Nigerians have gone unreported and yet they form our own profile of courage, patriotism and service. God bless the Ihekweazus and all who sacrificed to contain and manage the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, including you Sir, Chido Nwakanma, because I know you and I were in the specially created WhatsApp group , which has helped disseminate NCDC’s efforts and processes. We contributed our quota along with Ikem Okuhu and many others including Sola Fanawopo and Rev. Sunday Folayan (who engaged me for volunteer work).”
“An Imperfect Storm” is an in-depth examination of Nigeria’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a first-person account that blends personal narratives with broader public health insights. The impact of COVID-19 is affecting people in different ways and increasing interest in the book.
An Imperfect Storm offers 27 chapters in four sections. The sections are The Gathering, Synchronicity, Attenuation and Full Circle.
John Nkengasong, former and first director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wrote the foreword praising NCDC as “an excellent national health agency for the region.” He says An Imperfect Storm offers “a blueprint for public health officials and leaders around the world.”
Chapter 6, “Fledgling Structures,” is a must-read to paint the scenario from the ground up. Another must-read is Chapter 26, “A Partner for All Time.” Viviane Ihekweazu further humanizes this very human narrative.
“An Imperfect Storm” details the challenges Dr. Ihekweazu and his agency faced during the pandemic. These challenges include bureaucratic hurdles and limited resources. It emphasizes the importance of local leadership in dealing with crises.
It offers perspectives on public policy design and implementation, crisis management and communication, team building and management, and operational difficulties in dealing with a health emergency. The personal emotional toll also comes into focus.
There is a call to action. The authors argue for increased investment in health security in African countries to reduce dependence on external aid. They argue for a shift towards building resilient local systems capable of dealing with future health crises.
Iheakweazu goes beyond enumerating the dysfunctions in the health system to recognize the dedication and teamwork of the young professionals at the NCDC who have worked to improve Nigeria’s health infrastructure. They made it despite the challenges, and that message resonates. They do very well in obtaining senior international employment that recognizes their efforts in Nigeria.
A strength of the book is its effort to document the challenges and opportunities of managing the Nigerian public sector in near real time. Although Iheakweazu and NCDC’s story is atypical, it offers guidance as governments in Nigeria and across Africa seek to attract private sector professionals to work in the public sector.
An Imperfect Storm is a crossover book that covers many themes. Because of the many points of contact, reading is recommended for anyone interested in Nigerian public affairs, regardless of discipline.
Diploma
An Imperfect Storm serves as both a memoir and a critical analysis of public health in Nigeria, emphasizing that effective leadership and community engagement are essential to addressing complex health challenges. Through their experiences, Chikwe and Vivianne Ihekweazu inspire a vision for a more resilient future in global healthcare.
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