Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Osato Frank Giwa-Osagie, has been inaugurated as the new president of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
He succeeded Prof Oladapo Ashiru, his long-time professional colleague and friend, who is the first black person globally to be elected as the Secretary-General of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), a non-state global organisation on fertility.
Both Giwa-Osagie and Ashiru co-pioneered IVF treatment in West Africa, producing the first test-tube baby in the sub-region.
Giwa-Osagie, who attained professorship at 41 at UNILAG, was until now, the vice president of the academy, which was formerly known as Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria(AMSN).
He was installed for the role on Saturday, October 26, alongside new board members at this year’s annual general meeting and fourth induction ceremony of the academy held in Lagos.
He is to serve for two years and is entitled to run for one more tenure if he so wishes.
Similarly, the Academy also inducted 13 new elected fellows, who are all professors in various medical fields and honoured three serving ministers and two others, at the event.
The list include Mrs Cecilia Igwilo, a distinguished Professor of Pharmacy; John Anetor, a professor of chemical pathology; Prof. Akinlolu Ojo, a physician and academic medicine leader; Joseph Fadare, a Professor of Medicine; Olayinka Ogunleye, a Professor of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics.
Others are Victor Lasebikan, a Professor of Psychiatry; Oyindamola Abiodun, a professor of pharmacology; Mrs Titilola Samuel, a professor of endocrinology and molecular oncology; Olufunsho Awodele, a professor of toxicology and therapeutics; Prof Blessing Jaja, a Neuroscientist/Clinical Anatomist; Linus Saalu, a Professor of Anatomy, Prof Abidemi Akindele, an outstanding pharmacologist, and Dr Ogunbayode Ishola, an associate professor of pharmacology, as well as the new minister of state for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu and Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.
In his inaugural speech, Giwa-Osagie thanked members of the academy for the confidence reposed in him to lead them for the next two years, soliciting their total supports and cooperation.
He said his predecessor had already widwifed the academy and brought it to a global limelight and it is now for him to build on the good work and ensure the academy moves to a greater height.
According to him, it is the responsibility of the academy to enhance the wellbeing of Nigerians and others through the promotion of medical education, research, medicare and public health
“So, we must continue and now in more aggressive way, to contribute to knowledge sharing and advocacies to ensure Nigeria becomes a society where good health is priority and heathcare services are not only accessible and affordable but of high quality to the generailiy of the people,” he stressed.
In his goodwill message, one of the honorees who is the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Yusuf Sununu, expressed happiness for the honour, appreciating the founding fellows of the academy who he called his mentors.
He assured the academy of his contribution to the development of the group and the medical science generally.
Earlier in his keynote speech on the theme, “Achieving Effective and Sustainable Reforms of the Nigerian Health Sector in a Challenged Economy,”
Dr Muhammed Lekky, said it would require all hands to be on deck to move Nigeria’s health sector forward.
According to him, people irrespective of their social status, especially in this troubled economic state, should be able to access affordable and quality medicare anywhere in the country, hence the essence of reform of the sector.
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