Johnson acknowledges divine grace as he bows out of UNILORIN
Doyen of paediatric medical education at the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Babatunde Rotimi Johnson, has attributed his success to divine benevolence.
Prof. Johnson stated this last Tuesday (February 13, 2024) while speaking during his valedictory lecture at the University’s Main Auditorium.
The renowned academic, who had been part of the training of 4560 medical doctors from August 1, 1987 to January 16 2024, lamented the effect of the absence of good governance on health care provision.
He recalled the unfortunate mass sack of resident doctors while he was on his residency training during the Buhari- Idiagbon military regime.
Prof. Johnson appreciated the University of Ilorin management for looking after him when he had an emergency as he thanked his staff for their support while he was the Provost of the College of Health Sciences and also acknowledged all his teachers in elementary school.
He specifically thanked his medical teachers, Prof W. I. Akerele and Prof. Olikoye Ransom Kuti on his training.
In his lecture entitled “The Academic Clinician as the Driver of the Future of the Past of Medical Education and Administration” at the event, a distinguished paediatrician, Prof. Olusegun Akinyinka of the University of Ibadan commended the University of Ilorin for its medical education and called on the institution not to rest on its oars in improving medical education.
He noted that the modern teacher is no longer a lecturer on the podium but a teacher by the side as he emphasised the need to embrace technology in teaching medicine so that Nigerian medical students would be on the same scale with international medical students.
Prof. Akinyinka also stated that it is time for nurses and pharmacists in training to take some classes with medical students.
“What appeared very futuristic a few decades ago and only available in the realms of science fiction, now appears to be the norm. ICT has enabled healthcare professionals to link up more easily with patients and other healthcare professionals to provide updates, and useful to rural communities with limited facilities and monitoring of care. Robotics, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality can help surgeons perform complex surgeries. Therefore, given the results, it is suggested that it should be used as a complementary educational tool along with main education.”, Prof. Adeyinka said.
Leading the outpour of accolades for the valedictorian, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, described the life of Prof. Johnson in the University as one full of lessons, noting that not everyone who starts such journey is privileged with an opportunity to complete it .
The Vice Chancellor also averred that Prof Johnson has lived a life of commitment, doggedness, service to humanity and service to God in the University.
On her part, the Provost, College of Medical Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun,Osun State, Prof. Aisha Gobir, said Prof. Johnson had taught her everything she knows about paediatric medicine today and they have collaborated on several academic research.
Speaking with UNILORIN BULLETIN on his times under the tutelage of Prof Johnson , Dr Rahmon Okeowo, a Specialist Paediatrician at Parklande Specialist Hospital, Surulere, Lagos and a member of the class of 2000 said, “I really admired the way he taught us back then in school. The explanation and demonstration of the respiratory equipment remains fresh in my memory The passion he put into his teaching was encouraging.
While reminiscing on his time as a student of Prof. Johnson, a Consultant Psychiatrist with the United Kingdom Health Service, and former President of Ilorin University Medical Students Association, (ILUMSA) Dr. Ahmed Oladosu, said, “Prof Johnson had many facets to him: he is an Arsenal fan and the Jose Mourinho of Medicine. Love or loathe him, he is an all time great!
‘‘He was the quirky nutty Professor that would show up at the oddest time to teach. He was the humourist that enlivened the otherwise dull evenings with peerless humour, and he was the master name giver that knew everyone by names-by the nicknames he gave them such as ‘ismaila’ for the one that smiled all the time, oyinbo for the darkest one. He even named a colleague of his ‘large for gestational age’. Such is his wit. Prof Johnson was, is he still, the ever stylish one that drove the hottest cars and deafened your ears with music if you dared to step into the car with him. He never offered you the ubiquitous kola nut he chewed on though.
Ever the serious academic, he did some groundbreaking work on respiratory syncytial virus”.
On his part, Dr Ogunmodede aptly described Prof. Johnson as a ‘man of intimidating stance, intimidating intellect, intimidating stare and intimidating initials’!”.