The College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI) and Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association (ICOMAA) Worldwide, have said the $1 million donation towards the Hostel Building Fund made by an alumnus, Dr.Philip Ozuah, was in response to a request from the Provost, Professor Olayinka Omigbodun, to alumni of CoMUI to come together and help build a much-needed new hostel for students.
This was contained in a joint statement signed by the Provost and Professor E.O. Otolorin, President, ICOMAA Worldwide, on Wednesday.
According to them, the statement was predicated on the need to provide an accurate account of the events that took place on Monday, August 1, 2022, in view of the “unfortunate misinformation that is being disseminated over the social media.”
The statement read: “On behalf of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI) and the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association, (ICOMAA) Worldwide, we hereby make this joint Press Release about the events that took place on Monday, 1 August 2022 at CoMUI. The day was set aside to mark the second-year anniversary of the current Administration of the COMUI, led by the first female Provost of the College, Professor Olayinka Omigbodun FAS, FNAMed, FAMedS. The Administration at the beginning of her tenure, had proposed a TOGETHER AGENDA as a template for a strategic plan guiding the Administration’s activities. This Press Release is predicated on the need to provide an accurate account of the events in view of the unfortunate misinformation that is being disseminated over the social media.
“The 3-tier set of activities for the day commenced with an opening ceremony in the CoMUI Board Room. The first of the commemorative events was the naming of the College Board Room after the second Provost of CoMUI, Professor A.O.K. Johnson. The unveiling of the plaque of the newly named Boardroom was done by Emeritus Professor Oluwole Akande, the Foundation Provost of CoMUI and Pioneer Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH). Some newly refurbished spaces like the Committee Room I, Provost’s Office, Provost’s Conference Room, male and female staff conveniences and Technical Staff Office were also commissioned.
“The dignitaries thereafter moved from the A.O.K. Johnson Boardroom to the proposed site of a New Hostel Complex for the sod-turning ceremony, which was the second major event for the day. The ceremony of sod-turning and laying of the foundation stone was coordinated by Reverend Sam Omokhodion, a distinguished Professor of Paediatrics, and Chaplain for COMUI and UCH. The First Foundation Stone was laid on behalf of the Pro-Chancellor, His Excellency, Chief John E.K. Odigie-Oyegun, CON by his representative, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale FAS, mni. This he did alongside the Chairman, Board of Management of UCH, Alhaji Ibrahim Bako Shettima. The Second Foundation Stone was laid by the Vice Chancellor and the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Professor Aderonke Baiyeroju. All the former Provosts present, led by Emeritus Professor Oluwole Akande, laid the Third Foundation Stone while the Provost, Professor Olayinka Omigbodun, the Chief Medical Director, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, the President of ICOMAA Worldwide, Professor Emmanuel Otolorin and the CoMUI Student leaders laid the fourth and final Foundation Stone. Special prayers were said by the Chaplain to commit the building project into God’s hands.
“The third and the last activity for the day was the inspiring Keynote Lecture titled From Initiative to Finishiative An Academic Journey, delivered by a Distinguished Alumnus of the Graduating CoMUI MBBS Class of 1985, Philip O. Ozuah MD, PhD. Dr. Ozuah, a Professor of Paediatrics and a multi-award winning medical educator, is President and CEO of Montefiore Medicine, the umbrella organization for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Montefiore Health Systems. The keynote speaker, who had accepted to be the Fundraiser in-Chief for the Students’ Hostel Project, related a truly inspirational story of his journey from his studentship days in the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI) to his present status as President and CEO of Montefiore Medicine which includes Albert Einstein College of Medicine, one of the premier centres for research, medical education and clinical investigation in the United States of America. He expressed appreciation for the role of COMUI in the foundational stages of his career and thanked his supportive wife and children for their contributions to the journey. There was a live audience in the AOK Johnson Board Room, as well as more than 160 students, alumni and staff of COMUI, and other stakeholders who joined the event from all parts of the world.
“The highly distinguished alumnus, who was a medical school classmate of the Provost of the College of Medicine, went ahead to make an unprecedented donation of $1,000,000 (One million US Dollars) to the new Hostel Building Fund on behalf of his family, while acknowledging the presence of his wife and children on the Zoom platform where he delivered the stimulating lecture. His donation was in response to a request from the Provost to alumni of CoMUI to come together and help build a much-needed new hostel for students of CoMUI.
“On behalf of the entire CoMUI Community, students, staff and alumni, we express deep gratitude to the Keynote Speaker and Fundraiser-in-Chief, Dr.Philip Ozuah.”
