Campus News

Alabi pledges CoHS’ full participation in UNILORIN @ 50 celebration

By Abubakar Imam

As Deans of various Faculties sign-in for the upcoming 50th anniversary of the nation’s most sought-after University, the Provost, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Prof. Biodun Sulyman Alabi, has also expressed the preparedness of the management, staff, students and alumni of the College to be part of the celebration.

Prof. Alabi stated this last Tuesday (May 27, 2025) in a chat with UNILORIN Bulletin in his office.

The renowned medical scholar said that the University deserves to be celebrated for its numerous achievements over the years, noting that the anniversary would be a monumental parade of excellence.

The Provost, who is also the Chairman of the Committee of Provost and Deans (COPD) of the University, explained that the management of the College would do everything humanly possible to ensure that the anniversary turns out as colourful as possible.

Justifying why the College would not be left out of the anniversary, Prof. Alabi explained that the College has been part of the University’s remarkable history, saying that it is almost as old as the institution.

He stated that the College has a lot of positive things to showcase before, during and after the anniversary in terms of achievements in service delivery, particularly research outputs and distinguished alumni.

The Provost said that the contributions of the College to human development transcended the University and Nigeria. He recalled that many staff members of the College have served humanity at international level, particularly at the World Health Organisation.

Prof. Alabi recalled the pioneering works of Prof. Luke Edungbola in the eradication of guinea worm in Nigeria, which, he said, attracted extensive global attention and commendation. He equally recalled the monumental and award-winning efforts of Prof. Olugbenga Mokuolu in the control of malaria, among several others emanating from the College.

The Provost also said that some staff members of the College have carried out penetrating researches that earned them patents. These staff members, according to him, include Prof. S. B Agaja, Prof. Dupe Ademola-Popoola, and Prof. Omokanye as well as himself.

Those who have won multi-million naira grants, according to Prof. Alabi, include Prof.T. M. Akande, Prof. A. O Bolarinwa, Prof. B. S. Alabi, Prof. K. W. Wahab, Prof. O. A. Mokuolu, Prof. T. O. Olarewaju, and Prof. Dupe Ademola-Popoola.

He also said that the College had produced three University Researchers of the Year through Prof. Mokuolu, Prof. AbdulRaheem Mahmoud and Prof. K. W. Wahab in the last one decade.

            He added that as many of the alumni of the College are working as medical doctors, nurses and in other roles in government hospitals, quite a significant number of them established hospitals where they cater to the health needs of the people.

            Prof. Alabi said that one of the most impactful contributions of the College is the production of the immediate past Minister of State for Youth Development, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim, noting that the College was the first segment of the University that would produce a Minister among its graduates.

            He also said that many of the alumni of the Faculty had risen to the exalted rank of Permanent Secretary in the civil service of Kwara State and other states. He cited Dr Abubakar Ayinla and Dr Abdullahi Ayodeji Taoheed, an eye specialist, who was recently elevated to the rank, as two of such individuals.

            The Provost also said that a former staff of the College, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, was the Minister of Health during the tenure of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. He said that the appointment of Prof. Lambo made the College to be the first that produced a Minister among its ex-staff.

            Prof. Alabi noted that many products of the College on their graduation also joined its teaching staff and are doing very well in the production of more doctors and other health professionals. He specifically stated that two of the current Deans of the three Faculties in the College are alumni of the University.

            He also explained that the College had produced at least three former Deputy Vice Chancellors for the University. These, according to Prof. Alabi, are Prof. Luke Edungbola, Prof. Yissa Fakunle, and Prof. Mikhail Buhari while the fourth is the current Deputy Vice Chancellor in-charge of Management Services, Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole.

            Speaking on other products of the College who have attracted commendation for the University, the Provost recalled the contributions of Prof. Sulyman Alege Kuranga, a former Director of Academic Planning of the University and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, who served as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where he offered sterling leadership that further advertised the University of Ilorin.

            He added that many staff of the College have also been found useful in the establishment of similar colleges in sister universities such as Prof. Kuranga who served as Chairman of the Committee that gave birth to the introduction of medical training at the Kwara State University, Malete; and Thomas Adewumi University, Oko, as well as Prof. Aishatu Gobir, who was the founding Provost of the College of Medicine of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, among others.

            Prof. Alabi congratulated the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN and other stakeholders on the upcoming anniversary as he wished the University a more remarkable existence.