About TJPF
Why was the Thomas John Prostate Foundation Created?
The Thomas John Prostate Foundation (TJPF) was founded in 2008, by Sir Dr. Thomas M. Asuquo John. Prior to the official launch of the TJPF foundation on December 19, 2008, Dr. Thomas M. A. John had decided in 2004, to devote his life to promoting prostate cancer awareness and screening. He embraced this mission as a way of showing his gratitude to the Almighty God, for sparing him from prostate cancer, through the early detection of the disease. Dr. Thomas M. A John knew that whilst he was fortunate enough to have had the knowledge and means to have his prostate screened, there were many of his fellow Nigerians, who did not.
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In December 2004, with the help of the Catholic Archdiocese of Calabar, he initiated a PSA based prostate cancer screening test center in Calabar. In February 2005, on the 13th World Day for the Sick, a one day seminar to raise awareness was held. The seminar, which struck a chord with the populace, was well received and featured the distinguished Urologist Prof. Nkposong of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. This led to many more community awareness seminars held initially throughout the South East and South of Nigeria.
After four years, the scope and outreach of Dr. Thomas M.A John’s mission, grew to encompass more regions of Nigeria. This in turn, led to the need to found the Thomas John Prostate Foundation, to ensure continued outreach to men all through Nigeria.
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To date, the Thomas John Prostate Foundation has provided free prostate cancer screening to tens of thousands of men in Nigeria, and free prostate cancer treatment to hundreds.
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The Thomas John Prostate Foundation is registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission as an Incorporated Trust with Registration Number 28853
Biography of TJPF founder Sir Dr. Thomas M. Asuquo John:
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Sir (Dr.) Thomas M. Asuquo John, Ph.D., was born on the 21st of December, 1938, in Cobham Town, Calabar. He was born into the family of Surveyor Theophilus John and Madam Josephine Makamba John. After graduating top of his year in 1959, from St. Patrick’s College, Ikot Ansa Calabar, he went on to win a scholarship from the then Czechoslovak government, to read Chemical Engineering at the country’s esteemed Institute of Technology in Prague. In 1963, after becoming proficient in the Czech language, he commenced studies at the faculty of Process and Automation. In 1968, he had the distinction of being the first African to graduate from the institute, and at the top of his class. He won the institute’s highest honour for academic achievement.
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Dr. Thomas M. Asuquo John would go on in 1970, to win the distinguished Commonwealth scholarship to Queen University in Kingston Onatrio, Canada. There he worked at Depuis Hall, Queens University, under the supervision of world renowned kineticist, Professor Bohdan Wojciechowski. His objective was to develop a kinetic model for catalytic cracking of gas oil. He accomplished this task in forty four months, and published three scientific papers. He became the first student up to that point, to obtain a Ph.D from Depuis Hall in less than sixty months, the average time on record at that time being sixty months.
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In 1973, a delegation from the then Ministry of Mines and Power headed by Chief FRA Marinho, visited Canada on a recruitment drive. Dr. Thomas M. Asuquo John was interviewed, and the following year, he was offered employment at the Nigerian National Oil Corporation (NNOC). The Federal Government of Nigeria, as dictated by the Philip Asiodu National Economic Plan, had decided to construct two state of the art refineries in Warri and Kaduna. Dr. T.M John, as he became commonly called, was appointed as one of the Project Engineers. This would begin a long distinguished, trail blazing career in the petroleum industry, coursing through four continents, and culminating in being appointed as Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on April 21, 1990 by the then President General Ibrahim B. Babangida on the recommendation of Professor Jibril Aminu, Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources.
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There would not be space enough to detail the achievements of Dr. Thomas M. Asuquo John, but the following summary serves to give some insight into the magnitude of his service and accomplishments:
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1980: Appointed as the first Refinery Manager of the Kaduna Refinery. He ran the refinery for five years, during which time he conducted three successful turnaround maintenance. During his five year tenure as Refinery Manager, the refinery produced a full range of petroleum products, petrochemicals, asphalt for road construction industries and petroleum wax.
1985: General Manager and Coordinator of Nigeria’s Petrochemical sector.
1988: Successfully commissioned the Warri Carbon Black and Polypropylene petrochemical plants. Successfully commissioned the Kaduna refinery Linear Alkyl Benzene petrochemical plant. Linear Alkyl Benzene was sold to detergent manufacturing company NASCO within Nigeria, and Carbon Black was sold locally to Dunlop, as well as exported to France.
1990: Headed a dedicated team, who after meeting all the requirements of the World Bank and IMF (which included the proposal of a viable locally crafted design basis of the complex), enabled the Federal Government to obtain international financing for the Eleme Petrochemical Complex.
1990: Appointed Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
1991: In order to provide a site for an LNG plant, he had to successfully negotiate the relocation of the inhabitants of old Finima from their ancestral home in Bonny Island, to the new Finima. He supported the LNG multi-national project team, to meet all the other conditions precedent required, to construct an LNG plant.
1991: He was responsible both for obtaining a site in Calabar, and for the construction of a jetty at the site, to receive petroleum products for the over ten year unutilized Calabar tank farm.
1991: He was responsible for the design and construction of Phase 2 of the pipeline project, which ensured refined products distribution to all parts of the country.
1992: Obtained approval from his Minister of Petroleum, Prof. Jibril Aminu, for the choice of the design of the NNPC Towers (corporate headquarters), and its construction.
1992: After retiring from NNPC, Founded Hydropec Engineering Services Ltd (HESL). Hydropec engages in petroleum consultancy services, and water resource management. HESL drills boreholes for water and treats the water using a chemical free proprietary process which ensures quality water.
1998: Nominated by the then Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to serve on a Task force preparing Blue Print on the oil industry. Later, he went on to serve on the presidential Advisory committee on Petroleum and Energy.
2016: Twenty four years after his voluntary retirement from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Nigerian Government re-invited him to the Board of NNPC as a non-executive director.
2019: Dr. Thomas M. Asuquo John was appointed Acting Alternate Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) governing board, by the Nigerian Government.
Present Times: Dr. Thomas M. Asuquo John, has served on the Board of numerous companies. Presently amongst the board of other respected companies, he serves as a non-executive member, on the Board of South Atlantic Petroleum Company (SAPETRO).
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Select Honours and Philanthropy:
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Select Honours:
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In 1990 he was invested with the title ‘Ada Idaha Ke Efik Ebrutu’ by the then Obong of Calabar HRM Edidem Boco Ene Mkpang Cobham the V.
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In 1992, Sir Dr. Thomas M. Asuquo John was invested a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Sylvester by Pope John Paul II.
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He is a member of St. Vincent de Paul society, and a life member of the St. Patrick’s College Calabar, Alumni Association.
He is a Fellow of the Polymer Institute, and the Nigeria Society of Chemical Engineers, where he served as the president of the society’s foundation.
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Philanthropy:
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The Thomas John Prostate Foundation (TJPF) was founded in 2008, by Sir Dr. Thomas M. Asuquo John. Prior to the official launch of the TJPF foundation on December 19, 2008, Dr. Thomas M. A. John had decided in 2004 to devote his life to promoting prostate cancer awareness and screening. He embraced this mission as a way of showing his gratitude to the Almighty God, for sparing him from prostate cancer, through the early detection of the disease. Dr. Thomas M. A John knew that whilst he was fortunate enough to have had the knowledge and means to have his prostate screened, there were many of his fellow Nigerians, who did not.
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The foundations activities are run by Dr. Thomas M.A John, committed members of his Board of Trustees, dedicated foundation staff, religious organizations, benevolent medical doctors, nurses and various health care personnel.
To date, the Thomas John Prostate Foundation has provided free prostate cancer screening to tens of thousands of men in Nigeria, and free prostate cancer treatment to hundreds.
Family Life: Sir Dr. Thomas M. Asuquo John is married to Lady Roseline E. John, and they have four children: Dr. Jennifer A. Odutola, Dr. Chinwe D. John, Ms. Obehi A. John and Mr. Eskor John.