Former Chief Medical Director of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Chris Bode, has retired from active service at the age of 70.

His exit from the system attracted tributes from academics, students and health professionals who described him as a surgeon, teacher and mentor with an enduring legacy.

Bode, a paediatric surgeon and long-serving lecturer at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, was honoured at a ceremony themed ‘The Last Stitch: A Legacy of Honour.’

Colleagues described him as a man who combined surgical expertise with teaching, mentorship and visionary leadership.

The Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, said many of the projects at the hospital were envisioned by Bode.

He explained that beyond infrastructure, the retired surgeon invested in mentoring younger doctors and building capacity.

Adeyemo noted that Bode’s style of leadership exposed him to “the good, the bad and the ugly,” but stressed that his ability to attract resources to LUTH remained one of his greatest legacies.

The Provost of the College of Medicine, Prof. Ademola Oremosu, described him as more than a surgeon, calling him a teacher and mentor whose influence shaped generations of doctors.

He recalled meeting him as a senior resident, saying Bode’s energy and brilliance were unmatched.

According to him, Bode’s practice of inviting students for tutorials at odd hours demonstrated his commitment to training.

“Professor Bode was never tired. He would call for students at 2.00am in the morning to teach them. He was a spontaneous teacher, and I dare to say, very, very brilliant. I learnt from Professor Chris Bode self-discipline, resilience, dedication to duty, loyalty, and loyalty to superiors,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, praised Bode’s calm approach to leadership.

She said he distinguished himself as a leader who preferred vision and planning over routine management, a quality she described as rare and difficult to achieve.