Friends and colleagues of Professor Wasiu Adeyemo, recently, hosted a luncheon to celebrate his appointment as the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

The event put together by some of Adeyemo’s friends without his knowledge, coincidentally was hosted on the day of his wedding anniversary.

At the colourful event were fellow members of LUTH community and health practitioners from other tertiary hospitals in Lagos.

Some of the participants at the event shared their experiences interacting and interfacing with Adeyemo over the years, whom they described as a thorough person, always committed to achieving his goals.

Many of them said they were not surprised that he emerged the CMD of LUTH though he initially was more committed to research and academic works. They noted that he did not get to the height he has attained by luck but through hard work and commitment.

It is the reason they were optimistic that he was going to make a success of his tenure especially that his predecessor, Prof Chris Bode has not only laid a solid foundation for him to build on. They also felt he was going to do well because he was also part of the success stories recorded during the immediate past administration.

They pledged to not only support him, but also constantly watch his back for him as he takes a dive into a new field.

There were also advice from participants imploring him not to forget his friends as well as bring on board his perceived rivals and enemies.

An elated Adeyemo, who profusely thanked all those who organised the event, said that he was overwhelmed by the gesture, as he never saw it coming. He said that when his wife told him a second time about having a time out somewhere in the city, he felt she wanted to mark their wedding anniversary and had to plead with Professor Chris Bode to reschedule an appointment, not knowing both actions were for same goal.

Adeyemo said that his aspiring to becoming the CMD was not just because he was qualified, but because he has the interest of LUTH at heart, wanting to make things better.

He therefore called for support stating that “As an hospital, we need to develop leadership that will sustain the growth and progress of the hospital.”

According to him, it would be a huge lie to accept that all staff of the teaching hospital has its interest at heart.

Adeyemo, nonetheless, said that if the LUTH is doing well, it is because the units within the hospital are doing well, reason majority must be on the same page.

He promised not to disappoint disclosing that his doors would always be open anytime and to everybody.

His wife, Professor Titilope Adeyemo, speaking on his appointment, said: “I had mixed feelings about it because I am also in the system and I know it is going to take a lot to maintain the standard and to improve on that standard.

“For me, if he was just going to come in and maintain that same standard, it is not going to be a success. He has to improve, make it better. Everywhere ones get to, one needs to leave the place better than it was met.

“The last CMD did so much for the hospital so he has already set a very high standard so I was afraid of how he was going to improve that high standard, but it is doable. He has over the years built himself, gone for courses, acquired degrees, so he has got what it takes to step into that shoes and improve what he is meeting on ground.

“His passion is to take the hospital to the next level to improve health-care services provision in the hospital and to improve on research output.

“On the other hand, it is going to take a lot of time that he should be spending with the family. So, we are going to see less of him, we have to share him with the hospital community.”

Commenting on their wedding anniversary, Mrs. Adeyemo thanked God that 22 years down the line, it has been a wonderful experience.

“I have been lucky. We have hardly had a problem that is not surmountable. I think, if we had fought at all maybe we didn’t speak to each other for a couple of days, we will eventually come down to settle it.

“He has been wonderful, he is giving me peace. I have had no cause to worry. That peace that he is giving me has also helped me to advance in my own career and today, I am a professor in the system. So, it has been a wonderful marriage and I will continue to pray for peace, good health and tranquility for the family.”

Some of the guests at the event included Professors Chris Bode, Bosede Afolabi, Bayo Oyekan, Soji Ademuyiwa, Dr Erere Otrofanowei and LUTH’s director of administration, Dr Babajide Grillo.