By Isa Isawade
It was an apparent fulfilled and thankful Vice Chancellor of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, that on Thursday declared at the First MBBS Induction ceremony of graduate doctors and surgeons of the institution held at the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Auditorium of its main campus, Osogbo, that he was ready to leave the university.
The renowned professor of Plant Physiology and Food Chemistry, at the epochal event where 90 pioneer medical doctors and neurosurgeons were inducted, narrated the long and tortuous journey for the dream of the institution’s Department of Medical Sciences to become a reality.
The well attended event had in attendance, dignitaries such as representative of the state’s governor; guest lecturer of the day, Prof. Akinyinka Omigbodun; the renowned professor of neurosurgery, Prof. M. T.Shokunbi; the monarch of the town; the leadership of UNIOSUN, and that of its teaching hospital.
Adebooye started his address by telling a story which he said would permanently set straight record of the university for generations yet unborn to know what especially, the first 50 of the inductees, went through to pass through the rigours of the medical school.
Below is the moving story told by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebooye:
I’m exceedingly happy to stand before you at this moment of historic occasion of the induction of the pioneer medical students of the Osun State University.
The celebration we are having here today is the culmination of years of hardwork, full commitment, pure determination and deep patriotism. It is a sheer breakthrough for all of us at Osun State University, the governing council inclusive, the management, the college of health sciences and above all our historic inductees.
Today, we celebrate those who took parts in enduring what has come out to be the one of the darkest moments of institutional uncertainty. University is set up for truth. I will set the record straight for posterity. University is known for research. Research is about revealing secrets. It’s about telling people about what they don’t know. And that’s exactly what I am going to do at this moment.
Around Dec 2011, the pronouncement was repeatedly aired across all radio and television stations in around the state by the Deputy Governor to cancel the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery for the Osun State University because the state could not afford building a new teaching hospital for the university. At that time, the university had already admitted MBBS students ready to transition into their clinical years. By the sudden cancellation, these students faced an uncertain future. One plan we had already made was to transfer them to other Nigerian universities. In 2012, a decision was made to send them to Karazin Kharkiv National University in Ukraine to complete their medical studies. Meanwhile, at the same time with clinical students back home, they were transferred to other departments in the university, and many left the institution abruptly. The harsh reality was that between 2012 and 2018, the MBBS programme of the Osun State University was dead and buried with little hope of resurrection. But history shifted when Professor Labode Popoola as Vice Chancellor between 2016 and 2017 fought tirelessly to restart the programme, yet he couldn’t for political reasons. Patiently he waited.
Then in Nov. 2018, he took courageous steps and admitted 50 new medical students. That visionary decision put Prof Popoola in the risky storm of politics. Between Nov. 18th and 21st 2018, broadcast over the radio declared that the admission of those of you (referring to the inductees) seated here today graduating, admitted in 2018 were declared null and void by the State Government. In Nov. 2018, the incoming administration of Gov. Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola cleared the road for the university and gave the university the permission to continue to run the medicine and surgery programme. Therefore, the 2015 admission was sustained. Hope was restored and subsequently we have admitted up to this moment.
On the 4th of January 2022 I, Clement Adebooye, assumed duty as the Vice Chancellor of this University. But I also faced great challenge regarding the medical students. At a point, I got fed up and wanted to propose to Senate a repeat cancellation of the programme. You remember that I attempted to ask the Senate to cancel your prohramme but you are seated here today. Please, stand up and clap for yourselves and rejoice. You know what, it was the spirit of God that directed me and dictated to me never to go the direction of cancellation of the medical programme again. The Holy Spirit told me that we would succeed and take the medical students to the Promised Land, and this is the Promised Land today. This University had no subsisting accreditation for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery programme. We had no valid MBC accreditation; we had no MBC licence to operate a medical school.
Building upon the solid foundation put in place by the Popoola administration, my team took the bold step by processing accreditation of medical programme and gladly, we secured the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria accreditation on 18 August 2022- first hurdle crossed. Gradually we processed accreditation of our medical programme through the National University Commission and gladly on the 9th of March 2023, this University secured full accreditation to run the MBBS programme. My team did everything to conquer the challenges and move forward by processing the first clinical accreditation through the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and joyously, we secured the first clinical accreditation on 2nd July 2024.
With the completion of Modupe and Folorunsho Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital, a gigantic donation to this university, our administration processed the application for final accreditation through the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and finally with gratitude to the Almighty God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, we secured approval for the final accreditation of our bachelor’s programme on 17th March 2026. And here we are today, celebrating the success as a university, as Osun indigenes and as Nigerians.
Appreciations
I must thank these categories of people for the success of this journey. First, I want to thank the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for this final approval to graduate and induct our first and second sets of medical students. We put two sets together, the 2018 set and the 2019 set. We congratulate you. We have done this in full compliance with the standard of the National University Commission on one hand and the professional benchmarks of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria on the other hand. It is our absolute pride and joy that today ninety (90) extraordinary, ambitious and energetic young men and women are walking through this stage in the next few minutes to be inducted into the Medical Profession.
Second, I thank the Executive Governor of our state, His Excellency, Sen. Ademola Jackson Adeleke. In 2023 when acute shortage and inadequacies of office space wanted to frustrate the MDCN and MBC accreditation exercises, His Excellency, Governor Adeleke approved funds for the immediate completion of a 57-office complex at the College of Health Sciences, Isale Osun. In 2024 also, the need for a multi-purpose ultra-modern Anatomy complex was to be a major deficiency for the next phase of accreditation exercise. His Excellency waded into it to construct and equip the Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke Anatomy Complex here on this campus. I am proud to state that other universities are coming to study our world-class Anatomy Complex. Just yesterday (i.e Tuesday 11 Aug. 2026), one university in Southwest visited us to understudy that Anatomy complex. It is a real complex for Anatomy. In 2025 when we were preparing for final accreditation and finance became a major hurdle, the governor approved and released the sum of N200m to us to support the accreditation. Thank you, you Excellency.
Third, we must specially commend the immediate past Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola who reasoned along with us when we were led by Professor Labode Popoola and he approved the continuation of MBBS programme in Nov. 2018. That was what save the career of the first fifty candidates out of the doctors we produced today. The singular executive action resurrected the MBBS programme from the dead.
Fourth, we must acknowledge our immediate past Chancellor, Apostle Folorunsho Alakija for donating to this university, the Modupe and Folorunsho Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital which is a 72-billion-naira worth facility. There is no doubt that this legacy edified and complemented the medical facilities and services presented at UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital as part of the mandatory clinical requirements for the first stage MBC accreditation that led us to where we are now. We pray may the good Lord continue to strengthen Apostle Folorunsho Alakija and her great family in health and wealth.
Fifth, we must appreciate the immediate past and the current governing councils of this university led by Mallam Yusuf Ali and Professor Ladipo, respectively. That we enacted such legacy is a clear indication of the synergy between vision and management. We appreciate the vision, the vigour and exceptional patriotism that have continued to guide the council in all its duties and responsibilities. History will forever be kind to the pro-chancellors and members of the respective governing councils.
Number six, we must specially commend and appreciate our partners, the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Ajegunle. While the university provides the facilities and services for the clinical candidates for the MBBS programme, the hospital was ever ready to provide facilities and services required for the clinical aspect. We are united. It is a win-win story today. We appreciate all consultants and other medical professionals who have contributed immensely to the successful training of these happy pioneers of our medical students. Congratulations to the Chief Medical Director, Dr Emmanuel Ayoola Afolabi, Management Board and the hospital management for the seasoned support, collaboration and cooperation that culminated in this success.
Number seven, the current and the former provost of the College of Health Sciences deserve massive applause. I single out our late colleague, very senior colleague, Late Prof. Taiwo Adewole, the pioneer Provost of the College. May the Lord rest his soul. I express sincere appreciation to all heads of department current and past, all staff of the College, teaching and non-teaching who have contributed to ensure this success, to every hand who ploughed when the soil was hard. To our distinct and historic inductees standing before us today, you stayed when others left. Today, you have proven courage. I understand that your journey was very rough and unpredictable at a time during your training. You were at a time in between the Red Sea and the Pharaoh’s warriors. You did not only survive the storm, you conquered it. Today is just not a celebration, it is a thanks giving. God enabled you to turn your dream into reality. And your parents who have always supported you, we thank them for their lives and kindness, and for making this day a reality. I’m challenging you as medics, you have been trained to demonstrate clinical competence, diagnostic acumen, empathy and compassion, integrity and professional ethics, resilience and emotional stability, effective communication and adaptability. Therefore, I want to besiege you to be guided by these virtues.
For the leadership of MDCN and entire management of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, we extend our profound appreciation. Dr Makama, for your support and resilience, I appreciate you exceedingly. For opening your doors, guiding our processes, and ultimately bestowing the seal of your approval on our pioneer set, Osun state university appreciate the leadership of MDCN for helping us to turn a story of adversity into a triumphant reality. As I give this address with full delight and sense of fulfilment, I congratulate all of us again for these our prides of today.
I Am Ready to Go
Despite having four months left to serve as your Vice Chancellor in this university, I will soon be leaving but I am satisfied today. I’m fulfilled. With this achievements, I am fulfilled. I am ready to go. I feel like going now!
