The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) has appointed Professor Idia Ize-Iyamu as its new Chief Medical Director (CMD), making her the first woman and the first dentist to lead the 52-year-old institution.

Ize-Iyamu, a professor of dentistry and orthodontics, formally assumed office on Monday, August 18, 2025, in Benin City.

She succeeds Professor Darlington Obaseki, whose eight-year tenure ended on Sunday, August 17.

Speaking at her inauguration, she said her appointment carried a broader message beyond her personal achievement.
“As the first woman to serve as CMD of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, I stand not as an exception but as an example of what is possible when merit is sought and when opportunity meets with preparedness,” she said.

She described her emergence as a signal to girls and young women across Nigeria.
“I carry this responsibility as a message to every girl child in Nigeria; there are no ceilings too high, no doors too heavy, and no dreams too distant when you strive to excel. I bear it as a promise to my female colleagues—we will not simply pass through this door; we will hold it open. We will mentor, sponsor, and lift as we climb,” she added.

Unveiling her vision for the hospital, Ize-Iyamu introduced the framework “UBTH CARES,” an acronym for Care, Advancement, Revitalisation, Employee

Welfare, and Sustainability. She pledged to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, improve staff welfare, and make UBTH a hub of medical innovation.
“I pledge my total commitment to the ‘Renewed Hope’ Agenda, particularly in the health sector, which seeks to restore faith in public institutions and deliver accessible, affordable, and of the highest standard,” she said, acknowledging President Bola Tinubu for approving her appointment and Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, for his recommendation.

Ize-Iyamu further committed to aligning UBTH’s operations with national health objectives.
“We will anchor our leadership on compassion, innovation, and excellence in healthcare delivery. This hospital will remain a place where vision can find expression, diligence is rewarded, and the future will always have a seat at the table,” she said.

Her appointment marks a significant milestone in the history of UBTH, expanding the scope of leadership representation in one of Nigeria’s foremost tertiary health institutions.