Betta Edu

Dr. Betta Edu was born on 27 October 1986. She hails from Ibalebo village in Abi local government Area, Cross River State.

Betta completed her secondary education at Federal Government Girls College, Calabar, she is a graduate of medicine and surgery from the University of Calabar. She obtained a master's degree (MSc) in Public Health in Developing Countries in 2014 from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, and holds a doctorate degree (PhD) in Public Health from Texila America University and other post graduate certificates on public health from Harvard T.H CHAN School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. with a leadership certificate from Havard medical school.

Dr. Betta's political journey started in her university days, when she served as vice president of the students' union government, University of Calabar, in 2007–2008 and also served as president of the Female leadership forum, University of Calabar. She served in the SUG parliament as the Chairman house committee on health and HIV/AIDS.

In 2015 she became the special adviser to Governor Benedict Ayade on community and primary health care the youngest in the country. In May 2016 she was later appointed pioneer DG of Cross River State Primary Health Care Agency until 2019 when she was appointed Cross River State Commissioner for Health.[2]

In 2020, Betta Edu was chairman of the Cross River State COVID-19 Taskforce, She coordinated the Cross River State COVID-19 Response, and established and coordinated the Emergency Operations Centre for COVID-19 in the state. In August 2020 she emerged National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum.[3]

Betta Edu is also known to be a philanthropist who pays school fees for the less privileged children in her community.[4]

Betta edu emerged the youngest national women leader of the All progressives Congress (APC) in march 2022 after defeating her opponent by 2,662 to 117 votes at the APC National convention [5]

Quintessential Nigeria Woman Award: Excellent Women International (2020)[6]

Medical Expert of the Year (2020) [7]

Pan Africa Award for Humanitarian services (2018)

Award of 50 Future Leaders in Nigeria, (2017)

Hero of COVID-19, National Youth Council of Nigeria (2020)

Award of the Most Dedicated student Unionist of the year—Students’ Union Government (SUG) 2007–2008, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.

Award of Top 100 most distinguished African women - African leading women conference and awards (ALWCA)