The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government has granted approval for the appointment of Prof. Olayinka Oladiran Adegbenhigbe as the Acting Chief Medical Director of the renowned Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, located in Ile-Ife.
The decision, announced by the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Kemi Fasooto, comes into effect as of Tuesday, June 20, 2023.
The appointment was sanctioned by the Federal Ministry of Health, with the intention of initiating and concluding the processes for the selection of a permanent Chief Medical Director during the designated six-month period. The appointment of Prof. Adegbenhigbe was unveiled in a statement issued in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, on Friday.
In the statement, Fasooto referenced a letter signed on behalf of the Permanent Secretary by the Director of Human Resources Management. The letter outlined the details of the appointment and underscored the importance of commencing the procedures for appointing a substantive Chief Medical Director.
Prof. Olayinka Oladiran Adegbenhigbe is an accomplished Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon and serves as the President of the Paediatric Orthopaedic Society of Nigeria. He holds the distinction of being the first black African member of the Medical Advisory Board of the Ponseti International Association, based in the United States of America.
The statement further highlighted Prof. Adegbenhigbe’s remarkable achievements, stating that he played a pivotal role in coordinating the inaugural Ponseti International Clubfoot Workshop in West Africa. Notably, he also translated the manual “Clubfoot: Ponseti Management” into Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa languages, ensuring its accessibility and applicability within Nigeria.
Nigeria achieved a significant milestone under Prof. Adegbenhigbe’s leadership, becoming the first country globally to develop and adopt national clinical guidelines for Clubfoot treatment. Furthermore, he has made substantial contributions to medical knowledge, with two terminologies, namely “ophthofall” and “Exposed Bone Syndrome,” being added to medical encyclopedias.
In light of these accomplishments, the statement urged all members of staff and the general public to extend their support and cooperation to Prof. Adegbenhigbe in his new role as Acting Chief Medical Director of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex. With his expertise and vision, the hospital aims to provide exceptional healthcare services to the community it serves.