The University of Ibadan (UI) College of Medicine (CoMUI) on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, held a historic event tagged Emeriti Honour Day at the A.O.K. Johnson Boardroom. The programme was put together to honour all the Emeriti Professors. The ceremony, which commenced at 3 p.m., was a grand gathering of the University of Ibadan and CoMUI management, faculty, student leaders, and retired academic icons. It was a celebration of longevity in service, scholarship, research, leadership, and medical education.
Under the theme of "Not a Farewell, But a Permanent Embrace," the ceremony underscored that retirement does not signify an end to their contributions, but rather the beginning of a new phase of advisory and mentoring roles. It served as a platform to acknowledge their outstanding roles in building the College into a global centre for medical excellence and research since its inception in 1948. It also was a means of ensuring that their wisdom remains a guiding light for future generations.
While establishing the event protocol, the Deputy Registrar and Secretary to the College, Mr. A. E. Odedele, set the tone by emphasizing that the event was a celebration of wisdom, service, and sacrifice. He noted that the day was not just another academic calendar event, but a moment to recognize those who spent their years shaping minds and building institutions.
The Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Professor T. O. Ogundiran, in his welcome address contextualized the event by highlighting that while many professors retire, only a select few attain the highly coveted title of Emeritus Professor, which represents the highest academic honour a university can bestow on a retired academic. He appreciated the honorees for their contributions to medical education and celebrated them for their indefatigable strides even post retirement.
In his keynote address, University of Ibadan Vice-Chancellor Professor K.O. Adebowale emphasised to the gathering that the title "Emeritus Professor" reflects the University’s position that they are still very relevant in the scheme of things and their scholarship is premium. To him, the honour says to the recipient, "you remain ours, your voice still matters here, your wisdom is still with us here,". He reiterated the invaluable role of the Emeriti as "our institutional memory, our moral compass, and our global ambassadors." Prof. Adebowale charged the newly appointed emeritus among the honourees not to retreat into silence but to continue mentoring young faculty, advising the administration when they falter, and engaging in research. He reaffirmed the university's commitment to providing them with office spaces, library access, and research facilities to ensure their continued engagement.
During the roll call led by the Deputy Provost, Professor S. B. Olaleye, the 15 honoured Emeritus Professors were formally recognized. Among them was Emeritus Professor E. O. Akande, First CoMUI Provost, First UCH Chief Medical Director, a revered leader in Obstetrics and Gynaecology whose dedication to women's health improved countless lives. He was joined by Emeritus Professor A. O. Falase, an eminent cardiologist and former Vice-Chancellor of University of Ibadan, whose pioneering work in hypertension established the institution as a centre of excellence in West Africa. Also honoured was Emeritus Professor E. A. Bamgboye, a distinguished biostatistician and epidemiologist who strengthened medical research methodology across the college. The list also included Emeritus Professor T. Atinmo, a globally respected scholar in Human Nutrition whose research on maternal and child nutrition influenced national and international policies, and Emeritus Professor B. O. Onadeko, a distinguished respiratory physician whose pioneering contributions advanced the management of asthma, tuberculosis, and other chronic respiratory conditions in Nigeria.
The roll call also celebrated Emeritus Professor A. O. Ojengbede, an outstanding obstetrician and gynaecologist recognized for his life-saving work in emergency obstetric care and maternal health policy. The institution honoured Emeritus Professor S. I. Omokhodion, a distinguished paediatrician who strengthened child health care and training, and Emeritus Professor O. Gureje, a world-renowned psychiatrist and global leader in psychiatric epidemiology who is Nigeria’s most cited researcher and in the top 1% of the most cited researchers in Psychiatry globally. Also recognized were Emeritus Professor A. Ogunniyi, a pioneer neurologist whose ground-breaking work in dementia and neurodegenerative diseases deepened the understanding of brain health in African populations, and Emeritus Professor O. O. Omotade, an esteemed paediatrician who advanced knowledge in child health, genetics, and community paediatrics. The illustrious list also included Emeritus Professor M. C. Asuzu, a national and international authority in occupational health and medical ethics who left his footprints in community medicine through CoMUI’s Ibarapa Project; Emeritus Professor O. Oladepo, a distinguished public health scholar and health promotion specialist; Emeritus Professor M. T. Shokunbi, a pioneer in developmental neurobiology and former Provost; Emeritus Professor I. F. Adewole, an eminent obstetrician and gynaecologist, former Vice-Chancellor, former Minister of Health, and currently Nigeria's Ambassador to Canada; and Emeritus Professor A. G. Falade, a paediatrician of note whose contributions significantly improved child survival and infectious disease management.
In a speech to formally welcome the five newly appointed Emeritus Professors into the Emeriti League, Emeritus Professor E. O. Akande, noted that "retirement from active service is not retirement from reanimation." He challenged the 2026 cohort not to rest on their oars but see their preferment as a call to greater service. In a goodwill message, Professor A. O. Omigbodun (the 8th Provost, CoMUI) congratulated the Emeritus Professors and took a trip down memory lane to name the first Emeritus Professor in CoMUI as Emeritus Professor PPS Nylander of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He encouraged the CoMUI administration to do more to document the College history and also ensure continuous engagement of retired academics.
Some of the honourees also gave responses to the speeches and spoke about the peculiarity of their experience with the selection process. Among them were Emeritus Prof. B.A. Onadeko, Emeritus Professor T. Atinmo, Emeritus Prof. A.G.Falade, Emeritus Professor O. Oladepo and Emeritus Prof. M.T.Sokunbi. A call was made for more intentionality with the advertisement for the emeritus positions so that no one is left in the dark about their eligibility and all are assured of the transparency of the selection process.
Student representatives from various faculties present at the event were given opportunities to express their feelings at being invited to witness such an auspicious event. The Vice Chancellor assisted by the Provost, Deputy Provost and the Chair of the CoMUI Ceremonial Committee presented all the honourees with plaques in recognition of their laudable contributions to Medical Education and service to the University, the College of Medicine and Nigeria by extension .
The event was graced by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor K.O. Adebowale; the Provost of CoMUI, Professor T.O. Ogundiran; the Deputy Provost, Professor S.B. Olaleye; and the Deputy Registrar and Secretary to the College, Mr. A.E. Odedele. Also in attendance were the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Professor J.A. Otegbayo (represented by Professor Olubukola A. Adewole); the Financial Controller, Mr. S.O. Ayansina; the Medical Librarian, Dr. Grace A. Ajuwon (represented by Mr. Lekan Adekunjo); and Deans of Faculties. In addition, CoMUI past Provosts and Deputy Provosts; Director of the Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training (IAMRAT), Professor IkeOluwapo O. Ajayi; Heads of Departments; and leaders of the various student associations in CoMUI were also present.
The Emeriti Honour Day holds profound significance for the College of Medicine and the Nigerian medical landscape. It institutionalizes the recognition of academic excellence and celebrates one of the established frameworks for utilizing the vast intellectual capital of retired professors. The ceremony provided an avenue for the preservation of institutional memory and gave younger faculty some direct access to the wisdom, guidance, and mentorship of these pioneers. The event also reinforces the university's commitment to valuing the contributions of its elders, setting a benchmark for academic appreciation and fostering a culture of respect, continuity, and sustained excellence in medical education and research in Nigeria.