The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo City, Ondo State, Nigeria, Prof. Ayodele Olatunji Arowojolu was on Thursday, July 27, 2023, celebrated by the University of Ibadan as he bowed out of office in grand style.
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, organised a valedictory lecture in honour of the University Don after years of meritorious service.
In his welcome address, the Head of Department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ibadan, Prof. Michael Okunlola noted that the event which culminated in Prof. Arowojolu’s birthday is an opportunity to celebrate excellence.
‘The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has accepted Prof. Arowojolu’s retirement with mixed feelings. Happy that he is deservedly retiring, to rest after a lengthy period of unblemished service. On the other hand, the Department is worried about the recent spate of retirements among the top echelons of Professors in the college and the vacuum created,’ he said.
The Provost, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Prof. Olayinka Omigbodun, in her goodwill message, tasked Arowojolu to use his wealth of experience in developing public universities in Nigeria, saying his appointment as Pro-Chancellor of the University of UNIMED is an opportunity for him to assist in building virile tertiary institutions.
She said: ‘Currently, you (Prof. Arowojolu) were appointed as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of the University of Medical Sciences in Ondo, working hand-in-hand with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, and I am sure you are going to take the University to a great height. I am appealing to you to use this period to help build our universities, particularly our public universities because public universities are becoming the endangered specie.’
The Valedictory Lecture titled ‘Mentorship in Postgraduate Medical Education: A Dying Art?’ was delivered by Vice-President, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and a professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Delta State University, Abraka, Prof. Peter Ebeigbe. He used the occasion to highlight the importance of mentorship and attributes of mentor and mentee relationship.
In his goodwill message, the Vice-Chancellor, UNIMED, Ondo, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, FAS, on behalf of the Management, Staff and Students of the University, congratulated Prof. Arowojolu on the auspicious occasion of his 70th birthday and his retirement from the University of Ibadan.
‘We are proud of your achievements and it testifies to who you are and what you have accomplished in the University of Ibadan over the past decades. In the last couple of months that we have had the privilege of you leading our Council, clearly, your experience in academia manifested,’ the VC stated.
In his response, the Pro-Chancellor, UNIMED, Ondo, Prof. Ayodele Arowojolu, appreciated the University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital, Ibadan for the opportunity given him to serve. He also attributed his journey in life and successes to the divine intervention of God.
Professor Ayodele Olatunji Arowojolu is a prominent scholar and clinician in the field of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He has dedicated his remarkable career to enriching the medical community through his exceptional contributions to education, research, and clinical practice. His outstanding achievements have spanned several decades and have left an indelible mark on both the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, and the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
Professor Arowojolu holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Ibadan in 1978, followed by a Diploma in Anaesthesia (DA) from the same institution in 1981. His quest for knowledge led him to obtain a Certificate in Family Planning from the Fertility Research Unit, Obstetrics, and Gynaecology Department, U.C.H. Ibadan in 1987. Over the years, he has been recognised and honoured by various medical bodies, becoming a Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (FMCOG), the West African College of Surgeons (FWACS), and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London (FRCOG).
Throughout his career, Professor Arowojolu has been actively involved in research, clinical practice, and the training of countless medical professionals in various aspects of reproductive health. His vast expertise extends across many fields, and he has been a guiding force behind numerous postgraduate dissertations for Fellowship, Masters, PhD, and MD programmes. As an assessor for local and international peer-reviewed journals, he has contributed significantly to the advancement of medical research and knowledge.
In addition, Professor Arowojolu's dedication to the medical community and society has been recognized by prestigious institutions. He served as the Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology from 2011 to 2015 and as the Faculty Secretary and later Chairman of the Faculty of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the National Postgraduate Medical College, Nigeria, from 2006 to 2018.
An alumnus of the esteemed Government College Ibadan, Professor Arowojolu's passion for giving back to the community is evident through his involvement in institutions such as the Oyo State Specialist Hospital, Ibadan, the Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, and Our Lady of Apostles Catholic Hospital Oluyoro, Ibadan. Currently, he serves as the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Council of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Nigeria.
Professor Ayodele Olatunji Arowojolu's commitment to his community has been acknowledged, and he has been bestowed with the titles of Knight of John Wesley, the Baasegun of Modakeke, and Obateru of Ajagba Kingdom. A man of great accomplishments and integrity, he shares his life's journey with his beloved wife, Modupeola Arowojolu, a distinguished Professor of Dentistry and former Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry. They are blessed with children and grandchildren.
