College of Health Sciences celebrates 7 retired professors

Following the retirement of seven distinguished professors from the College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, said their departure represents a significant loss to the institution and that they would be greatly missed by the College.

Prof. Egbewole expressed this sentiment penultimate Friday (February 21, 2025) while speaking at the Special College Academic Board Meeting held in honour of the seven retired professors.

The retired professors are Ayodele Babatunde O. Omotoso, Wahab Babatunde Rotimi Johnson, Donald Nzeh, Enoch Abiodun Afolayan, Charles Nwabuisi, Bashiru Adekunle Okesina, and Emmanuel Obi Okoro.

The Vice Chancellor, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Moji Taibat Bakare-Odunola, acknowledged the immense contributions of the retirees, noting that the seven scholars, who were part of the College’s foundation staff, devoted their lives tirelessly to the service of the University.

Prof. Egbewole, who stated that no gathering would be enough to fully celebrate and appreciate these illustrious teachers of teachers, who, over the years, have mentored great minds, further noted that the honourees would forever be remembered for treating the UNILORIN project as their personal mission, which has significantly contributed to the institution’s progress and reputation.

While saying that the retirement of these seven distinguished professors marks the end of an era in the College of Health Sciences, the Vice Chancellor said that their legacy of academic excellence, mentorship, and institutional development will continue to inspire future generations.

In his remarks, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Sulyman Abiodun Alabi, appealed to the University Senate to grant emeritus professorship status to the retirees. He argued that the only way to mitigate the impact of their departure was to retain their expertise and wisdom as resource persons within the College.

The Provost, who took the opportunity to commend the Vice-Chancellor on his commitment to the development of the College, expressed gratitude for the approval of a new auditorium, which is expected to be ready for use by the end of September. He also commended the Vice Chancellor on donating multi-million-naira medical equipment to the College to further strengthen its capabilities.

In a goodwill message, a former Provost of the College, Prof. Timothy Adedoyin, paid tribute to the retirees and acknowledged their collective role in shaping the current and future generations of staff and students at the College.

Prof. Adedoyin said, having worked with all seven of them, he could testify that each of them had played a role in his professional growth. “I have learned different things from each of them, which I have used to contribute to the system,” he said.

Similarly, the Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Prof. Lukman Olajide Abdur-Rahman, expressed gratitude to the retirees for their mentorship, stating that their foundational contributions have continued to guide the current leadership and academic framework of the College.

Responding on behalf of the other retirees, Prof. Omotoso, expressed appreciation to the University for providing them with a platform to excel and mentor others.

Prof. Omotoso, who is a renowned scholar of cardiovascular health and hypertension, expressed gratitude to all professors, readers, and other lecturers of the College of Health Sciences for doing them the honour of holding the first Special Faculty Board Meeting dedicated to celebrating him and his colleagues following their retirement from the University.

He appealed to all staff of the College to always relate and operate as a family, saying that if they remain united and strengthen their various linkages, the College would be stronger, better, and capable of achieving more.

Prof. Omotoso encouraged them to continue operating within the confines of the regulations of the University and to remain a responsible and reliable institution of the government.