Osibogun at 70: Obasanjo, Health Minister, UNILAG VC Celebrate Four Decades of Service
Three books unveiled as medical leaders call for increased healthcare investment, improved workforce retention and stronger health systems
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, government officials, university administrators and leading medical professionals have celebrated Distinguished Professor Akin Osibogun for his contributions to public health, medical education and healthcare administration, while calling for increased investment in Nigeria’s health sector.
The tributes were delivered at Osibogun’s valedictory ceremony, held on October 27, 2026, at the Old Great Hall of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Idi-Araba, Lagos, to mark his retirement from public service at the age of 70.
The ceremony brought together political leaders, academics, medical professionals, traditional rulers, family members and former students to honour a career spanning more than four decades across clinical practice, public health, research, medical education and hospital administration.
Among those who paid tribute were former President Obasanjo, represented by his wife, Chief (Mrs.) Bola Obasanjo; the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, represented by the Chief Medical Director of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Professor Wasiu Adeyemo; and the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola.
The ceremony was chaired by Dr. Abayomi Oluyomi Finnih, while the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Professor Olumuyiwa Omotola Odusanya, delivered the valedictory lecture.
A Legacy of Institutional Transformation
A major highlight of the tributes was Osibogun’s tenure as Chief Medical Director of LUTH between 2006 and 2014, during which the hospital expanded its capacity to provide specialised medical services.
His administration recorded significant milestones, including the introduction of renal transplantation, open-heart surgery and laparoscopic surgery, procedures that required specialised personnel, advanced medical equipment and effective institutional coordination.
The achievements demonstrated the capacity of Nigerian tertiary healthcare institutions to undertake complex medical procedures when supported by effective leadership, skilled professionals and appropriate infrastructure.
Recalling his contributions, Professor Ogunsola highlighted the successful kidney transplantation involving a 15-year-old boy, describing it as one of the notable accomplishments of his administration.
She commended Osibogun for his contributions to healthcare administration and medical education, noting that his leadership extended beyond hospital management to developing professionals and strengthening academic institutions.
His tenure was also recognised for promoting teamwork among clinical and non-clinical personnel, an approach that underscored the importance of collective responsibility in healthcare delivery.
Obasanjo, Salako Pay Tributes
Representing the former President, Chief (Mrs.) Bola Obasanjo described Osibogun as an accomplished scholar and administrator whose commitment to duty had earned him widespread respect.
She recalled that her daughter, who served at LUTH during her National Youth Service Corps programme, frequently spoke about his efficiency, discipline and dedication to work.
Mrs. Obasanjo particularly praised his ability to foster cooperation among different categories of hospital employees, noting that effective healthcare delivery depends on the contributions of both clinical and non-clinical personnel.
She also recalled that Obasanjo approved Osibogun’s appointment as Chief Medical Director despite having no previous personal relationship with him.
In his tribute, Salako described the former LUTH chief as an effective administrator who had made significant contributions to public health and medical education.
Represented by Professor Adeyemo, the minister noted that healthcare administration required difficult decisions, patience and the ability to manage competing institutional priorities.
He identified Osibogun’s commitment to mentoring younger doctors as one of his most enduring contributions, observing that his influence remained evident in the professional development of those he had trained.
Ogunsola also acknowledged his achievements as a teacher, researcher and academic leader, particularly his elevation to the rank of Distinguished Professor of Public Health at UNILAG.
She noted that his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of a new private medical university in Lagos presented another opportunity to contribute to medical education and institutional development beyond his retirement from public service.
Odusanya Advocates Stronger Health Systems
Delivering the valedictory lecture titled Strengthening Health Systems, Shaping Futures: A Tribute to Leadership in Health, Professor Odusanya examined the structural challenges confronting Nigeria’s healthcare system and the reforms required to improve service delivery.
He identified inadequate healthcare financing, shortages of medical personnel, migration of skilled professionals, rising costs of medicines and medical technologies, and deficient infrastructure as major obstacles to effective healthcare delivery.
According to him, improving health outcomes requires coordinated investments in leadership and governance, financing, human resources, health information systems, medical technologies and service delivery.
He called for stronger accountability in the management of healthcare resources, increased investment in the health workforce and greater attention to primary healthcare.
Odusanya also stressed the importance of dependable electricity, water supply, sanitation and diagnostic facilities, noting that healthcare institutions could not function effectively without essential infrastructure.
He urged governments to regard healthcare expenditure as an investment in national development, with budgetary commitments translated into measurable improvements in service delivery.
The lecture connected Osibogun’s professional experience with the broader policy challenges facing Nigeria’s health sector, particularly the need for sustainable financing, institutional reforms and effective leadership.
Osibogun Seeks Increased Funding, Better Retention of Health Workers
In his remarks, Osibogun emphasised the relationship between population health and national development, calling for increased government investment in healthcare, expanded training opportunities for health professionals and policies to encourage skilled personnel to remain in Nigeria.
The former LUTH CMD expressed concern about the sustainability of quality healthcare delivery without adequate investment in the health workforce.
He maintained that improved health outcomes would require consistent funding, effective planning and stronger institutional capacity.
He also highlighted the importance of preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks, urging health authorities to sustain effective disease surveillance systems capable of detecting and responding promptly to emerging threats.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s experience with Ebola, he cautioned against complacency following the reported evacuation of the country’s Ebola patient, stressing that disease surveillance and emergency preparedness must remain priorities even when immediate threats appear to have subsided.
His remarks reinforced the need for sustained public health preparedness in a country exposed to considerable population movement and regional and international infectious disease threats.
Mentorship and Medical Education
Beyond his administrative achievements, Osibogun’s contributions to medical education and professional mentorship featured prominently at the ceremony.
Over several decades at UNILAG and LUTH, he participated in the training and development of generations of doctors, public health physicians, researchers and healthcare administrators.
Reflecting on his academic career, he expressed satisfaction with the growth of his department, which now has approximately 10 full professors and several associate professors.
He attributed much of his professional fulfilment to the achievements of colleagues and former students who had progressed into senior academic and leadership positions.
His advice to younger professionals centred on self-confidence, hard work, professional integrity and patience.
He urged them to avoid shortcuts and resist the pressure for immediate rewards, maintaining that sustained effort and ethical conduct remained essential to long-term professional success.
Three Books Unveiled
The ceremony also featured the unveiling of three books authored by Osibogun, reflecting his contributions to scholarship, research and public health knowledge.
The publications are Current Issues and Directions for Nigerian Health Development; Some Selected Public Lectures of Professor Akinsanya Osibogun; and the second edition of Public Health in Africa.
The presentation provided an opportunity to recognise his commitment to documenting professional experience and contributing to the development of public health knowledge.
The publications complemented the valedictory lecture and tributes, highlighting the importance of research, academic writing and knowledge sharing in strengthening healthcare institutions.
Dignitaries Honour Distinguished Professor
The event attracted prominent figures from the medical profession, academia and public administration.
They included the Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Professor Ademola Oremosu; Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Professor John Obafunwa; President of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Professor Anthony Nnaemeka Ikefuna; and the College Registrar, Professor Temitope Ayodeji Esan.
Others were former UNILAG Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwole Familoni, and public administrator, Dr. Dere Awosika.
Traditional institutions were also represented, with white-cap chiefs attending on behalf of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.
Osibogun’s wife, Mrs. Margaret Osibogun, members of his family, friends, professional colleagues and former students were among the other guests.
Their presence reflected the breadth of his professional relationships and influence across healthcare administration, medical education and public health practice.
A New Chapter in Medical Education
Responding to the tributes, Osibogun expressed gratitude to God, his family, mentors, colleagues and associates for their support throughout his professional journey.
He attributed his accomplishments to divine grace and acknowledged the contributions of those who worked alongside him in different capacities.
He also recognised the importance of institutional support and teamwork in achieving the milestones recorded during his years in public service.
Although the ceremony marked his retirement from the University of Lagos, it also signalled the beginning of another phase of professional engagement.
His appointment as Vice-Chancellor of a new private medical university in Lagos offers an opportunity to deploy his experience in healthcare administration, academic leadership and institutional development in a new setting.
For the distinguished guests who gathered at the College of Medicine, the occasion was more than a celebration of an accomplished career. It also provided a platform for renewed conversations about healthcare financing, workforce development, institutional leadership and disease preparedness.
As Osibogun begins another chapter in medical education, the central message from the ceremony remains relevant to Nigeria’s health sector: sustainable improvements in healthcare delivery will depend on effective leadership, adequate investment, skilled personnel and strong institutions.
