# Basil Ezeanolue

Basil Chukwuemeka Ezeanolue (born 17 November 1953) is a Nigerian professor of Otolaryngology (Head and Neck Surgery). He was a member of senate and he is a fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, fellow of the West African College of Surgeons in the Faculty of Otorhinolaryngology, and Fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Basil Ezeanolue was, at several times, the Head of Department of Otolaryngology at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Ituku Ozalla, Enugu, and Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria. Basil Ezeanolue was the Secretary (from 1999 to 2003) and later President of the Otorhinolaryngological Society of Nigeria (2005 to 2009). He delivered the 82nd Inaugural Lecture of the University of Nigeria, at Enugu Nigeria, entitled, "Hear the Voice" on 17 July 2014. It was also the first inaugural lecture coming from the Department of Otolaryngology of the University of Nigeria. Ezeanolue also delivered the 6th Valedictory Lecture of the University of Nigeria entitled, "Challenges of balancing work with life, Geriatric Otorhinolaryngology and living post-work life of retirement - A discourse of the experiences and the lessons learnt from the Nigeria University System and Health Services Sectors perspectives of an Academic Clinical Otorhinolaryngologist Head and Neck Surgeon" on 10 November 2023. He is the Founder and Surgeon-in-Chief of Balsam Clinics, Enugu, Nigeria. He was also a member of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital Governing Board, Awka,, Anambra State. On 20 September 2018, he delivered the 36th Convocation Lecture of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, entitled, "Do Not Be Afraid And Do Not Fail To Rescue – a discourse on the challenges confronting Nigeria Health Sector" at Ijanikin, Lagos. Basil Ezeanolue's publications have been cited 440 times according to the AD Scientific index ranking. and 443 times according to the google scholar index.

## Early life and education

Basil Ezeanolue was born in Enugu on 17 November 1953 to Chief Fredrick and Lolo Margret Ezeanolue Ezepue as their second child. He hails from Akwaeze in Anaocha local government area of Anambra State. He began formal primary education in Port Harcourt but later transferred in 1963, to his village, Akwaeze, to complete the primary education at St. Michael Primary School, Akwaeze. He then attended secondary education at Stella Maris College, Port Harcourt and later, Christ the King College, Onitsha, after the Nigerian civil war. He gained admission into the University of Nigeria in 1973 to study Medicine and Surgery, graduating Bachelor of Medicine (BM) and Bachelor of Surgery (B.Ch) in June 1979.

## Career

Basil Ezeanolue began his career as a House Officer (Intern) at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) on 1 July 1979. He later worked as National Youth Service Corps Medical Officer in the then Sokoto State General Hospital, Yelwa, Yauri (now in Kebbi State) from 1980 to 1981. He was Medical Officer Benue Health Management Board General Hospital, Otukpo from 1981 to 1983; acting director, Health Services at Benue Polytechnic, Ugbokolo from 1983 to 1985; and Resident Doctor, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) from 1985 to 1991. He had his postgraduate Residency training at the Department of Otolaryngology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, (UNTH) Enugu and earned the Fellowship of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (FMCORL) and the fellowship of the West African College of Surgeons (FWACS) in Otorhinolaryngology in the year 1990. He was awarded Doctor of Medicine (MD) by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. Basil Ezeanolue became Honorary Consultant, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (from November 1991); and Visiting Consultant Otolaryngologist Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi (from July 1996). Ezeanolue founded Balsam Clinics in 1990 and had worked there part-time in the private sector of clinical health care delivery till date. He was part-time lecturer in the Department of Anatomy, University of Nigeria (1991 to 2005).
Basil Ezeanolue became an academic staff of the University of Nigeria in November 1991 as Lecturer I and rose through the ranks to become a full Professor of Otorhinolaryngology on 1 October 2005. He was Head of Department of Otolaryngology, University of Nigeria and UNTH for several years in 4 different tenures (August 2002 to July 2004; August 2006 to July 2008; Aug 2011 to July 2012; Aug 2014 to July 2019). He was the Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (from 2012 to 2014). Ezeanolue was Chairman, Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria (UNTH Chapter), from August 2006 till December 2008.

## Public lectures

Basil Ezeanolue delivered the 82nd Inaugural Lecture of the University of Nigeria, at Enugu Nigeria, entitled, "Hear the Voice" on 17 July 2014. On 20 September 2018, he delivered the 36th Convocation Lecture of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, entitled, "Do Not Be Afraid And Do Not Fail To Rescue – a discourse on the challenges confronting Nigeria Health Sector" at Ijanikin, Lagos. He also delivered the 6th Valedictory Lecture of the University of Nigeria entitled, "Challenges of balancing work with life, Geriatric Otorhinolaryngology and living post-work life of retirement - A discourse of the experiences and the lessons learnt from the Nigeria University System and Health Services Sectors perspectives of an Academic Clinical Otorhinolaryngologist Head and Neck Surgeon" on 10 November 2023.

## Editorship of academic journals

Basil Ezeanolue is the pioneer Editor-in-Chief of the Nigerian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology (2004 to 2016); Associate Editor of the Orient Journal of Medicine (2000 to 2010); Associate Editor of the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal (from June 2011 to December 2017). He has also served in the editorial board of the Journal of the American Academy of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.

## Membership

Ezeanolue is a member of the Nigeria Medical Association since 1979; member, Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria since 1991; Fellow, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria since 1990; Fellow, West African College of Surgeons since 1990, Fellow, International College of Surgeons (Nigeria Section) since 1998; member Nigeria Surgical Research Society since 1999; member, Otorhinolaryngological Society of Nigeria since 1990; International Fellow, American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery since 2006.

## Community development

Basil Ezeanolue was Chairman of the Akwaeze Town Union from March to December 2017. As grand patron, he has contributed to scholarship and church programs in Akwaeze town in Anaocha local government area of Anambra state.

## Select publications

Basil Ezeanolue's publications have been cited 440 times according to the AD Scientific index ranking. and 443 times according to the google scholar index. His publications include:
* Orji, F. T.; Okolugbo, N. E.; Ezeanolue, B. C. (2010). "The role of adenoidal obstruction in the pathogenesis of Otitis media with effusion in Nigerian children". Nigerian Journal of Medicine. 19 (1): 62–68. doi:10.4314/njm.v19i1.52483. PMID 20232759.
* Gugnani, H. C.; Ezeanolue, B. C.; Khalil, M.; Amoah, C. D.; Ajuiu, E. U.; Oyewo, E. A. (1995). "Fluconazole in the therapy of tropical deep mycoses". Mycoses. 38 (11–12): 485–488. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0507.1995.tb00025.x. PMID 8720201.
* Ofoegbu, Chike V.; Orji, Foster T.; Ezeanolue, Basil C.; Emodi, Ifeoma (2016-06-13). "Microbiological profile of chronic suppurative otits media among HIV infected children in South Eastern Nigeria". Nigerian Journal of Medicine. 25 (1): 5–11. doi:10.4103/1115-2613.278253.
* Ezeanolue, B C (1999-07-01). "Salivary gland neoplasms: a descriptive analysis of the pattern seen in Enugu". West African Journal of Medicine. 18 (3): 179–182. PMID 10593153.
* Orji, F. T.; Ezeanolue, B. C. (2008). "Evaluation of adenoidal obstruction in children: clinical symptoms compared with roentgenographic assessment". The Journal of Laryngology & Otology. 122 (11): 1201–1205. doi:10.1017/S0022215108001916. PMID 18394205.
* Ezeanolue, B. C. (1999). "Localisation and removal of swallowed radiolucent dental prostheses impacted in cervical oesophagus". International Journal of Medicine and Health Development. 4 (1).
* Eziyi, J. A. E.; Amusa, Y. B.; Nwawolo, C. C.; Ezeanolue, B. C. (2011). "Wax Impaction in Nigerian School Children". East and Central African Journal of Surgery. 16 (2): 40–45.