Biography
Dr. Okpua Nelson Chidinma (RN, RM, RPHN), was born on the 3rd of April 1985 into the family of Late chief Fidelis Okpua Afiukwa, of Ugbodo Echialike Ikwo LGA Ebonyi State. He started his primary education at Community primary school Echialike Ikwo, Ebonyi State in 1992 and obtained his FSLC in 1998. He proceeded to Folk Technical College Ikwo from 1998 to 2004 where he obtained WASCE. In his quest for academic advancement, he got admitted into Nursing Science programme of Ebonyi State University Abakaliki in 2005 after completing the prescribed Pre-degree programme of the University, and later graduated in 2010 with Bachelor of Nursing Science Degree (B.NSc). He got registered as a Licensed Nurse in 2011, a Licensed Midwife in 2012, and a Licensed Public Health Nurse in 2017, respectively.
After his Nigeria Youth Corps Service (NYSC) at Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital Okolobiri, Bayelsa State, he joined the now defunct Federal Medical centre Abakaliki as a nursing officer. He later proceeded to Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge, United Kingdom where he obtained a Master of science Degree in Public health from 2014 to 2015. Having joined academics after returning back to Nigeria, he subsequently enrolled at Universiimti Sains Malaysia in 2019 where he obtained a Ph.D in Community and Family Nursing in 2023.
He has worked as a clinical nurse within and outside Nigeria. Part of these were at Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital Okolobiri Bayelsa State, Federal Medical centre Abakaliki, Nurse plus UK, etc.
In addition, he started as an Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Nursing Science, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki in 2016, and rose to Lecturer 1 in 2020. He has also held some administrative positions within the academic environment and professional organisations. Among the positions were; faculty staff adviser, Departmental Postgraduate Coordinator for Nursing Science, and Head of Unit (Public health) Nursing Science, EBSU. He joined the Department of Nursing Science, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo in 2024, before which he had served as the Coordinator of Nursing programme who saw to the establishment of the new nursing science Department in 2023. In 2024, he was appointed the Pioneer Head of Department for Nursing Science, a position he served till July 2026. On August 1st 2026, he was appointed as the Dean Faculty of Health and Allied sciences to oversee the 3 existing Departments (Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science and Human Nutrition and Dietetics), and 3 new Departments introduced by the Vice Chancellor (Physiotherapy, Optometry and Medical Radiological Science).
Besides his University administrative experiences, Dr. Nelson Okpua has also served as the State Secretary, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Mandatory Continuing professional Development Programme (MCPDP). On January 1, 2026, he was also appointed as the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) SOUTH-EAST ZONAL COORDINATOR (incharge of ENUGU and EBONYI STATES) for the implementation of the Council's Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme in South East Zone. An appointment expected to elapse in 2028.