UI Alumni donate medical equipment to UCH

Alumni support for alma mater in Nigeria has a rich history dating back to the 1940s and 1960s. In the front row are University College Ibadan Alumni Association established in 1948 to promote university development and the University of Nigeria Nsukka Alumni Association founded in 1960 to support university growth.

After independence, we had the Obafemi Awolowo University Alumni Association established in 1962 to foster university-community engagement and the University of Lagos Alumni Association which came to birth in 1965 to support university development.

It was therefore not surprising when the Class of 1989 recently donated medical equipment in excess of a million dollars to the University College Hospital, Ibadan (UCH), in support of excellent healthcare delivery at the hospital. The donors graduated from the College of Medicine at the nation’s premier university.

This generous donation, facilitated by Project C.U.R.E., an NGO that collects and donates hospital equipment to developing countries, includes specialised beds, clutches, hospital consumables, and mobile ultrasound machines.

Class President, Dr. Olatunji Akintilo, disclosed that the donation was inspired by a site visit in February 2020 to identify the needs of the hospital. Despite facing challenges in clearance at the ports, the container arrived at UCH recently.

Indeed, the donation demonstrates the commitment of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan alumni to improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria. Let’s recall that in 2022, Phillip Ozuah, a professor of paediatrics based in America, pledged $1 million to the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan in support of efforts to give the students a befitting hostel accommodation.

Back to the roots after graduation about four decades ago, Ozuah delivered a keynote address titled: “From Initiative to Finishative – An Academic Journey” where he accepted to be the chief fundraiser for the students’ hostel project at the College.

Records indicate that when Ozuah graduated from UI in 1985, he went on to acquire two distinct master’s degrees. He earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and administration from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He completed his pediatric internship and residency at Einstein and Montefiore, and his postdoctoral fellowship in medical education at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles.

The President, Class of 1989, Dr Olatunji Akintilo, represented by Professor Mojisola Talabi, explained that the gesture began as a dream and a vision to support UCH to continue to be the centre of excellence for healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

“As a result of the site visit and other protocols, a container full of the donated hospital equipment was shipped from the U.S. and arrived in Lagos in October 2021. However, we had problems with the Nigerian Customs to clear the container.

“We were told to pay a heavy clearance fee, and the container went into demurrage. Things looked impossible. We almost gave up, but in the end, we overcame the palaver. We were able to clear the container. It finally arrived at UCH. We trust and believe that every item will be put to good use,” said Talabi who presented the donated items along with other members of the class, including Professor Fatia Fehintola, Prof Taiwo Lawal, Dr Joko Adeleye and Dr Deborah Ajayi

The Chief Medical Director at UCH, Professor Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo described the gesture as the single largest donation received during his tenure. He emphasised that the donation will support patients unable to pay their bills and provide subsidized care to those in need.

“I’m ecstatic about the donation. This is the single largest donation that we have received at the University College Hospital since the commencement of this administration. And the second reason I’m ecstatic is because it has been done by my class set of 1989, the MBBS class of the University of Ibadan.

“When I took over as chief medical director, the leadership of my class, the set of 1989 MBBS, told me that I should let them know whatever area of need that my administration would require, and they would come in. And this is not their first donation.” Otegbayo stated that the donation would go a long way to support patients at the hospital who were unable to pay their bills.

“We can leverage what has been donated and use it for such patients who are indigent. And in other ways, we can also use some of the equipment or the consumables at a subsidised rate, even for those who have some money. By doing that, many patients who would otherwise have suffered a lack of treatment or inadequate treatment will have the best of care.

“And I want to pledge on behalf of the management of the University College Hospital and the Ministry of Health, under the leadership of Professor Mohamed Ali Patti, that we will make good use of it. And the impact will be widespread on all our patients that require assistance,” said Otegbayo.