An Arduous Climb

An Arduous Climb narrates the extraordinary story of Kelsey Atangamuerimo Harrison, who rose from humble origins in the creeks of Niger Delta of Nigeria to become a leading obstetrician, respected scholar, inspirational teacher, conscientious Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, and recipient of several honours, including Nigeria's highest honour for intellectual accomplishment. Told with remarkable candour, the book narrates how the chaos, corruption, violence and intrigues during his tenure as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt were often overwhelming, and nearly ruined his personal life. His experiences during the Civil War (1967-1970), in particular his deep involvements with the rehabilitation of maternity services in his home state of Rivers after the war, are very illuminating. ____________________________________________________________ Kelsey Harrison was born in the Niger Delta of Nigeria in 1933 and qualified as an obstetrician and gynaecologist from University College Hospital London in 1964. He taught variously at the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the University of Port Harcourt, where he eventually became the Vice Chancellor. Widely regarded as one of the leading obstetricians in the world, he was in 1989 awarded Nigeria's highest honour for intellectual attainment, the Nigerian National Order of Merit. A passionate cricketer, he retired in 1998, and now lives in Finland with his second wife.